In the classic movie Hoosiers, Gene Hackman's character Norman Dale says that in tournament play, "you don't talk about the next step until you've climbed the one in front of you."

It's safe to say that wasn't the mantra of the Homestead Highlanders this week.

"We've been looking forward to this ever since the brackets came out," said junior Peter Schmitz.

Homestead kicked off their hopeful march to Madison Tuesday evening at the Ozaukee County Ice Center with a convincing 9-0 drubbing of the Beaver Dam Golden Beavers. The one-sided affair, which included a running clock for the entire third period, sets up a fourth and final game between conference rivals Homestead and Cedarburg Thursday night. The game is at 7:30, at the very same building the two teams share.

The Highlander attack was balanced and crisp on Tuesday night, as Homestead took a 2-0 advantage at the end of the first period. That lead had swelled to 6-0 by the end of the second period.

"We knew that they were gonna put a lot of points on the board, they've done it all year," said Beaver Dam Head Coach Chris Huebel. "They're a good team, I think they're gonna do well in the playoffs."

The front line of Adam Connolly, Schmitz and Thomas Fazio led the way, and senior goaltender Sam Morris kept the Golden Beavers off the scoreboard. For Morris, this is the sixth straight game of allowing less than one or fewer goals. The last time a team scored more than one against Homestead was Cedarburg in their last meeting.

"I think that builds a lot of confidence for us," said senior captain David Trebatoski. "As a defense, before the game that was one of our goals--not letting up any goals."

Homestead's first--and eventually game-winning--goal was scored by Connolly, when he picked up a loose puck in front of Golden Beaver goaltender Robert Canales at the 10:50 mark. The goal, assisted by freshman Jon Weyker and junior Will Tucker, was all the Highlanders would need.

Not that they stopped there.

Peter Schmitz scored two goals in the second and another one in the third, giving the Highlanders another game in which a player scores a hat trick. The performance gave him 66 points this year, including the regular season.

"We've been able to produce," said Schmitz, who insists that there is no drawing of straws before a game to determine who gets to have the hat trick that night. "It's not something we count on every night, but it helps the team a lot."

"We've asked him to step up in big games," said Homestead Head Coach Chris Donovan. "This is obviously a big game, and he led (the team) tonight with the puck on his stick."

Linemates Fazio and Connolly added a total of five points in the game as well.

"When they're on, and they're poised to play, they're certainly one of (the best lines in the area)," said Donovan.

"They work pretty well together," said Trebatoski. "I haven't seen a lot of other lines, I'm sure there's some good ones in the state, but it's good to have a line like this that can produce."

However, success in the playoffs usually falls on the shoulders standing squarely in front of the goal, and Homestead has some of the best.

"We didn't really test him a lot tonight," said Heubel. "But that obviously helps. I think they'll do well...from top to bottom they're a solid team."

From here, Homestead knows exactly what faces them: conference rival Cedarburg.

The two teams have played three times already this season, with two ties and one game going to Cedarburg.

"No one in our locker room has beaten Cedarburg," said Schmitz. "Thursday night, though, we're gonna get 'em. We're ready."

And, for the benefit of the people in attendance, this one can't come down to a tie.

Earlier this season, Donovan was asked to preface one of their matchups against Cedarburg. His answer then can certainly be used to describe this one.

"Parking won't be a problem, with that new (parking) lot out there. Finding a seat may be another issue."