The Yeshiva University roller hockey team traversed all the way to Fargo, North Dakota early Tuesday morning with their excitement matched only by their motivation to finish on top. For the second year in a row, the team is a solid position entering the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association national championship. After losing last season in the Elite Eight, the team put in a long year of hard work to make sure their season would go a bit further.

"Last year's shortcomings were really impactful in that we now know what it takes to take this team to the next level," said defenceman Benjy Shulman. "Last season was our first swing at a national title and now we're a year older and a year wiser and we hope that it reflects in our results this time around."

The team benefited this year with an injection of youth and speed that the team never really possessed. "We definitely lost some extra baggage as we were able to remove the proverbial anchor and our identity for sure changed," said second year stalwart Moshe Genuth.

The team finished 13-5 and is paired in the Round Robin with fellow eastern powerhouse Stony Brook University (14-4) in addition to Missouri Science and Technology (4-4) and Cal Poly Pomona (9-7).

The team kicks off the tournament Wednesday with a 12:00 PM matinee against Missouri S&T with a quick turnaround for a 5:30 PM date with Cal Poly Pomona. They wrap up pool play Thursday afternoon at 6:30 against Stony Brook before heading into bracket play on Friday.

All games will be live streamed online on NCRHA.org. (all times listed here are Eastern)

"Obviously the pressure is on now but I feel that we're more prepared than we've ever been," said coach Elyashiv Gemara. "Our goal is to win a National Championship and anything short of that will be a disappointment."