Minnesota-Duluth’s lead in this week’s USCHO.com Division I Women’s Poll slipped to just five points over No. 2 Minnesota, after the Bulldogs won and tied against No. 6 Wisconsin in a weekend set. Minnesota earned a sweep over Ohio State, and vaulted into first place in the WCHA standings. 10 of the 15 first-place votes went to Minnesota-Duluth, with the remaining five being awarded to the Golden Gophers.
The other major change in this week’s poll is new-No. 10 Mercyhurst, which appears in the poll after a one-week absence. The Lakers were also No. 10 in the poll of October 14. Mercyhurst won two games against non-conference foe St. Cloud, while last week’s No. 10 team, Northeastern, dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 7 St. Lawrence.
Next weekend, No. 6 Wisconsin will try to do better than one point against No. 2 Minnesota, while the Gophers will be attempting to supplant Minnesota-Duluth at the top of next week’s poll, as the two teams meet for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday.
Elsewhere, No. 4 Dartmouth finally gets to work, hosting an ECAC game against Vermont on Friday night before traveling to No. 8 Providence in an early ECAC-Hockey East battle. No. 5 Brown plays its first games of the season as well, hosting two games against CHA member Niagara. Both teams were NCAA Frozen Four participants last season.
The USCHO.com Poll is compiled by U.S. College Hockey Online, and consists of 15 voters, including 11 coaches of Division I programs and four women’s hockey writers.
