[media-credit name=’GREGORY DIXON/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]In an effort to stay motivated and focused on the task at hand, the UW Women's hockey team has put a lot of stock into the mantra "anything can happen in the playoffs." The Badgers make a point of not looking beyond any opponents because they know that any loss, to any team, could end their season. More commonly kept in mind when playing a weaker team (like North Dakota last weekend), the adage doesn't just apply to focusing on opponents; anything being able to happen in the playoffs also means that players not typically known for playing big roles in the regular season have the opportunity to shine when it comes to the postseason.

Last season, Jessie Vetter, playing the role of third goalie for most of the year, earned the starting job with strong play down the stretch and used the opportunity to her advantage, becoming a surprise star while playing terrifically between the pipes and earning tournament MOP honors on her way to leading Wisconsin to the program's first national championship.

"I like the pressure and I love those types of games where you can advance your team the next step," Vetter said of the playoffs. "It's a fun atmosphere, and I really enjoy playing in them."

Tia Hanson also took the playoffs last year as a chance to step up her game. After scoring a solid but not spectacular 10 goals in the regular season, Hanson notched three goals in the playoffs — two of them in the NCAA tournament — including the decisive goal in UW's semi-final victory over St. Lawrence.

"The playoffs is the most exciting time of the year," Hanson said. "You try your best all year, but the playoffs brings out your adrenaline."

Whether the playoffs caused her to elevate her game late in the season, Hanson is still unsure, but the sophomore found the experience of shining in the games that mattered most rewarding nonetheless.

"I happened to step up at the right time, maybe it was luck, but it was great to have happen. It's unbelievable to score a goal, to help out your team, especially one like [the goal against St. Lawrence]."

Only one series into this year's postseason, there's already been one surprise performance turned in by a Badger. Sophomore Rachel Bible assisted Megan Mikkelson's first goal Saturday against North Dakota and scored a goal of her own in the contest — her first of the season, and only her fourth point of the year. The two-point performance seemingly came out of nowhere, as Bible hadn't registered a multi-point game in her entire career.

"I was just excited, and I wanted to move on like the rest of your team," Bible said of what sparked her performance against the Fighting Sioux.

While her play in the regular season was certainly respectable, especially considering how tough the Badgers' defense has been this season, Bible hasn't stood out very much on the ice, instead watching as teammates Sara Bauer and Jinelle Zaugg got the glory week in and week out. Playing in the first round of the WCHA tournament, a series with more on the line than a regular week, added extra incentive for the defender to turn in a strong performance.

"Obviously the playoffs motivated me," Bible said. "I wanted to make sure I did the best I could."

Though perhaps the performances of Hanson a year ago and Bible last weekend may have just been the results of good timing, there's no denying that Wisconsin players come ready to play in the playoffs. As UW plans to continue deep into the postseason, there will be plenty of opportunities for other typically unseen Badgers to step into the limelight and play the role of surprising hero.

Whether it will be Bible once again coming out of nowhere to steal the show has yet to be determined, and when asked whether she thinks she might have another breakout performance left in her, Bible joked, "Probably not, I don't think so."

Maybe she doesn't, but in the playoffs, anything can happen.