NCAA Women’s Power Rankings: Minnesota, Ohio State battle, battered Wisconsin stays hot
As we gear up for another entertaining weekend of college hockey, there are a number of teams that are further establishing themselves as Frozen Four favorites, while others are looking to show they have what it takes to simply compete against the top programs in the country.
With November in sight and conference schedules starting to ramp up, the caliber of play is slowly beginning to ramp up, ensuring some more exciting action across the country.
Let’s take a look at my Top 10 in this week’s power rankings:
1. Wisconsin
Record: 8-0-0
Last Week: 1st
It seems like it’s going to take a lot to take the Badgers away from the top spot. Even with Laila Edwards out indefinitely and Kirsten Simms suffering a lower-body injury last weekend, Wisconsin still has enough weapons to carry them through the season. They flexed their muscle in the Icebreaker Tournament at Union last week, beating Vermont and host Union by a combined score of 12-1. Lacey Eden had a great weekend, totaling three goals and five points, while Carolina Harvey and Kelly Gorbatenko each had two goals and an assist against the Catamounts on Friday.
The depleted Badgers return to WCHA play his weekend, hosting Minnesota State on Saturday and Sunday.
2. Ohio State
Record: 5-1-0
Last Week: 2nd
Ohio State certainly had its hands full last weekend in Minneapolis. The team heavily outplayed Minnesota in the first game on Friday, coming away with a 4-1 victory. However, they weren’t able to complete the sweep, as Hailey MacLeod gave up four goals on nine shots on Saturday, leading to a 6-3 loss. Even though the Buckeyes suffered their first loss of the season, there were great performances from Hilda Svensson, Jocelyn Amos and Joy Dunne, who led the team with three points.
OSU is back home this weekend, getting set to host St. Cloud State in a back-to-back.
3. Minnesota
Record: 7-1-0
Last Week: 3rd
The Golden Gophers went toe-to-toe with Ohio State last week and treated fans to a couple of exciting games. I wasn’t quite ready to push them over the Buckeyes, especially since OSU arguably outplayed Minnesota in both games at Ridder. However, how the Gophers were able to salvage a split against a team that has been to four straight national title games is commendable. After losing on Friday, Nelli Laitinen and Josefin Bouveng each stepped up on Saturday, each posting three points in a 6-3 victory.
The Gophers hit the road this weekend for two more marquee matchups, this time against Minnesota Duluth.
4. Minnesota Duluth
Record: 6-2-0
Last Week: 4th
Following a couple of tough games on the road against the Badgers, Minnesota Duluth had a little bit of an easier time against Minnesota State this past weekend. The Bulldogs heavily outplayed their WCHA counterpart, outshooting the Mavericks 88-42 over the two games, outscoring Mankato 8-1 in the weekend sweep. Goaltender Eve Gascon surrendered just one goal, while Caitlin Kraemer led UMD with four points over the weekend, including two goals and an assist last Friday.
After facing Wisconsin two weeks ago, the Bulldogs now get to face an in-state rival in the Gophers on home ice this weekend.
5. Penn State
Record: 8-0-0
Last Week: 5th
The Nittany Lions just continue to roll as their Atlantic Hockey America schedule continues. With Tessa Janecke back in the lineup this past week against Mercyhurst, Penn State put up nine goals in a pair of victories over the Lakers. Janecke scored four points in the two games, as did Danica Maynard. Grace Outwater had a solid game in a 6-1 win on Saturday, finding the back of the net twice. For PSU to have a high seed come tournament time, the team is going to simply have to keep beating up its conference foes.
Penn State is back home again this weekend for a pair of games against Lindenwood.
6. Cornell
Record: 2-0-0
Last Week: 6th
Finally, the Big Red and a bunch of the Ivy League schools played last week. Cornell hosted Hockey East side Boston College, and while the Eagles did their best to keep things close, it was clear that the defending ECAC champions were the better team. The Big Red controlled the play for the majority of the weekend, and utilized the formula that was their bread and butter last season – timely scoring with solid defense. The team had seven different goal scorers in the weekend sweep, with goaltender Annelies Bergmann turning away 47 of the 49 shots she faced.
Cornell opens up its conference schedule this weekend with a Friday night matchup with Harvard before visiting Dartmouth on Saturday.
7. Quinnipiac
Record: 8-0-0
Last Week: 7th
I’m starting to get really excited about Quinnipiac. The team is finding ways to win in a variety of ways. Whether it be a close game or a one-sided affair, the Bobcats are looking like a force to be reckoned with in the ECAC. Both games against Northeastern last weekend saw Quinnipiac have to earn wins. Four goals from Kahlen Lamarche, including two in the closing minutes, secured a 5-3 win for the Bobcats. Lamarche then potted two goals in the third on Saturday, giving her another hat trick, helping spur a 4-2 comeback victory.
Lamarche totaled eight points against the Huskies, putting her in a tie with Minnesota’s Abbey Murphy for first in the NCAA with 19. The Bobcats open up ECAC play this weekend with a Friday night matchup with Yale before visiting Brown on Saturday.
8. Connecticut
Record: 4-2-0
Last Week: NR
My love-hate relationship with UConn is going to be something to watch this season. Many people’s favorite to win the Hockey East title met with Princeton last weekend and managed to pull out a sweep in a couple of close games. The Huskies were outplayed in both matchups at home, with Tia Chan standing on her head. The veteran netminder stopped 81 of the 82 shots she faced, including pitching a 33-save shutout on Friday. Kyla Josifovic was the offensive star, scoring twice on Friday before potting the winner on Saturday.
UConn hits the road this weekend, as the team prepares to face Mercyhurst on Friday and Saturday.
9. St. Thomas
Record: 5-2-0
Last Week: NR
Hello, Tommies!
Am I a little overzealous on the young program? Possibly. However, this team has had a strong start to the season, and played two very good road games against St. Cloud State last weekend. After a tough 4-3 overtime loss in the first game on Friday, St. Thomas rallied in the third period on Saturday, scoring twice to force OT, before Jenessa Gazdik scored her first goal with St. Thomas to give the team a 4-3 victory. Ella Boerger totaled four assists on the weekend, as she leads the Tommies with nine points this season.
The Tommies are back home this weekend for some non-conference action with Providence.
10. St. Cloud State
Record: 4-4-0
Last Week: 9th
I’ve kind of talked about this before, but St. Cloud State is kind of that “mushy-middle” team in the WCHA. Not quite good enough to hang with Minnesota, Wisconsin or Ohio State, but good enough to be considered a top-four or five team in the conference. However, losing to St. Thomas, on home ice, has kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. Alice Sauriol had a solid weekend all things considered, scoring three times against the Tommies, but the team needs more offense to hang with the rest of the conference.
The Huskies have to quickly lick their wounds, as they have a two-game road set this weekend against Ohio State.
Honorable Mention: Colgate (3-3-0), Clarkson (3-3-0), Northeastern (4-2-0)