Over the years, the Yellowjacket men's hockey team has developed quite the rivalry with St. Norbert College.  Regular season, playoff and NCAA series have gone down in history as some of the greatest games in the history of either program.  It is the hope of many that the rivalry between the women's programs, which will venture into post-season territory for the first time this weekend, features the same intensity that is displayed on the men's side.

"There's no doubt in my mind that we will have a very tight, very intense weekend with St. Norbert," Head Coach Dan Laughlin said.  "They've only been in the league for two years, but every game we've played with them has been a tight one and that will only increase in the playoffs."

Despite the closeness of their meetings during the regular season, the teams enter at different ends of the spectrum.  The Yellowjackets are the second seed, while St. Norbert is seventh.  The Yellowjackets have a 1.44 goal differential, while the Green Knights come in with a differential of just .2. 

The more important statistic, however, would be the recent trend and the Green Knights come in playing their best hockey of the season.  They have won five straight, outscoring opponents 20-5 in that span.  The Yellowjackets, meanwhile, are just 3-2 in that stretch and have given up 14 of the 44 goals they've allowed on the season.

"We know, as a team, that we have to tighten up defensively.  We've loosened up a bit lately," Laughlin said.  "We are happy with our offense and our goaltending.  We just need to focus a little better in our defensive zone.  We've proven that when we taken care of our own end we are a successful team."

Their own end starts with the goaltending tandem of Shanley Peters (Gnadenthal, Manitoba/Garden Valley Collegiate) and Amy Torgerson (Wentzville, Mo./Gilmour Academy), who have combined to post a 1.73 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.

"Our team is confident no matter who our starter is in goal," Laughlin said.  "We pride ourselves on being strong in net and the past two years we've had two exceptional players back there.  The team can play so much more confidently when you have players like Shanley and Amy back there."

Offensively, freshman Dani Schultz (Morris, Minn./Morris Area) has led the way, netting a team-best 21 goals and tying for the team scoring lead with 28 points.  Sophomore forward Kerry Mayhew (Littleton,Colo./Heritage), a transfer, is tied with Schultz at the top of the scoring chart.

"We are a young team, so we knew coming in that we would have to rely on our young players to play a big role and they've stepped up," Laughlin said.  "You can't say enough about how well they've adjusted to the college game and improved their play over the course of the year."

St. Norbert, meanwhile, enters the game without a 10-goal or 20-point scorer.  Defensively they have allowed considerably more shots and goals than the Yellowjackets, but Laughlin and team know that doesn't matter.

"What's the saying?  It's a new season?  That's the truth here for sure.  Once the playoffs begin everyone is 0-0 and our team understands that," Laughlin said. "I like how our team is built and I like how we've dealt with the adversity of the injuries this year.  I think we have what it takes to make a run this year and this weekend is the first step.  We have to be at our best this weekend to move on."

By The Numbers