SB Nation’s Women’s College Hockey Division I Poll: Quarterfinal Quackery

We have finished the penultimate weekend of the season and have four teams left. This weekend only had one blowout and also had an upset. This caused some major turmoil among the ranked.

1. Wisconsin (31-4-2), 126 (9) — Last Week: 2

• Last Week: W 4-0 v Minnesota (3/10)

• Coming Week: v Colgate (3/16), NCAA Championship (3/18)

After a dominant win over a Minnesota team that had beaten the Badgers the week before, Wisconsin is on to the Frozen Four again with a very tough Colgate matchup up next.

2. Clarkson (34-4-1), 120 (4) — Last Week: 1

• Last Week: W 2-1 OT v Mercyhurst (3/10)

• Coming Week: v Ohio State (3/16), NCAA Championship (3/18)

The Golden Knights received a major scare from a Mercyhurst team most had written off as a cake walk for Clarkson. The next opponent is tthe Ohio State Buckeyes, who shocked a Boston College team everyone thought would be here.

3. Colgate (33-5-1), 103 — Last Week: 3

• Last Week: W 3-1 v Northeastern (3/10)

• Coming Week: v Wisconsin (3/16), NCAA Championship (3/18)

Colgate came out on top of what can only be described as a slugfest on ice as the Raiders out-lasted Northeastern on home ice for their first Frozen Four trip in their first NCAA appearance.

4. Ohio State (24-10-4), 92 — Last Week: 6

• Last Week: W 2-0 @ Boston College (3/10)

• Coming Week: v Clarkson (3/16), NCAA Championship (3/18)

After playing some mind games with Boston College about the health of starter Kassidy Sauve, the Ohio State Buckeyes shocked the Eagles in Chestnut Hill en route to their first Frozen Four in what is also their tournament debut. This has earned the Buckeyes the title of Belles of the Ball as Clarkson is up next.

5. Boston College (30-5-3), 75 — Last Week: 4

• Last Week: L 0-2 v Ohio State (3/10)

• Coming Week: No Games

There is no joy in Newton, as the mightyy Boston College offence was completely stymied, unable to generate many scoring chances and were outshot by 2-1 margins for most of the games.

6. Minnesota (24-11-3), 56 — Last Week: 5

• Last Week: L 0-4 @ Wisconsin (3/10)

• Coming Week: No Games

The Gophers were the only team to get blown out in the quarterfinal round. That might have something to do with the unlucky geography that forced them to travel to Madison, per NCAA guidelines. Many questioned the toughness of this team as they played no challenging non-conference games this season.

7. Northeastern (19-17-3), 47 — Last Week: 8

• Last Week: L 1-3 @ Colgate (3/10)

• Coming Week: No Games

Northeastern had some bad luck, some bad passes and a really good opponent to thank for their second denial at a Frozen Four trip. Their first goal was taken back but they held strong through two periods before an errant pass led to a Colgate breakaway in the third, dooming the Huskies.

8. Mercyhurst (18-15-4), 39 —Last Week: 10

• Last Week: L 1-2 OT @ Clarkson (3/10)

• Coming Week: No Games

Everyone expected Mercyhurst to head to the Canadian border just being happy to have made the tournament. The Lakers had other ideas with an early goal and a long overtime period. In overtime, the Lakers were gassed and had to ice the puck numerous times, eventually costing them the game.

9. Cornell (21-9-3), 27— Last Week: 7

• Last Week: No Games

• Coming Week: No Games

The Big Red were the big losers last weekend as Minnesota had the upset in the WCHA tournament.

10. St. Lawrence (20-11-4), 15 — Last week: 9

• Last Week: No Games

• Coming Week: No Games

The Saints were never able to figure out Clarkson this season and struggled against the other top teams.

Also Receiving Vote: Robert Morris 6, Connecticut 5, Maine 3, Providence 1