2024-25: D3whky

[JDHack51]

I said the NESCAC was the best top to bottom conference. I never said it had the top team.

Plattsburgh (biggest one here winning 4 straight titles), Elmira, Norwich, Adrian, UWRF and Gustavus have traditionally been the top best of the best over the last 10-15 years. Most years Middlebury can run with this group and then Amherst occasionally get in the mix too.

No one is denying that Gustavus, Adrian, UWRF, Hamline etc. have had good teams in the past. They certainly have. The reality is more teams exist in the East which means more conferences and more bids to the tournament. That’s just how it works at every level of every NCAA sport.

More teams also can lead to the larger gaps between the top and bottom teams so you see some wonky scores when mid to high level teams play the very bottom ones.

You stated the NESCAC should receive 2-3 bids in the NCAA playoffs because of their conference parity and superior play of their teams, Pool C bids have nothing to do with region. Yes you never stated they have the best team, but why would a single conference be deserving of 2 out of 3 bids if they don't have the best team? It's implied by your statement of the conference being deserving.

I believe you can understand where I'm going with this. The selection of Pool C bids are not only a travesty to the West, but every other conference in the East who might have a deserving 2nd place team if 2 out of 3 pool C bids continually come from the NESCAC.

This all could be addressed and avoided with one easy rule change. A maximum of 2 teams from a conference allowed in the NCAA tournament for a sport with only 3 at large bids giving more team representation across the board.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

At the risk of upsetting people further, this is what the field would look like if the season ended today, using the standings page of the official website for each conference for the autobids (except the NESCAC whose Standings page is blank?): [TABLE="border: 0, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64"]Bid[/TD]
[TD="width: 64"]Team[/TD]
[TD="width: 64"]NPI Rnk[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pool C[/TD]
[TD]Amherst[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NESCAC[/TD]
[TD]Middlebury[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pool C[/TD]
[TD]Bowdoin[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SUNYAC[/TD]
[TD]Oswego[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pool C[/TD]
[TD]Colby[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pool C[/TD]
[TD]Cortland[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]MAC[/TD]
[TD]Arcadia[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]CNE[/TD]
[TD]Endicott[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]UCHC[/TD]
[TD]Nazareth[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]12[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]MIAC[/TD]
[TD]Augsburg[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NCHA[/TD]
[TD]SNC[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]17[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NEHC[/TD]
[TD]Elmira[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]29[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I was able to use a standard 12-team seeded bracket with only one geographic adjustment which is swapping SNC and Arcadia and came up with this:

1st Round
Nazareth at Endicott
Elmira at Colby
SNC at Augsburg
Arcadia at Cortland

QF:
End/Naz at Amherst
Colby/Elm at Oswego
SNC/Augs at Middlebury
Cort/Arc at Bowdoin

This bracket will change because:

1) The NESCAC teams have to beat each other up some more. I think they've had 2 or 3 conference weekends at most.
2) I think Adrian will jump SNC
3) I think the SUNYAC is wide open still. Plattsburgh has a chance to jump back in both the SUNYAC and possibly the Pool C discussion as early as at the end of their first two weeks back in Jan depending on how the East/West and the 2 games hosting Oz go. All of their games against the other top 4 (Oz, Cortland, and Canton) are 2 game series at home.
4) More games played out west should boost UWRF, UWEC, and the MIAC winner and runner-up.

Under the Pairwise it was important to not get too wrapped up in it until about 75 to 80 percent of the season was complete. Unsure if the NPI is the same, but I would imagine it is.

there is a ton of hockey left to be played and tons of non-conference games coming up over the next couple of weeks that will allow for big OOC strength of schedule shifts.

 

[Scott_TG]

Unranked Norwich with the upset of #3 Amherst in the first game of Norwich's annual East/West Classic.

Norwich will play the winner of #7 Plattsburgh vs #12 Nazareth while Amherst will play the loser. That puck drops in that game at 6pm ET.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Unranked Norwich with the upset of #3 Amherst in the first game of Norwich's annual East/West Classic.

Norwich will play the winner of #7 Plattsburgh vs #12 Nazareth while Amherst will play the loser. That puck drops in that game at 6pm ET.

Good win for Coach Leclerc and the Cadets after a frustrating first half of season.

 

[Scott_TG]

#7 Plattsburgh with the 2-0 win over #12 Nazareth with goals from Riggi and Morris.

The East/West Third Place game will be #3 Amherst vs #12 Nazareth at 1pm.

The championship will be at 4pm between #7 Plattsburgh and unranked host Norwich.

Plattsburgh will be going for their 8th East/West Championship. Plattsburgh's 7 times winning Norwich's annual event is more than double the school with the next highest amount of wins (Elmira - 3).

 

[VTpucksouteast]

Amherst takes the third place game 3-0 over Norwich following a late insurance goal followed up by an empty netter. Naz looked much better today than they did yesterday. In my opinion, from watching the game, the stronger team today lost. The Golden Flyers outplayed Amherst, albeit in a close fashion. Stott is an absolute beast in net for the Mammoths. She may be the best goalie I've ever seen at this level.

