By Jeff Budlong,sports editor

There are some talented teams in the Albert Lea girls&8217; hockey section this season, but most would probably have a hard time matching up with the Tigers&8217; 4.0 line.

Four young skaters are currently sporting a 4.0 grade point average in the classroom all while making significant contributions on the ice for the 14-10-1 Tigers as they prepare to play their section opener against Northfield tonight in Albert Lea.

Sophomores Kelli Hanson, Jacqui Jepson, Amy Gackstetter and freshman Lauren Klick have all found the right mix between their extracurricular activities and their studies to make the perfect grade.

While the girls do not all play on the ice at the same time their drive is the same both at the rink and in their studies.

&8220;It is a lot of pressure because I want a 4.0 throughout my entire career, but sports doesn&8217;t add a lot of pressure but it does take time away from my studies,&8221; said Hanson who is a goalie for Albert Lea.

For Gackstetter, a wing player, it can be difficult as she adds a 30 minute drive from Wells each day, but she is committed to both hockey and her studies.

&8220;I thought I would quit hockey after U-12 but then I had so much fun in U-14 so I kept going,&8221; she said. &8220;There is a lot of pressure and a couple of late nights but it is not too bad.&8221;

Klick, another wing skater, said often times success boils town to time management.

&8220;It has not been that hard as long as you manage your time,&8221; she said with all four girls trying to get as much work done during school hours as possible.

&8220;It is nice know that some of the top kids in their grade are playing on the team and it makes my job a lot easier,&8221; Albert Lea head coach Steve Falk said. &8220;They know how to handle themselves well and it shows on and off the ice.&8221;

While all four girls admitted that stress can get ratcheted up as the end of the quarter nears, sports are an activity that helps them cope.

&8220;It helps because you need something extracurricular, something on the side,&8221; Jepson said.

For Gackstetter, the pressure to keep a 4.0 is in part do to her ambition to follow two uncles into the medical field after high school. Jepson is interested in mathematics and may look into architecture while Klick wants to go to college but doesn&8217;t know what field she wants to study.

Hanson, on the other hand, knows exactly what she wants to study in college.

&8220;It is actually kind of strange but I want to major in ancient civilizations and biblical studies,&8221; she said. &8220;I want to be an archeologist. I really like theology and I used to watch Indiana Jones movies when I was younger and enjoyed it.&8221;

Among the 4.0 quartet Gackstetter leads the way with 10 goals and six assists, Klick has accounted for five goals and six assists and Jepson has a goal and two assists. Hanson has split time in net with senior Kendra Olchefske this season.

While athletic ability may be a bigger asset on the ice there is no denying that quick-learning players have their place too.

&8220;Hockey is more about athletic ability than scholastic, but when coach is teaching us something new we have a pretty smart team and we pick it up,&8221; Gackstetter said.

&8220;This team is really close as teams go,&8221; Hanson said.

It is a bond the Tigers are hoping pays off with a long run in the section tournament.

&8220;We have all been together since we were little, went through the different levels together and know each other,&8221; Jepson said. &8220;It is like a family.&8221;

The Tigers, the No. 4 seed, are facing a Northfield team which it split two regular season meetings with. Albert Lea lost its season opener to the Raiders 3-1 before returning the favor at the Austin Tournament later in the season by the same score.

Northfield, which is the fifth seed in the section, has an 11-14 record and will be entering the postseason with two consecutive losses.

However, Northfield does have a strong goaltender in Sam Stark and two talented skaters leading the way in Maren Dvorak and Vy Nguyen. Dvorak has 20 goals and 20 assists on the season while Nguyen has 19 tallies and 12 helpers.

&8220;They have a real quality goaltender and both times we faced her she has stopped a lot of shots,&8221; Falk said. &8220;We need to shoot to score whether that is finding the corners or going up top.&8221;

The Tigers are led by a top line of Jenna Christensen &8212; one of eight players on the team with a G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher &8212; Madi Passingham and Sophia Jepson.

Christensen led the Tigers with 23 goals and 19 assists during the regular season while Passingham has 14 goals and 16 assists.

While the Tigers struggled a little at the end of the season offensively, they enter the postseason on a two-game winning steak and a new defensive philosophy.

&8220;We moved both wings down below the dots on defense and keep the center up which keeps the center from getting too tired,&8221; Falk said. &8220;It is something the girls have adapted to well and hopefully it will continue to be a positive in the playoffs.&8221;

While getting past Northfield will be no easy task, the Tigers have an eye out for as semifinal rematch with their rivals from Austin.

&8220;We need to think about and beat Northfield,&8221; Hanson said, &8220;but we want to beat Austin because they have beaten us twice already this season. It is always an exciting game.&8221;

The section game gets under way at 7 p.m. at City Arena.