There are three conference series this go-round, with Milwaukee School of Engineering and Concordia getting the weekend off. Lawrence and Marian will get the play started Thursday evening with a home-and-home series. Adrian is venturing west to visit Lake Forest, while Northland is looking to get its first win at Finlandia.
Last weekend, I went 5-3-0 (.625) on my picks; so much for picking splits down the line! I’m fairing decently this season with an 11-5-0 (.687) record; I’ll take it.
Thursday-Friday, November 15-16
Lawrence vs. Marian
This home-and-home series starts tonight at Marian. Both teams hold 2-2-0 MCHA records. Last weekend, Marian split with Finlandia, highlighted by a 3-0 shutout win on Saturday night. The Sabres have had a habit low-scoring games, only outscoring conference opponents 8-6. Junior forward Tyler Klein is the top scorer thus far (3-1-4). Lawrence had a commanding sweep of Northland over the weekend, and has scored by commission, with nine players having two or more goals. I’m going with a sweep for this match-up, with both teams winning at home. Marian 2-1, Lawrence 4-2
Friday-Saturday, November 16-17
Adrian at Lake Forest
In two weekends of play, the Adrian Bulldogs have yet to lose a game, posting a 4-0-0 record. They swept MSOE last weekend, and have outscored opponents 28-6. Freshman forward Shaquille Merasty is a player to watch this weekend; he currently leads the team with six goals. Lake Forest will have to find a way to stop the 6-foot-3-inch power forward. Lake Forest holds a 1-3-0 conference record. The Foresters were swept by Concordia last weekend. The key for Lake Forest to compete with Adrian is to find its defense. I’m going with a Bulldogs sweep. Adrian 4-2, 3-2
Northland at Finlandia
Northland (0-4-0) has yet to win a conference game, and was swept by Adrian last weekend. Finlandia is the team of splits thus far this season. With a 2-2-0 MCHA record, they most recently split with a Marian. The Lions will want to get a pair of wins to confirm a spot in the top four of the conference. I’m picking the team with the home ice this weekend for the sweep. Finlandia 4-2, 3-1
