Women’s D-I weekend picks Nov. 16-21

Maddie Rooney (Minnesota Duluth Athletics)
Maddie Rooney will be tested by Ohio State this weekend. (Minnesota Duluth Athletics)

With all the strangeness last week, Nicole and I both did horribly. I was 9-7-6, while Nicole was 8-8-6. On the year, I am 89-34-16 (.726) while Nicole is 86-37-16 (.709). Most teams are back in action this weekend, so let’s see if we can do better with our picks.

Friday, Nov. 16

No. 3 Clarkson at Brown
Candace: I don’t think Brown is back on the upset train. Clarkson 4-1
Nicole: Clarkson should win this one. Clarkson 3-0

Colgate at Princeton
Candace: I have to think the Raiders will eventually get back on track. Why not now? Colgate 3-2
Nicole: This is one of the most interesting games of the weekend. I’m tempted to pick a tie so I don’t have to decide. I’ll take Princeton at home. Princeton 3-2

No. 6 Cornell at Quinnipiac
Candace: This will be a tough game, but I think Cornell bounces back from two disappointing ties. Cornell 2-1
Nicole: The Big Red bounce back with a full roster and win. Cornell 4-2

No. 9 St. Lawrence at Yale
Candace: Yale hasn’t shown any consistency yet. St. Lawrence 4-1
Nicole: St. Lawrence take this one. St. Lawrence 3-0

Friday-Saturday, Nov. 16-17

RIT at Syracuse
Candace: I think the Orange are better than I initially thought. Syracuse 3-1, 3-1
Nicole: I expect Syracuse takes this series at home. Syracuse 3-1, 2-0

No. 5 Northeastern at Maine
Candace: The Huskies have certainly been the surprise team of the young season, and I think they stay hot. Northeastern 4-2, 4-2
Nicole: I’m tempted to pick a split here because I think Maine has the ability, but I feel like I have to pick Northeastern until they give me a reason not to, so I’ll say the Huskies sweep a close one. Northeastern 2-1, 4-2

Merrimack vs No. 10 Providence
Candace: I’m still not completely sold on either team, and both have been playing well. I’m picking the Friars to start building momentum. Providence 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: This is a home-and-home series, and I’ll take the home team to each win. Providence 1-0, Merrimack 3-2

No. 4 Boston College vs Connecticut
Candace: BC desperately needs wins. They will get them this weekend. Boston College 3-1, 3-1
Nicole: This should be a sweep for Boston College in another home-and-home series. Boston College 4-2, 3-1

Vermont at Boston University
Candace: Boston University has shown some signs of getting on track. I think the Terriers sweep. Boston University 3-1, 3-1
Nicole: I’ll pick a split here, with Vermont winning game one and BU winning game two. Vermont 1-0, Boston University 2-0

No. 7 Minnesota Duluth at No. 7 Ohio State
Candace: This series is going to be the most interesting of the weekend. Both teams have shown vulnerability after good starts. I have to think this is a split. Ohio State 4-2, Minnesota Duluth 3-1
Nicole: This series could go any way and I wouldn’t be surprised. Ohio State will be riled up after last week’s sweep, and they’re at home, but I don’t think they’ll sweep. Ohio State 3-2, Minnesota Duluth 4-2

Bemidji State at No. 1 Wisconsin
Candace: The Badgers will win two tight defensive games. Wisconsin 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: I’ll take the Badgers to sweep this one. Wisconsin 3-1, 3-0

Penn State at Rensselaer
Candace: Rensselaer is good at making teams struggle to score, but I’m going with Penn State to sweep. Penn State 2-1, 2-1
Nicole: These teams should split. Rensselaer 3-1, Penn State 2-0

Minnesota State at Robert Morris
Candace: The Mavericks are going to be a tough out, but it’s hard to pick against the home team. Robert Morris 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: Robert Morris should sweep. Robert Morris 3-1, 3-2

Saturday, Nov. 17

No. 9 St. Lawrence at Brown
Candace: St. Lawrence is my de facto No. 2 in the ECAC. St. Lawrence 3-1
Nicole: St. Lawrence wins this. St. Lawrence 3-0

No. 6 Cornell at Princeton
Candace: I think the Big Red will get two needed wins this weekend. Cornell 3-1
Nicole: I think Cornell takes this one. Cornell 4-2

Colgate at Quinnipiac
Candace: I am picking the Raiders to also get two needed wins. Colgate 3-1
Nicole: I expect Colgate to win. Colgate 2-0

No. 3 Clarkson at Yale
Candace: Clarkson is not going to lose in the ECAC any time soon. Clarkson 4-1
Nicole: Clarkson wins. Clarkson 3-0

New Hampshire at Holy Cross
Candace: Holy Cross has been struggling in its first season as a full-time D-I team, with no wins yet. I don’t think they get one this weekend either. New Hampshire 3-1
Nicole: New Hampshire wins this one. New Hampshire 4-1

Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 17-18

No. 2 Minnesota vs. St. Cloud State (home-and-home)
Candace: The Gophers are starting to come together. I think they will be tough to beat in the second half. Minnesota 4-2, 4-2
Nicole: I think Minnesota takes the sweep. Minnesota 4-2, 3-1

Tuesday, Nov. 20

Merrimack at Quinnipiac
Candace: I’m tempted to pick home ice, but I like the Warriors in this. Merrimack 3-2
Nicole: Merrimack wins. Merrimack 3-1

Boston University at No. 4 Boston College
Candace: I think this will be a battle, but the Eagles get much-needed confidence. Boston College 3-2
Nicole: This should be a Boston College win. Boston College 4-2

Bemidji State vs. St. Cloud State
Candace: Something tells me the Huskies will pull it out. St. Cloud State 3-2
Nicole: Bemidji State wins. Bemidji State 3-1

Holy Cross at Harvard
Candace: A year ago, Holy Cross stunned the Crimson for their first win at the D-I level. I imagine the Crimson are itching for payback. Harvard 4-1
Nicole: Harvard wins. Harvard 4-0

Tuesday-Wednesday, Nov. 20-21

RIT at Penn State
Candace: I have to think the Nittany Lions sweep this. Penn State 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: An unusual midweek series, I’ll say Penn State sweeps. Penn State 2-1, 2-0