Rebecca Johnston set for Frozen Four semi-final

The Cornell Big Red women's hockey team may well be making a second straight appearance at the NCAA Frozen Four, but for Sudbury native Rebecca Johnston, this is a first.

The graduate of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School was otherwise preoccupied, winning a gold medal as part of the Canadian women's Olympic team one year ago in Vancouver.

Having taken a year away from her studies at Cornell, Johnston had to watch on the sidelines as her teammates dropped a 3-2 decision in overtime to Minnesota-Duluth in the 2010 NCAA Championship game.

Johnston and company will be looking for redemption this weekend in Erie, Pennsylvania as Mercyhurst College plays host to the 2011 semi-finals and final games.

On March 18, the Big Red will do battle with Boston University in one semi-final, while Wisconsin and Boston College go head to head, hours earlier at the Tullio Arena.

Ranked number two in the country, Cornell depends heavily on their Olympians, as Johnston trailed only Canadian teammate Brianne Jenner in scoring with the Big Red this year.

Just completing her junior season, Johnston finished with 49 points in 32 games, including 26 goals, while Jenner was a freshman sensation with the team, racking up 50 points.

Johnston picked up a goal and an assist as Cornell bounced Dartmouth 7-1 in the quarter-finals, while Boston University doubled Marcyhurst 4-2 in punching their ticket to the Frozen Four.