SB Nation’s Women’s College Hockey Division I Poll: Tournament Time

There are seven games left and everyone of them has some upset potential. The top six could be a dice roll to see who wins it all, but the other teams look to spoil the party.

Well we have our field.  After no bid thieves were able to emerge, the last one was defeated soundly on Sunday, we get the field we all expected and now get to play the final seven games of the season.


NCAA bracket released


1. Cornell (28-2-3), 84 (5) — Last poll: 1

•  Last week: W 4-0 v Harvard (3/7), L 2-3 OT v Princeton (3/8)

•  Coming Week: v Mercyhurst (3/14)

After blowing out Harvard and jumping out to an early two goal lead the Big Red imploded and allowed two goals in the second and the OT winner less than a minute in.  They will get to rebound against the weakest team in the field since they earned the number one overall seed.

2. Northeastern (30-4-2), 79 (4) — Last poll: 3

•  Last week: W 3-1 v Maine (3/7), W 9-1 v Connecticut (3/8)

•  Coming Week:  v Princeton (3/14)

The Huskies are rolling at the right time After Carly Jackson tried to make life difficult, the NU offense exploded for a record breaking barrage against Connecticut to claim their trophy. Northeastern will take on a Princeton team that has also never made a Frozen Four trip so history will be on the line in Matthews Arena.

3. Wisconsin (27-4-2), 74 — Last poll: 2

•  Last Week: W 4-1 v Minnesota Duluth (3/7), L 0-1 OT v Ohio State (3/8)

•   Coming Week: v Clarkson (3/14)

The Badgers were locked in at the overall two seed after the semifinal games and just never got their potent offense rolling as the Buckeyes were able to upset Bucky. Now a Clarkson team that is looking to rebound from a bad loss will take on the defending champs

T-4. Princeton (24-6-1), 56 — Last poll: 6

•  Last week: W 5-1 v Clarkson (3/7), W 3-2 OT @ Cornell (3/8)

•  Coming Week: @ Northeastern (3/14)

The Tigers caught fire this weekend blowing the doors off Clarkson then handing Cornell only their second loss all season, this was enough to make Princeton our ‘Belles of the Ball’ this week. Up next is a trip to one of the only arenas that can Rival Hobey Baker in history as they will take on Northeastern.

T-4. Ohio State (22-8-6), 56 — Last poll: 5

•  Last week: W 4-3 OT @ Minnesota (3/7), W 1-0 OT v Wisconsin (3/8)

•  Coming Week: @ Minnesota (3/14)

The Buckeyes have really turned their season around after losing twice, in a shootout and  3v3 OT, to Mankato OSU was in danger of falling out the poll. After the weekend heroics of Tatum Skaggs and her two OT winners, Ohio State became only the fourth team to ever win the WCHA. Their reward is another meeting with Minnesota, once again in Minneapolis.

T-4. Minnesota (27-5-3), 56 — Last poll: 4

•  Last week: L 3-4 OT v Ohio State (3/7)

•  Coming Week: v Ohio State (3/14)

The Gophers have to be licking their wounds after suffering another home loss to Ohio State, unfortunately for them they will have no respite as the Buckeyes will be returning to Minneapolis on Saturday.

7. Clarkson (25-5-6), 35 — Last poll: 7

•  Last week: L 1-5 v Princeton (3/7)

•  Coming Week: @ Wisconsin (3/14)

The Golden Knights were hoping to win and lock up a bid but despite the blowout loss they were able to back in thanks to Northeastern blowing UConn out, whether any thank you gifts will be sent to Boston is still undecided as of press time.  There will be no rest though as they will get to play Wisconsin in a battle of the last two champions.

8. Minnesota-Duluth (18-11-5), 25 — Last poll: 8

•  Last week: L 1-4 v

•  Coming Week: No Games

Duluth fell pretty badly to Wisconsin to become the 25th to be eliminated from NCAA contention.

9. Boston University (24-8-4), 12 — Last poll: 10

•  Last week: No Games

•  Coming Week: No Games

The Terriers were idle and were able to gain ground in the poll with the loss Harvard took.

10. Mercyhurst (18-13-1), 8 — Last poll: ARV

•  Last week: W 4-1 v Penn State (3/6), W 2-1 OT v Robert Morris (3/7)

•  Coming Week: @ Cornell (3/14)

The Lakers needed late heroics and OT to take the CHA title after backing into the regular season crown.  Either way the Lakers are dancing once more and look to don some glass slippers as they take a bus to Ithaca.

Also Receiving Votes: Harvard 6, Quinnipiac 3, Bemidji State 1