 

[Scott_TG]

Amherst takes the third place game 3-0 over Norwich following a late insurance goal followed up by an empty netter. Naz looked much better today than they did yesterday. In my opinion, from watching the game, the stronger team today lost. The Golden Flyers outplayed Amherst, albeit in a close fashion. Stott is an absolute beast in net for the Mammoths. She may be the best goalie I've ever seen at this level.

Sydney Aveson and Katie McCoy are the two best goalies I've seen at this level, though Stott is close and has time to go.

 

[Scott_TG]

Plattsburgh was up 2-0 after 2 on goals from Seoyoung Yoo and Mae Olshansky.

Norwich would rally in the third. They scored on a 2 on 0 break early in the period. Plattsburgh would get one back on a score from Riggi to make it 3-1. Norwich would pull Clark and Houle declined to call TO on an icing and Brooks made it 3-2 off that faceoff. Cardinal sophomore Sydney Francis, one of the most snakebitten forwards since her debut last season in terms of just missing or just getting saved, got her first collegiate goal on the ENG.

Cardinals win 4-3 and extend their record with an 8th East/West Classic win.

Thanks to Norwich for another great tourney. Mollie Fitzpatrick is a really fun announcer to listen to. She's very knowledgable but also very human its like watching a game with a friend.

 

[UncleRay]

Today's poll has me scratching my head. Nineteen voters say Middlebury is the best team in the nation. The final voter has them.... fifth. Wow.

 

[Scott_TG]

Today's poll has me scratching my head. Nineteen voters say Middlebury is the best team in the nation. The final voter has them.... fifth. Wow.

I'm guessing its someone protesting the perceived eastern bias making a statement

 

[VTpucksouteast]

Hamline crushes Eau Claire in their own barn 6-0 last night. Very interesting result, as the Pipers jump to #8 in the NPI.

In other news, D3HN's poll was released a day later today to accommodate for the midday Monday games. All 20 first place votes go to Midd in that one.

1. Midd
2. RF
3. GAC
4. Amherst
5. Adrian
6. Plattsburgh
7. Oswego
8. Augsburg
9. Cortland
10. UWEC
11. Hamline
12. Bowdoin
13. Utica
14. Naz
15. Elmira

 

[Scott_TG]

Hamline crushes Eau Claire in their own barn 6-0 last night. Very interesting result, as the Pipers jump to #8 in the NPI.

In other news, D3HN's poll was released a day later today to accommodate for the midday Monday games. All 20 first place votes go to Midd in that one.

1. Midd
2. RF
3. GAC
4. Amherst
5. Adrian
6. Plattsburgh
7. Oswego
8. Augsburg
9. Cortland
10. UWEC
11. Hamline
12. Bowdoin
13. Utica
14. Naz
15. Elmira

Can't argue much with this list. Granted I'm not sold on Bowdoin though they play Endicott tonight so that will be their first real test.

Plattsburgh and Oz play 2 at Stafford this weekend so if Augsburg continues to handle their own business they could jump one or both by next week depending on if there's a sweep by either or a split.

Edit: Endicott is up 4-1 after 2 on Bowdoin. Hopefully the people giving them votes for being unfeated take another look at who they beat prior to the next poll...

 

[Scott_TG]

Wow a pretty bad day for the NESCAC in non-conference play as the normally dominant conference goes 2-3 on the day.

Suffolk defeats Conn College 3-2
Endicott over #12 Bowdoin 5-3
Utica over Williams 6-3

Hamilton defeats William Smith 3-0
Wesleyan defeats Manhattanville 2-1

Both of the NESCAC victories came against bad teams and they are 0-2 in games with a ranked team.

 

[VTpucksouteast]

Wow a pretty bad day for the NESCAC in non-conference play as the normally dominant conference goes 2-3 on the day.

Suffolk defeats Conn College 3-2
Endicott over #12 Bowdoin 5-3
Utica over Williams 6-3

Hamilton defeats William Smith 3-0
Wesleyan defeats Manhattanville 2-1

Both of the NESCAC victories came against bad teams and they are 0-2 in games with a ranked team.

What’s even more wild is Wesleyan was losing a majority of the game and scored the winning goal with about 2 min left.

Hamilton vs. WSC was also scoreless for about 50 minutes before the Continentals finally pulled away

 

[Doc4141]

Calling Manhattanville a bad team is a stretch...They played Wes on one day of rest after playing Saturday and Sunday. Right now...almost 50% of their schedule is against teams ranked in the top 15 in the country. Utica, Naz, Oswego, and Cortland. They also play two NESCAC teams as well. They have been very competitive for a team heavy with freshmen and sophomores.

 

[LongGame]

Calling Manhattanville a bad team is a stretch...They played Wes on one day of rest after playing Saturday and Sunday. Right now...almost 50% of their schedule is against teams ranked in the top 15 in the country. Utica, Naz, Oswego, and Cortland. They also play two NESCAC teams as well. They have been very competitive for a team heavy with freshmen and sophomores.

Yeah, and William Smith is not a “bad team.” They took #6 Oswego to OT and lost to them twice by one goal, and they lost close games to ranked Norwich and Nazareth. Christ, the NESCAC hate on here is palpable.

