By Kevin Noonan, QBSN Staff Writer

The War on Whitney.  The Elm City Rivalry.  There are a multitude of names to describe the rivalry that has developed between Quinnipiac and Yale.

On the ice, the rivalry has been particularly tense over the past eight years since Yale joined Quinnipiac in the annual “Heroes Hat” game.  But the rivalry has transcended past ice hockey into other sports on campus, bringing larger crowds to games when the Bulldogs take on the Bobcats.

In her recruiting process, softball catcher Jordan Paolucci drew interest from many schools, including heated rivals Quinnipiac and Yale.

Head coach Germaine Fairchild has built a perennial contender in the Bobcats, compared to a Yale program that has struggled to compete.

“On paper and in reality, our softball program has certainly outpaced Yale’s over the last several years,” Fairchild said.

It’s not just about the product the Quinnipiac has on the field that drew Paolucci’s interest, but the academics offered through the Athletic Training program.

“The programs and opportunities here better suited myself and set me up better for success after graduation,” Paolucci said.

“Academically, I think Jordan’s made a great move, and she’s found a passion in athletic training,” Fairchild said.

In 2012, Quinnipiac’s athletic training program earned the Athletic Training Education Program Service Award from the Connecticut Athletic Training Association.

But softball, of course, was just as important of a decision in Paolucci choosing the Bobcats over the rival Bulldogs, and the coaching that Fairchild provides her players has made Paolucci an even better player than when she came in.

“Especially with her mental game paired with her knowledge in hitting, she’s really taken me places I didn’t think I was ever going to get to,” Paolucci said.

Before sitting out most of last season with an injury, the 2011 NEC Rookie of the Year lead Quinnipiac in just about every offensive category, including a team record 15 home runs.

Paolucci’s friends and teammates at Quinnipiac have also made her feel confident in her decision in attending over Yale.

Coming from Lake Mary, Fla., Paolucci hadn’t been to the North until her visits at both Yale and Quinnipiac, and being so far from her family, she likes to be in the environment where feels comfortable.

“Quinnipiac is my home away from home, I feel really at home here and everyday I know I made the right decision,” Paolucci said.

The Bobcats kick off their season this week as they head to the UNC Greensboro for the Spartan Classic Tournament.