FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State women's lacrosse coach Chris Case prefers a tough non-conference schedule in order to prepare his team for the rigors of SUNYAC competition. He gets his wish this weekend when the Blue Devils, ranked in the Top 20 in two pre-season women's lacrosse polls, face two similarly ranked teams.

The season opener is 3 p.m. Saturday vs. the Susquehanna Crusaders, the current No. 14 team in both the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association and the Lacrosse Magazine polls. The Stevenson Mustangs -- whom the Blue Devils meet at 3 p.m. Sunday -- are No. 19 in the ILWCA poll and No. 20 according to LaxMag.com.

Both games this weekend are on the Stevenson campus in Owings Mills, Md.

"We wanted to have some good early tests," Case said, "to see where we're at and to prepare us for the conference. These are two nationally ranked teams. If we're going to win our conference, we're going to go through some nationally ranked teams. We need to prepare ourselves for that type of quality."

SUNYAC sister schools in the current national rankings are Cortland, Geneseo, and Brockport. The Blue Devils -- No. 18 in the LaxMag.com poll, No. 20 according to IWLCA -- give the SUNYAC four nationally ranked teams. It's the first time Fredonia State women's lacrosse has started a season in a national poll.

"The ranking is nice," Case said, "and it puts a bulls-eye on our back early on. It gives us a national presence. But ultimately, we still need to go out and play every day."

Fredonia State returns its top two scorers from 2013's record-setting team, junior midfielder Marissa Cussins (Corning, N.Y.) and senior midfielder and co-captain Katie Kleine (Cazenovia, N.Y.). Cussins led the Blue Devils with 53 goals and 66 points while Kleine had 40 goals and 65 points in two fewer games.

An injury brought Kleine's season to a premature ending -- a game the Blue Devils eventually lost. They then lost the next two games, including a SUNYAC semifinal vs. Geneseo, to finish at 14-3. That tied a school record for most wins in a season. In addition, the 14 wins to start the season is the most in program history. The Blue Devils earned their highest-ever national ranking -- No. 14 -- and ended the season at No. 19.

Kleine's importance to the Blue Devils was duly noted -- she was selected All SUNYAC First Team, IWLCA Empire Region First Team, and ECAC Mid-Atlantic First Team. Cussins was also named to the All SUNYAC and IWLCA Empire Region teams.

"The key for them," Case said of Kleine and Cussins, "is to try to not overdo it and feel like they have to do everything, and try to create balance throughout the team."

Other returning starters on the scoring side are senior midfielder Shelby DePew (Macedon, N.Y.) and junior attacker Katie Glagolev (Webster, N.Y.). Also back is sophomore attacker Juliana Kotas (Webster, N.Y.). Case is also counting on three freshmen to pick up some of the scoring losses, attackers Sam Owen (Horseheads, N.Y.) and Emily Polizzi (Rushville, N.Y.) and midfielder Kristie Kleine (Horseheads, N.Y.). The Blue Devils have also added freshman attacker Erica Tuohey (Hilton, N.Y.).

Defensively, the Blue Devils return two game-tested seniors. Mary Bruton (Palmyra, N.Y.). was All SUNYAC Second Team last season and a four-year starter. Chelsea Maderer (Orchard Park, N.Y.) has been a regular since her sophomore year. She is also a 2014 co-captain.

"We're going to look to those two to keep the defense in a cohesive manner," Case said. "Especially with a young freshman goaltender behind them."

There are three other returning defenders -- all sophomores. Sarah Lindovski (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) is a returning starter. Jessica Tuttle (Webster, N.Y.) and Lauren Metz (Williamsville, N.Y.), came off the bench as freshmen. This year's freshman defender is Traci Schaumberg (Ontario, N.Y.).

Two freshmen, Christina Mathewson (Watertown, N.Y.) and Jessica Zagari (Rochester, N.Y.), are  vying for the starting goalkeeper spot. They will succeed Casey Chiesa, who played every minute last season and graduated with numerous school goalkeeping records. Chiesa made SUNYAC and IWLCA all-star teams and was named to the SUNYAC all-tournament team.

In addition to Chiesa, graduation claimed No. 3 scorer Rachael Reinis, No. 5 scorer Kaila Fox, and reserve forward Erin Edson.