SB Nation’s Women’s College Hockey Division I Poll: Comm. Ave. clash

As we are all but ensconced in the winter break, teams seem to be settling into position for a second half run.

As we are now entering the semester break for most teams, there was a little intrigue with a couple of rivalry games.

1. Wisconsin (18-1-1), 105 (7) — Last poll: 1

•  Last Week:  W 4-3 v Minnesota-Duluth (12/6), W 5-2 v Minnesota-Duluth (12/7)

•  Coming Week: No Games

After a scare in their first game the Badgers took care of business and flattened the Bulldogs.  They will be off until next year when they travel to Pittsburgh for what should be two games that will help build their resume.

2. Minnesota (15-1-3), 98 (2) — Last poll: 2

•  Last week: W 4-0 v Minnesota State (12/7)

•  Coming Week: No Games

The Gophers routed the Mavericks in a non-conference meeting between the teams.  They will host Yale when they return to action.

3. Cornell (11-1-1), 86 — Last poll: 4

•  Last week: W 5-1 @ Princeton (12/6), W 4-1 @ Quinnipiac (12/7)

•  Coming Week: No Games

Two emphatic wins over good teams boosted Cornell back to the third spot and keep them in contention for both conference titles.

4. Northeastern (14-2-0), 79 (2) — Last poll: 3

•  Last week: W 7-0 @ Holy Cross (12/4)

•  Coming Week: No Games

The Huskies seem to be an enigmatic team despite winning their last two games by a combined score of 18-0 they drop once again in the polls and were afterthoughts to some voters.  They get to host Vermont as a tune up before they head to Pittsburgh as well.

T-5. Princeton (10-3-0), 57 — Last poll: 5

•  Last week: L 1-5 v Cornell (12/6), W 7-5 v Colgate (12/7)

•  Coming Week: v Ohio State (12/14, 12/15)

Another tough loss to Cornell has all but eliminated the Tigers from Ivy contention but they still sit atop the ECAC with more games played.  They will be one of only two ranked teams in action as they head to Las Vegas for a pair against Ohio State

T-5. Ohio State (10-4-4), 57 — Last poll: 6

•  Last week: No Games

•  Coming Week: v Princeton (12/14, 12/15)

The Buckeyes took the week off and will fly out to Vegas for a pair of games against the Princeton team they are tied with in the poll.

7. Clarkson (14-2-4), 52 — Last poll: 7

•  Last week: W 5-0 v Rensselaer (12/6), W 5-3 v Union (12/7)

•  Coming Week: No Games

Clarkson beat up on a struggling RPI but then had issues with Union heading into the end of the semester.

8. Boston University (12-4-1), 31 — Last poll: 9

•  Last week: W 6-0 v Boston College (12/6), W 2-1 @ Boston College (12/7)

•  Coming Week:  No Games

The Terriers obliterated archrival BC at home and then held on at Conte to sweep the Eagles and take the season series.  This earns them the title of this weeks ‘Belles of the Ball.’  They are done for the year and will return with a slate of imminently winnable games to get back in the Hockey East race.

9. Boston College (11-6-2), 16 — Last poll: 8

•  Last week: L 0-6 @ Boston University (12/6), L 1-2 v Boston University (12/7)

•  Coming Week: No Games

The Eagles seem to have lost a wing having only won twice in their last nine games, and they have lost two times each to the teams they defeated in that stretch. The break has come at a good time for Coach Crowley to throw what ever she can at this issue and fix it before playing Harvard on New Years Eve.

10. Minnesota-Duluth (8-8-2), 14 — Last poll: 10

•  Last week: L 3-4 @ Wisconsin (12/6), L 2-5 @ Wisconsin (12/7)

•  Coming Week: No Games

Duluth was unlucky to not get a point in the first game but then had nothing left for their second game in Madison.

Also Receiving Votes: Harvard 9, Colgate 1