NCAA Women’s Power Rankings: Penn State creeps up the charts
While everyone remains focused on how things play out in the WCHA, there’s a team that continues to be consistent, despite being in an inferior league.
While Wisconsin, Ohio State and Minnesota continue to set the pace, Penn State remains one of the best teams in the nation, taking care of its business in hopes of causing a stir when things truly ramp up in March.
See where the Nittany Lions fall in this week’s top 10:
1. Wisconsin
Record: 10-0-0
Last week: 1st
Them battered Badgers be battling (say that 10 times fast!). Even with Kirsten Simms and Laila Edwards still on the shelf, Wisconsin continues to keep the excellent start to its season rolling. In hosting Minnesota State this past weekend, the reigning national champions kept filling the back of the net, sweeping the Mavericks by a combined score of 12-0. Rookie Adéla Šapovalivová and senior Claire Enright each had two goals and five points on the weekend, with Kelly Gorbatenko also putting up four points.
The Badgers will have a much tougher test this weekend, as they host the Golden Gophers for a pair of games.
2. Ohio State
Record: 7-1-0
Last week: 2nd
Had the Buckeyes had similar results against St. Cloud State with a full roster, I might’ve knocked them down a peg. However, given that they played with just three lines and were missing talent due to suspensions from their previous weekend against Minnesota, I think Ohio State played pretty well, all things considered. Joy Dunne just about single-handedly led the team’s 4-2 comeback win on Saturday with a shutout, with the junior ending up with four goals in the weekend sweep. Hilda Svensson continued her hot start, scoring a goal and six points over the two games.
Ohio State hits the road this coming weekend for a pair of games against St. Thomas.
3. Minnesota
Record: 9-1-0
Last week: 3rd
The Gophers had a rather tough battle on their hands with Minnesota Duluth last weekend. Even though Bulldogs netminder Eve Gascon was knocked out of Friday’s game early, she returned on Saturday to make things difficult for the Gophers. Even though the team was on the road, I was really impressed by how Minnesota pulled through. After being held off the scoresheet in the first game of the weekend, Abbey Murphy stepped up on Saturday, scoring twice to restore her lead atop the NCAA goal-scoring race.
The Gophers now gear up for the heavyweight matchup we’re all excited to see, as they visit Wisconsin this weekend.
4. Penn State
Record: 10-0-0
Last week: 5th
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know what you’re saying – “Of course they look good! Look who they’re playing!”
Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like this Penn State team might be better than last year’s squad. The team is averaging just under five goals per game, and isn’t giving up much either. Tessa Janecke remains one of the nation’s top scorers, potting 14 points in eight games, with four points coming in last weekend’s sweep over Lindenwood. Matile Fantin had a great couple of games as well, totaling two goals and six points against the Lions.
The Nittany Lions face an in-state foe this weekend, visiting Robert Morris for a couple of games.
5. Cornell
Record: 5-0-0
Last week: 4th
I’m really liking what I’ve been seeing from the Big Red in the early stages. After beating up Boston College, Cornell flexed a little bit of its offensive muscles over the past week. They took down a strong Harvard team on Friday, before shutting out Dartmouth on Saturday. The Big Red kept things rolling with another 5-0 win over Syracuse this past Tuesday. The team potted 15 goals over the three wins, with nine different goal scorers. Lindzi Avar had a great week, scoring thrice, totaling four points.
The Big Red jumps back into ECAC action this weekend, hosting Yale on Friday before meeting with Brown on Saturday.
6. Minnesota Duluth
Record: 6-4-0
Last week: 4th
I really didn’t want to bump the Bulldogs this far back, but even when they went up against Minnesota, which was without Chloe Primerano in the first game, Duluth didn’t have enough firepower to get the job done. Credit Sophia Villanueva for playing well in relief on Friday, not an easy spot for any goaltender. Yet, had it not been for those two, the Bulldogs would probably have been blown out by the Gophers.
The Bulldogs are back on the road, as they hope to get back on the winning track this weekend in their two-game set with St. Cloud State.
7. Quinnipiac
Record: 9-1-0
Last week: 7th
The Bobcats’ undefeated start might be no more, as the team fell to a very pesky Brown squad this past Saturday, but they’re still looking like the best threat to dethrone Cornell for the ECAC title. What really hurt Quinnipiac was how both Yale and Brown did a good job of limiting Kahlen Lamarche’s chances, which was noticeable on the scoreboard, especially when the Bobcats were goose-egged by the Bears on Saturday. It seemed like it was a bump in the road, but there are some things to clean up on the offensive for QU.
Quinnipiac continues its conference schedule this weekend, meeting with Union on Friday before hosting RPI on Saturday.
8. Clarkson
Record: 5-3-0
Last week: NR
Clarkson is back on the board! The Golden Knights looked very impressive in their victories over the Garnet Chargers and Engineers on Friday and Saturday, outscoring their opponents 12-3. The offense that had seemingly been quiet came out in a big way, especially from Sara Manness. The freshman registered seven points on the weekend, including a pair of goals against RPI. Sena Catterall also contributed in a big way with six points.
The Golden Knights are one home ice this weekend, as they host Harvard on Friday before welcoming Dartmouth to town on Saturday.
9. Connecticut
Record: 5-2-1
Last week: 8th
I wasn’t impressed with how the Huskies played against Mercyhurst at all. Sure, they carried the play for significant periods of time, but they never seemed to be in control. They had to come back in the third period to salvage a tie on Friday, and narrowly squeaked out a 4-3 win on Saturday. I know the tools are there for UConn to be up near the top of the polls, but they need to be more consistent if they want to be playing in the national tournament.
The Huskies gear up for their first weekend of Hockey East action, as they take on Holy Cross on Saturday and Sunday.
10. St. Thomas
Record: 7-3-0
Last week: 9th
St. Thomas had some interconference action last weekend, playing in a pair of entertaining games against Providence in St. Paul. The Tommies squandered a lead in the final minute of the third on Friday night, leading to a 7-6 overtime loss, but bounced back to win 5-1 the next day. The one constant was how St. Thomas really dominated the play for the entire weekend, shaky goaltending aside. Rylee Bartz posted a goal and an assist on both nights, while Ella Boerger ended up with four points over the weekend.
The Tommies will be tested this weekend as they prepare to host Ohio State.
Honorable Mention: Colgate (4-4-0), St. Cloud State (4-6-0), Colgate (4-4-0)