Confidence is one reason sophomore Terra Rasmussen is consistently in the Minnesota womenâÄôs hockey lineup. Rasmussen had a break out weekend during the Nov 14-15 series against Bemidji State with three goals. The lines were switched up and playing with different people opened up different options, Rasmussen said. Coach Brad Frost said Rasmussen has been skating with a lot more self-confidence this year and that is one reason she has hasnâÄôt been out of MinnesotaâÄôs lineup. âÄúHer confidence has increased,âÄù Frost said. âÄúShe is an incredibly strong skater and has a great shot. In the past she was a little hesitant to use that shot, but now she is starting to gain some confidence to use it.âÄù Last year, the Coon Rapids native was in the lineup for all 38 games and earned her first letter while taking nine shots on goal and receiving five penalties. Her first and only goal of the season came March 1, 2008, unassisted in the first round of the WCHA playoffs against North Dakota. This year, she already has 10 shots in 16 games, earning four goals and one assist. She has a .400 shooting percentage, which is the second highest on the team behind first-year Nikki Ludwigson , who has one goal in two shots during six games . âÄúHer shot, honestly, no goalie can stop,âÄù senior captain Gigi Marvin said. âÄúWe tell her every time to shoot whenever she gets the puck.âÄù Her teammateâÄôs encouragement to shoot the puck was displayed when Rasmussen was on the verge of a hat trick against Bemidji State. âÄúI really wasnâÄôt thinking about it that much. My teammates wanted [the hat trick], which was really nice and very supportive,âÄù Rasmussen said. âÄúI think my teammates were more excited.âÄù Going into the corners and working for the puck is something Rasmussen said is a part of the game she enjoys. It helps that she can put up big numbers in the weight room, said Marvin. âÄúShe, as many can tell by the way she plays, is very strong,âÄù Marvin said. âÄúShe battles in the corner and always comes out with the puck.âÄù As a freshman at Coon Rapids High School, she was her teamâÄôs Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player while earning an all-conference selection, an award she earned all four years. The 2007 Coon Rapids graduate was a Class 2A state tournament runner-up in 2006, losing to first-year Kelly SeelerâÄôs Eden Prairie Eagles. Rasmussen was named to the all-tournament team after netting 24 goals and 29 assists for 53 points that season. She was also an all-state honorable mention. In 2007, as a senior, Rasmussen was moved to defense. She said her coach wanted to fill some holes on the blue line that graduating seniors left. She scored 32 points on 12 goals and 20 assists . Even after being a top five finalist for the LetâÄôs Play Hockey Ms. Hockey award , Rasmussen said defense isnâÄôt her position. âÄúI like to be a grinder in the corner in the offensive zone,âÄù she said. âÄúAs a defender, you donâÄôt do that very often.âÄù Playing for Minnesota was the next logical next for Rasmussen. Her father, Randy, was a captain of the 1983 Gopher football team and her grandfather, Robert, was a three-year Gophers football letter winner from 1955-57. Her mom and sister also attended Minnesota. âÄúIâÄôve always wanted to be a Gopher,âÄù she said. âÄúWhen it came down to it, I always pictured where I wanted to be and it always ended with me wearing a Gopher jersey.âÄù