Eight of the top ten teams saw action, but with all of the results, save one, going to the higher-ranked team, the USCHO.com Division III Women’s Poll featured no change in the top ten teams or their places, from one week ago.
Elmira remained on top of the poll, earning nine of the available 12 first-place votes.
The only meeting between ranked teams was a two game set between NCHA powers No. 7 Wis.-Stevens Point and No. 9 Wis.-River Falls. While the Pointers won a 3-2 game on Saturday, the Falcons rebounded for a 2-0 win on Sunday. The split didn’t decide much in the minds of the voters, who left the two teams in the same locations as the previous week.
Next week could see some shake-up in the poll, as three ranked teams play round robin. On Tuesday, No. 4 Middlebury hosts No. 5 Williams, before Williams turns around to host No. 2 Bowdoin on Friday. Saturday’s follow-up sees Bowdoin traveling to Middlebury. In addition, No. 8 St. Thomas gets its toughest test of the season as the Tommies go to No. 9 Wis.-River Falls on Wednesday.
Road games seem to be the rule for top teams next weekend. No. 1 Elmira hits the road to take on Cortland and Connecticut College, No. 3 Manhattanville plays a two game set at St. Michael’s, and No. 6 Plattsburgh visits Hamilton on Tuesday and Cortland on Saturday and Sunday. No. 7 Wis.-Stevens Point takes a trip to upstart Lake Forest, proud owners of an impressive 9-3-3 record, while No. 10 RIT puts a 14-1 record on the line with two games at Southern Maine.
The USCHO.com Poll is compiled by U.S. College Hockey Online, and consists of 12 voters, all coaches of Division III programs.
