This is it — the penultimate weekend in Division III women’s hockey.
Where did the season go? More importantly, what lies ahead?
Candace and Matt pick this weekend’s top games and bite down their fingernails in the process.
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 12-13
Hamilton at No. 5 Amherst
Candace: This will be close, as it’s a good rivalry, but Amherst is one of the better teams out there. Amherst 4-1, 3-1
Matt: I’ve always liked Hamilton – a real up-and-coming team, and its 11-7-2 record proves that, despite being just 5-5-2 in the NESCAC. That said, Amherst is a bona fide national power and wins both here. Amherst 5-3, 4-1
Augsburg versus No. 9 St. Thomas home-and-home
Candace: Can St. Thomas get back on track? Maybe. But let’s go with the home teams. St. Thomas 2-1, Augsburg 2-1
Matt: Saturday’s game at Augsburg, the MIAC’s first-place team, is a celebration of two decades of Auggies hockey, the oldest women’s college hockey program in the Midwest (more on this next week). Augsburg has been a varsity program for 20 years and with all that said, gets a win at home Saturday. St. Thomas 2-0, Augsburg 3-1
Saturday, Feb. 13
University of New England at No. 8 Norwich
Candace: Norwich has looked good of late, and I think that continues. Norwich 4-2
Matt: UNE is 11-7-2 and will provide great competition for Norwich. As we learned in this week’s column, goaltending is a strength for Norwich with a pair of No. 1s. Whichever one of Celeste Robert or Laurie King starts gets the win over UNE in a shutout. Norwich 3-0
Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 13-14
No. 1 Plattsburgh at Utica
Candace: I’m starting to wonder if Plattsburgh can duplicate Minnesota’s perfect season of two years ago. Plattsburgh 4-1, 4-0
Matt: No one is beating Plattsburgh this season. No one. Cardinals winwith Camille Leonard further padding her incredible numbers in net. Plattsburgh 3-0, 4-0
