SB Nation’s Women’s College Hockey Division I Poll: Freshest Faces

Well, we said it would take a lot to shake up this poll, and this weekend sure had it.  Brown topped Colgate and Cornell, two ranked teams. The wins marked the first season in the history of both the SB Nation and USCHO polls where Brown has beat two ranked teams.

This weekend also marked the beginning of the sequestration of Four Nation teams which cost a team in the poll mightily.  Most of the top teams have taken this week off.

The PWR Predictor over on BC Interruption is coming up, as we will finally have all teams with two opponents as of Friday. This will allow for more data for the pollsters.

1. Wisconsin (11-1-0), 149 (14)— Last Week: 1

• Last Week: W 2-1 @ Minnesota State (11/2), W 2-0 @ Minnesota State (11/3)

• Coming Week: No Games

The Badgers escaped with a pair of wins despite Abigail Levy’s best efforts. This will be a bye week as they send players to Saskatoon.

2. Minnesota (9-2-1), 132 (1)— Last Week: 2

• Last Week: W 6-3 v Bemidji State (11/2), W 2-1 v Bemidji State (11/3)

• Coming Week: No Games

Minnesota was lucky to get the sweep as the Beavers gave them everything they could handle.  The Gophers also enter a bye.

3. Clarkson (9-1-0), 120 — Last Week: 3

• Last Week: W 5-1 v Union (11/2), W 3-0 v RPI (11/3)

• Coming Week: No Games

Clarkson had some slow starts but had a great weekend out of T.T. Cianfarano to lead them over the bottom of the ECAC before a weekend off.

4. Ohio State (9-3-0), 97 — Last Week: 5

• Last Week: W 3-2 v St. Cloud State (11/2), W 3-2 v St. Cloud State (11/3)

• Coming Week: @ Bemidji State (11/9, 11/10)

The Buckeyes scrape by the Huskies, even having to come back from a two goal deficit.  Up next will a trip to Bemidji that could be a challenge.

5. Boston College (8-3-0), 81 — Last Week: 4

• Last Week: W 3-0 v Connecticut (11/1), L 2-4 @ Providence (11/3)

• Coming Week: No Games

The Eagles handled UConn at home but then traveled to Rhode Island, missing most of their blue line and came out with another loss.  They won’t have to worry about another weekend like that as they too go on the bye.

6. Northeastern (8-1-1), 73 — Last Week: 8

• Last Week: W 4-1 @ Vermont (10/30), W 6-1 @ Holy Cross (11/2)

• Coming Week: @ New Hampshire (11/9), v New Hampshire (11/10)

The Huskies are flaming hot right now taking two road wins with some potent offensive efficiency. Now they look to cap off their season series with New Hampshire this weekend.

7. Minnesota Duluth (5-4-1), 63 —Last Week: 6

• Last Week: L 1-5 v Minnesota Whitecaps (EX)

• Coming Week: No Games

The Bulldogs played a pro team and got handled and will take another week off.

8. St. Lawrence (6-5-1), 41 — Last Week: 9

• Last Week: W 5-0 v RPI (11/2), W 3-0 v Union (11/3)

• Coming Week: No Games

St. Lawrence is moving up in the world, both by their good play but also with help of some stumbling conference mates. They will take a weekend off too.

9. Cornell (4-1-0), 33— Last Week: 7

• Last Week: W 4-3 @ Yale (11/2), L 3-4 @ Brown (11/3)

• Coming Week: @ Mercyhurst (11/10, 11/11)

After getting tested by Yale, the Big Red fell hard to Brown which hurts both their ECAC hopes and their quest to repeat the Ivy crown. A trip to Mercyhurst won’t offer much respite but could be a good opportunity to gain voters trust back.

10. Merrimack (7-1-2), 13 — Last Week: NR

• Last Week: W 5-1 @ Maine (11/2)

• Coming Week: v Holy Cross (11/9), @ Holy Cross (11/10)

Welcome to the land of the ranked Warriors. Merrimack has quietly had a very good year so far. This weekend they beat a very good Maine team solidly and have earned themselves the title of “Belles of the Ball.” They will now play against lowly Holy Cross and should stay here for the near future.

Also Receiving Vote: Colgate 7, Princeton 6, Brown 4, Maine 3, Providence 2, Robert Morris 1