Calling it a hockey game trivializes its importance.

The Harvard-Dartmouth rivalry in women's hockey has become more than a game, more than a grudge, more than a battle for number-one. It is now a demon that Harvard must vanquish.

"The loss to Dartmouth was a dissappointing end to the season last year," said co-captain Jennifer Botterill. "We are on a mission this year and have a lot to prove."

A win tomorrow would be arguably Harvard's biggest win since the 1999 national championship game.

"It would be a huge step for us," Botterill admits. "They've been ranked number one almost all year and are the team to beat. It's a huge rivalry."

But from the moment the No. 6 Crimson (16-7-0, 15-3-0 ECAC) and No. 1 Big Green (19-1-1, 16-1-1) touch the ice tomorrow all the memories from last year will once again be center-stage. It is something most of the players try to put out of their minds.

"It is best to leave the past where it's at," said senior forward Tara Dunn. "It's over with. We can't change it now and we're just trying to look forward."

The past Harvard is desperately trying to forget started in the most unlikely of settings.