{"id":28627,"date":"2006-11-02T21:19:06","date_gmt":"2006-11-03T03:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2006\/11\/02\/200607-miac-preview\/"},"modified":"2010-08-17T19:56:40","modified_gmt":"2010-08-18T00:56:40","slug":"200607-miac-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwproxy.uscho.com\/2006\/11\/02\/200607-miac-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"2006-07 MIAC Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"
For the past 18 seasons, the MIAC has been dominated by a pair of teams — St. Thomas and St. John’s. The Tommies have won at least a share of the regular-season title 13 times, while the Johnnies have taken home the crown the other five times. <\/p>\n
In recent history, the MIAC has become a two-horse race as St. Thomas and St. John’s have finished one-two the past four seasons. Last season was no different — until the playoffs.<\/p>\n
That’s when St. Olaf and its modest 8-5-3 conference record made a miraculous postseason run, knocking off St. John’s, 3-2, in the MIAC semifinal, then, crushing St. Thomas, 5-1, in the MIAC Championship, to earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately for the Olies, the run ended in the first round as Wisconsin-Superior pulled out the 2-1 victory.<\/p>\n
As for a two-horse race this season, St. Thomas coach Terry Skrypek doesn’t see that. <\/p>\n
“Well I think the MIAC, in all the years I’ve been here — and this is my 20th year — I think it’s probably the most balanced it’s ever been in terms of top to bottom,” Skrypek said. “I don’t there’s any game that you can take for granted.”<\/p>\n
Click on any team name at the top of a section below to view its individual season preview.<\/i><\/p>\n
St. Thomas<\/a><\/b> St. John’s<\/a><\/b> St. Olaf<\/a><\/b> Gustavus Adolphus<\/a><\/b> Bethel<\/a><\/b> St. Mary’s<\/a><\/b> Augsburg <\/a><\/b>
\nLast season:<\/b> 13-2-1 MIAC, 17-9-1 overall
\nBiggest games this season:<\/b> Jan. 26 vs. St. John’s, Jan. 27 at St. John’s<\/p>\n
\nLast season:<\/b> 11-3-2 MIAC, 16-7-3 overall
\nBiggest games this season:<\/b> Jan. 26 at St. Thomas, Jan. 27 vs. St. Thomas<\/p>\n
\nLast season:<\/b> 8-5-3 MIAC, 13-9-5 overall
\nBiggest games this season:<\/b> Nov. 17 vs. St Thomas, Nov. 18 at St. Thomas, Dec. 9 vs. St. John’s, Dec. 10 at St. John’s. <\/p>\n
\nLast season:<\/b> 9-7-0 MIAC, 14-11-1 overall
\nBiggest games this season:<\/b> The final 10 games of the season — St. Olaf, Bethel, St. Thomas, Augsburg and St. John’s<\/p>\n
\nLast season:<\/b> 8-6-2 MIAC, 15-10-2 overall
\nBiggest games of the season:<\/b> Dec. 1 at St. Thomas, Dec. 2 vs. St. Thomas<\/p>\n
\nLast season:<\/b> 8-8-0 MIAC, 9-14-1 overall
\nBiggest games of the season:<\/b> Final six games of the year (St. Olaf, Bethel and St. Thomas)<\/p>\n
\nLast season:<\/b> 5-8-3 MIAC, 9-13-3 overall
\nBiggest games of the year:<\/b> Jan. 19 at St. Thomas, Jan. 20 vs. St. Thomas, Feb. 2 vs. St. John’s, Feb. 3 at St. John’s<\/p>\n