In the last 10 matchups, the rivalry has been split down the middle.

The Albert Lea girls’ hockey team has four wins over Austin, Austin has four wins over Albert Lea, and the teams tied twice.

“I think there’ll be some players and fans calling it a rivalry, but I look at as a game where we just have to go out and get another victory,” said Tigers’ first-year head coach Scott Ball. “We need to play hard and play at a high level.”

Austin (1-0-1 overall) will host Albert Lea (1-1 overall) at 7:30 p.m. at Riverside Arena.

The Tigers enter the matchup with the upper hand after sweeping the Packers last season and winning three of the last four meetings.

Last year, Albert Lea beat Austin 4-1 at Roy Nystrom Arena and completed the sweep with a 2-1 win at Austin. There hasn’t been a season since 2008 that one of the two regular-season meetings wasn’t decided by one goal or a tie.

This season, Albert Lea enters the game after a 5-1 win on Nov. 6 at Mankato West and a 4-1 loss on Saturday at Owatonna.

In the opener, Hannah Savelkoul and Maddi Herrera each scored twice, and Anna Englin added the final goal. Haley Larson scored the Tigers’ only goal against the Huskies.

“We’re still figuring (our lines) out,” Ball said. “Overall, we’re coming together pretty well. Being a new coach, kids are starting to figure out what our expectations are and what direction we’re going. It’s about trusting each other and trusting the coaches. It takes a little time for that to come together.”

Defensively, Albert Lea has been led by senior Katie Schwarz through the first two games. She stopped 35-of-36 shots on goal in the opener and 25-of-29 against Owatonna.

“There are a few things we need to clean up, but Katie and our defense is looking good,” Ball said.

Austin’s goalie, Mara Overby, had to deal with 56 shots on goal during a 4-4 tie in the Packers’ season opener at home against Mankato East. In a 4-0 win Tuesday at Waseca, Austin made a change in the net, and Allison Hoban didn’t allow any goals on 29 shots by the Blue Jays. Overby didn’t contribute as a goalie, but she scored a power-play goal. Chloe Summerfield leads Austin with two goals on the season.

After the Austin game, Albert Lea will play its home opener at 2 p.m. Saturday against Winona. Then the Tigers will host Mankato East at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in their only consecutive home games of the season.

The last 10 meetings

1/18/13 Albert Lea 2, Austin 1

11/26/13 Albert Lea 4, Austin 1

1/15/13 Austin 2, Albert Lea 1

12/4/12 Albert Lea 7, Austin 1

1/17/12 Austin 4, Albert Lea 3

12/6/11 Austin 5, Albert Lea 2

1/11/11 Albert Lea 5, Austin 5 (OT) (tie)

12/2/10 Albert Lea 5, Austin 1

1/12/10 Albert Lea 2, Austin 2 (OT) (tie)

12/3/09 Austin 1, Albert Lea 0 (OT)