In every team's season, there is a series that has the potential to elevate the team to a whole new level. For the No. 12 Penn State Lady Icers, that series is this weekend.

The Lady Icers (9-6, 3-3 ECHWL) are focusing this weekend entirely on conquering the No. 5 University of Rhode Island Rams (13-5-2, 5-1 ECHWL). The home series is set to begin at 9:15 tomorrow night and conclude at 3:15 Sunday, with both games at Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

The Lady Icers recently enjoyed a weekend sweep against No. 10 Maryland and American University. Although the team is riding a three-game winning streak, it realizes the importance of the impending series.

Penn State Lady Icers coach Michael Brinton respects the talent of Rhode Island, but firmly believes his team can hang with talented opponents.

"We know we can play with the top teams of the league. This weekend, we take on Rhode Island, by far the toughest series on our schedule," he said. "We're not just a mid-range team. We can play with the top-rate dogs."

A win against Rhode Island would place the team higher in the national rankings and help solidify a better seed for playoffs, as there is still some concern about the team's rank.

"The games this weekend are league games. We are still concerned about playoffs. Rhode Island is No. 5 nationally. We want to show them that we are not a No. 12 team. Maybe a win against them would put us back on the radar," Brinton said.

Last weekend, the team showed the depth of its squad with various position and line changes. All in all, it had no effect on the overall performance, but rather gave reason to believe the team is deeper than ever before.

Freshman standout Jessica Waldron believes it is imperative for the team to maintain the high level of play throughout all three periods.

"For the upcoming weekend against Rhode Island, we have to continue playing three solid periods and we cannot give up against this team," she said.

Although winning a game this weekend would help the team tremendously, it will not hurt the standing of the Lady Icers in the national rankings. The team recognizes it is important to give their best effort and whatever happens, happens.

"It would be incredible to pull a win out of this weekend, but it's not to the point where if we lose, we're out," junior captain Ashleigh Kinder said. "They're big games only in the sense we really will enjoy a win and it will help us tremendously."