SB Nation’s Women’s College Hockey Division I Poll: Firm Fixtures

This week cleaned up a lot of the more head scratching also receiving votes while giving us some decent movement among this locked in top 10.

1. Wisconsin (9-1-0), 129 (12)— Last Week: 1

• Last Week: L 0-1 v Minnesota (10/27), W 4-1 v Minnesota (10/28)

• Coming Week: @ Minnesota State (11/2, 11/3)

A close loss and a blow out win over Minnesota leave the Badgers atop the poll.  The Badgers will travel to Mankato for a pair.

2. Minnesota (7-2-1), 111 — Last Week: 2

• Last Week: W 1-0 @ Wisconsin (10/27), L 1-4 @ Wisconsin (10/28)

• Coming Week: v Bemidji State (11/2, 11/3)

The Gophers almost made a case to move to the top but were blown out in their second game. They’ll head back home to face Bemidji State, who are fresh off an upset of Duluth.

3. Clarkson (7-1-0), 109 (1) — Last Week: 3

• Last Week: W 6-2 @ Syracuse (10/26), W 4-3 OT v Syracuse (10/27)

• Coming Week: v Union (11/2), v RPI (11/3)

In a home-and-home weekend, the Golden Knights traveled to Syracuse and blew the Orange out but then were taken to overtime at home. They begin conference play with the bottom of the ECAC table at home.

4. Boston College (7-2-0), 83 — Last Week: 6

• Last Week: W 5-1 @ Holy Cross (10/26), W 4-1 @ Maine (10/28)

• Coming Week: v Connecticut (11/1), @ Providence (11/3)

Two more conference wins keep the Eagles moving back up despite not playing to their potential. This weekend was good enough to earn them the title of “Belles of the Ball.” Boston College will stay inside of Hockey East against a couple of mid-tier teams.

5. Ohio State (7-3-0), 77 — Last Week: 4

• Last Week: L 2-3 @ St. Lawrence (10/26), W 6-1 @ St. Lawrence (10/27)

• Coming Week: v St. Cloud State (11/2, 11/3)

The Buckeyes seem to have trouble playing a whole weekend as they lost the first game against the Saints and then rebounded to blow them out. Ohio State will be playing in conference this weekend as the Huskies come to town.

6. Minnesota Duluth (5-4-1), 59 —Last Week: 5

• Last Week: W 2-1 @ St. Cloud State (10/26), L 2-3 @ St. Cloud State (10/27)

• Coming Week: v Minnesota Whitecaps (EX)

The Bulldogs are struggling. After opening the season with a sweep of Boston College, they have only won three games against the bottom of the WCHA. This weekend they suffered a loss to St. Cloud State that will prove to be a problem as the season progresses.

7. Cornell (3-0-0), 48— Last Week: 8

• Last Week: W 4-1 v Syracuse (10/23), W 3-2 v Harvard (10/26), W 4-0 v Dartmouth (10/27)

• Coming Week: @ Yale (11/2), @ Brown (11/3)

The Big Red are finally playing again and are winning.  Cornell will be on the road against a pair of weak ECAC opponents.

8. Northeastern (6-1-1), 43 — Last Week: 7

• Last Week: W 2-0 v Providence (10/26), W 2-1 v Boston University (10/28)

• Coming Week: @ Vermont (10/30), @ Holy Cross (11/2)

The Huskies won two more conference games but were unable to stay ahead of finally active Cornell.  Up next are two road games in conference.

9. St. Lawrence (4-5-1), 33 — Last Week: 9

• Last Week: W 3-2 v Ohio State (10/26), L 1-6 v Ohio State (10/27)

• Coming Week: v RPI (11/2), v Union (11/3)

St. Lawrence is the most confusing team in these rankings.  The Saints have been very inconsistent, taking one win but then losing badly or letting late leads slip away.  This weekend should bring them two easy wins.

10. Colgate (5-3-0), 18 — Last Week: 10

• Last Week: W 6-0 v Dartmouth (10/26), W 1-0 v Harvard (10/27)

• Coming Week: @ Brown (11/2), @ Yale (11/3)

Two needed wins this weekend helped the Raiders and they should get two more next weekend.

Also Receiving Vote: Princeton 4, Robert Morris 1