SB Nation’s Women’s College Hockey Division 1 Poll: Reversion to the Mean

Despite more craziness across the college landscape this week, there was little change in the poll. It would seem like pollsters are reverting to their preseason expectations with all of the confusion. This week showed very little movement despite some very surprising results that saw unranked teams shock teams that had been favored to have home ice come tournament time. This week will see the entrance of the Ivy League teams into the picture, which will give us a better idea of who will be playing in March.

1.     Wisconsin (5-0-1), (16) 169 — Last Week: 1

• Last Week: W 3-2 OT @ Clarkson (10/14), W 4-1 @ Clarkson (10/15)
• Coming week: @ North Dakota (10/22, 10/23)/

Wisconsin is showing that they are mortal. They should be commended for taking the risk and traveling to play a top Eastern program, something that fans have been clamoring for. While they struggled a bit in the first game, they were able to pull out a pair of victories that solidified their claim as top team. There is no rest for the weary, though, as they travel to North Dakota this weekend, a trip that is never fun both due to the distance and how tough it is to play Dakota in their building.

2.     Minnesota (5-1-0), (1) 152 — Last Week: 2

• Last Week: W 4-3 v Minnesota-Duluth (10/14), W 3-2 OT v Minnesota-Duluth (10/15)
• Coming week: @ Ohio State (10/21, 10/22)/

While they had all they could handle with Duluth, the Gophers did exactly what they needed, getting two conference wins against a top team. Yet that has garnered them a surprising lack of first-place consideration. They have a pair of road conference games against an Ohio State team that has been hitting well above their weight class and has high potential to play spoiler.

3.   Minnesota-Duluth (3-2-1), 122 — Last Week: 4

• Last Week: L 3-4 @ Minnesota (10/14), L 2-3 OT @ Minnesota (10/15)
• Coming week: v Bemidji State (10/21, 10/22)/

The Bulldogs have clearly defined themselves as a top team. While they are clearly disappointed by the results of this past weekend there is a lot for them to look upon in a positive light, and they were able to move up another spot in the polls. The two losses put them at a disadvantage for home ice come tournament time, but they are clear contenders in the national picture. Their upcoming schedule is tough but manageable as they host a Bemidji State team that has been mercurial this season.

4.     Quinnipiac (5-1-0), (1) 111 — Last Week: 3

• Last Week: L 2-3 @ Mercyhurst (10/14), W 1-0 @ Mercyhurst (10/15)
• Coming week: @ Boston College (10/21), v Boston College (10/22)/

A tough weekend for Quinnipiac saw them lose to unranked Mercyhurst and then, the next night, only best the Lakers by one goal. With Boston College slipping this was their chance to solidify a top spot, though they were able to avoid slipping due to the same chaos that allowed them a chance to move up. They can rebound this coming weekend as they take the Eagles on in a home-and-home.

5.     Colgate (4-0-0), (1) 106 — Last Week: 6

• Last Week: No Games
• Coming week: @ Syracuse (10/21), v Syracuse (10/22)/

Last week it was said that Colgate being idle might leave them as the winners of the week. Well with some serious missteps by teams that had been ahead of them, the Raiders were able to jump up in the rankings. This week they have a home-and-home with a Syracuse team that has been benefiting from solid goalie play and would like to rebound after a tough trip to Boston.

6.     Boston College (3-2-1), 63 — Last Week: 5

• Last Week: W 4-1 @ New Hampshire (10/14), L 2-3 @ Maine (10/15)
• Coming week: v Quinnipiac (10/21), @ Quinnipiac (10/22)/

While they survived their house of horrors and beat New Hampshire on the road, they then had a disastrous result against Maine on slightly neutral ice. This loss broke a number of streaks for the Eagles and highlighted what has been an extremely rough start to the season. Coming up they have a home-and-home with Quinnipiac that could buoy them in the polls or see them drop even further.

7.     Saint Lawrence (3-0-1), 57 — Last week: 8

• Last Week: No Games
• Coming Week: v Vermont (10/21), @ Vermont (10/22)/

The Saints sat idle but were able jump up a spot again. This week they have a grueling home-and-home with Vermont. While they are favored in the series, the three-plus-hour drive in each direction will definitely not be fun for either team.

8.     Clarkson (2-3-1), 51 — Last Week: 7

• Last Week: L 2-3 OT v Wisconsin (10/14), L 1-4 v Wisconsin (10/15)
• Coming week: @ New Hampshire (10/22, 10/23)/

Clarkson might have lost both games this weekend, but they were able to right the ship slightly as they took Wisconsin to overtime and even led late into the third period before dropping the game two minutes into the extra frame. They continued to drop in the polls but should be able to get some much-needed wins when traveling to New Hampshire.

9.   North Dakota (4-1-1), 32 — Last Week: ARV

• Last Week: W 6-0 v Minnesota State (10/14), W 4-3 OT v Minnesota State (10/15)
• Coming week: v Wisconsin (10/21, 10/22)/

With a pair of expected wins, North Dakota was able to vault back into the top 10 as this week's belles of the ball, despite some poor results in previous weekends, thanks to the chaos that has engulfed everyone. This weekend they take on Wisconsin, which will either shoot them even higher in the rankings or give other teams a chance to catch them.

10.     Princeton (0-0-0), 31 — Last Week: 10

• Last Week: No Games
• Coming week: @ Providence (10/22, 10/23)/

The last of the three idle teams in the poll this week and, unlike the other two, the Tigers were unable to move up in the rankings, but still hung onto a spot in the top 10. This weekend they will finally open their season with a pair of games in Providence.

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Also Receiving Votes: Bemidji State 21 , Boston University 7, Robert Morris 5, Ohio State 4, Northeastern 2, Maine 1, Mercyhurst 1

Dropped out: St Cloud State, Providence, Vermont, Harvard