 

[Scott_TG]

Upset of the day as Concordia (MN) came into the day 1-9 on the season against #9 UW-Eau Claire but came away with a 3-1 win. The Cobbers struck first with a shorty from Mephis Mertens in the first. Eau Claire tied 3 mins into the 2nd but Morgan Sauvageau netted the game winner 81 seconds later. Mertens added insurance midway through the 3rd. Mertens is a Jr transfer from Franklin Pierce.
Wilkes beat Arcadia 3-2 in a battle of the top of the MAC.

Unranked Elmira defeated #13 Nazareth 3-1 in the first game of Morrisville's weekend tourney. Naz struck first but the Soaring Eagles went off for 3 straight.

#7 Plattsburgh handed #6 Oswego their first loss of the year in a 2-0 win. Norton with a PPG on her own rebound and Morris netted the 2nd on a gritty win of the puck on the end boards and beauty of a feed to the low slot from Kasprzak. This was one of the nastier games I've seen in a while with a lot of penalties for both sides and even more uncalled. Rematch is tomorrow at 1pm.

Notable matchups left today:

SNC vs #15 Hamline

Trinity (1-5 in their last 5 after a 5-0 start) against #11 Bowdoin. Bowdoin took their first loss earlier this week and the Bantams want to end a 3 game skid.

Concordia (WI) takes a 12-2 record into their game against a visiting 8-7-1 UWSP who is one of those 2 losses.

 

[Scott_TG]

SNC upset #15 Hamline with a 4-2 victory. Tristan Wicklund put the Green Knights up within the first 90 seconds and they never trailed. Forward Kelsey Ross had 2 assists to lead the team in points as they were spread out among 8 players. Bonfe, Mahium and Zurawik had the other goals for SNC while Chamernick and Eder-Zdechiik had the Piper goals. SNC will get a great opportunity to continue building their NPI resume when they take on #8 Augsburg tomorrow. Hamline will take on Aurora who are now 2-9-2 following tonight's 3-0 shutout loss to said Auggies.

#11 Bowdoin ekes out a win against Trinity 2-1. Like leftover chicken, the Bantams get colder losing 4 straight and 5 of their last 6 after starting the season 5-0. Ava Imposimato got the Polar Bears started with her 4th of the season with 15:13 left in the first. Gabrila Gross tied it up 3:37 seconds into the 2nd but Bowdoin's game-winner came a bit under five minutes later as Luna Lu scored on the Power Play to give us the 2-1 final. The rematch is tomorrow at 4PM.


Concordia (WI) avenged their earlier loss to UWSP with a 3-1 win over the Pointers. Bauer, Gibson, and Spejcher scored for the Falcons while Molly Pohlkamp had the lone UWSP goal. Concordia is done for the weekend and will play 2 against what may well be a ranked SNC team next weekend while the Pointers host #2 River Falls tomorrow.

 

[Scott_TG]

#6 Oswego splits the weekend with #7 Plattsburgh on a 2-0 win (ENG). Bednarik scored in the 2nd and the Lakers' leading scorer Hull netted the ENG on a hail mary from her defensive crease with 9 seconds left. Lakers with a great job on the penalty kill frustrating Plattsburgh's already anemic offense. The #7 Cardinals will hit the road to Morrisville and Buffalo the next two weekends. Oswego returns to the North Country next weekend to take on Potsdam twice before visiting #3 Amherst a week from Tuesday and then hosting Manhattanville for 2.

#13 Nazareth shuts out host Morrisville in the consolation game of the Mustang cup. The Golden Flyers have a fairly light schedule the rest of the month as they host Hamilton, visit Cortland (should be a challenge for both) and then Chatham and Hilbert twice. Morrisville will host Plattsburgh twice as I previously mentioned and then have a home and home against Cortland.

Notable games remaining today:

SNC takes their 4 game win streak and victory over #15 Hamline into today's game against #8 Augsburg.

Elmira vs WNEU in the Mustang Cup championship game.

#2 UW-River Falls takes on UWSP

#9 UW-Eau Claire will try to exact revenge for yesterday's upset loss to 2-9 Concordia (MN).

Trinity will try to snap a 4 game losing streak in today's rematch with #11 Bowdoin.

Wilkes will be going for a second straight win against MAC leader Arcadia in an attempt to tie the MAC standings.

 

[Scott_TG]

And #1 Midd gets upended! Conn College was 3-7 and coming off a 5-0 shutout loss to the Panthers coming into today's rematch.

Rai Schluter put Midd up early in the first. Claire Simmons would tie it 13:53 into the 3rd to force OT. OT would last 1:19 seconds as Caitlin Pierce netted the game winner for the Camels.

Midd will head into 5 straight games against teams that are ranked as of today. They host #3 Amherst, #11 Bowdoin and #7 Plattsburgh.

WNEU also pulls off an upset, winning the inaugural Mustang Cup tourney hosted by SUNY Morrisville with a 2-1 comeback win over Elmira.

Also, Aurora came into today 2-9-1 and took #15 Hamline into OT, but the Pipers would take it on a goal from Averie Martin.