The women’s hockey team has five games over the next nine days and captain Kaitlin Porcaro ’03 expects that none of those contests will fall into the Elis’ loss column.

“We are going to win every one of those games,” Porcaro said.

The Bulldogs begin the five-game series this weekend when they take on Union (3-2-1, 2-1-1 ECAC) and Boston College (3-4-1, 0-1-1) at Ingalls Rink. The Bulldogs (1-5-0, 1-3-0) have lost three in a row, including two last weekend against No. 5 St. Lawrence.

The Saints unambiguously outskated the Bulldogs Friday night in an 8-1 scoring frenzy.

“Our heads went down after they scored and we let the game get away from us,” Erika Hockinson ’04 said.

On Saturday, a much improved Yale team grabbed a 1-0 lead 31 seconds into the second period. But the Saints overcame the early deficit and went on to win 2-1.

Missed scoring opportunities and penalties hurt the Bulldogs, who controlled play but were outshot 38-26.

“We’ve got to crash the net and look for rebounds,” Hockinson said. “We need to be aggressive. We don’t have the size or skill and we have to make up for that with intensity.”

Yale is very hopeful for the weekend.

“We’re very optimistic,” Hockinson said. “They’re not going to be easy games, but we expect to win them both.”

Last year, Yale spanked Union, 11-0, in its most lopsided win of the season. The Bulldogs, resigned to resume their domination of the Dutchwomen, will again rely on their team defense Friday.

“We don’t expect anything different this year,” Porcaro said.

And if there was ever a game that could turn the season around, the matchup against Union is it. But the Dutchwomen are coming off two 15-0 routs against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Bulldogs know a thing or two about being the underdog.

“We can’t take them lightly,” Hockinson said. “Last weekend, St. Lawrence thought it would be an easy win the second game. We gave them a scare.”

Saturday, Yale faces off against Boston College. “They’re much tougher [than Union],” Hockinson said. “It’s going to be a battle.”

The Bulldogs fell to the Eagles 3-0 last year, but they are confident they can come away with a win this weekend.

“We just have to keep our composure and play our systems and we’ll be fine,” Hockinson said.