When independent Anna Maria (Mass.) College closed out a 5-3 win over Bryn Athyn on Friday, the first semester of hockey for Division 3 teams in New England officially came to a close for the holiday break.
The next games involving teams from the region will be on Dec. 29. After a weekend or two of largely non-conference games, conference play will resume with a vengeance as teams try to position themselves in the best ways for league and -- for some -- NCAA tournament success.
All four New England conferences are tight at the top, no first-place team ahead by more than three points. As we hit the break, the leaders are Salve Regina (8-3-1) in the Commonwealth Coast, Plymouth State (8-1-1) in the MASCAC, UMass-Boston (11-2) in the NEHC and Williams (5-2-1) in the NESCAC.
Let’s take a quick review.
Midseason Player of the Year
Brady Fleurent (Biddeford, Maine), sr., F, University of New England
The former Joe Concannon Award winner is one of just three players in Division 3 averaging more than two points a game. His 8-14-22 line ranks fourth nationally in points, and he’s been the biggest weapon on a Nor’easters team that’s scoring at a 4.90 clip -- the fourth-highest total in the nation.
Midseason Goalie of the Year
Andrew Tucci, jr., Colby
The No. 1 guy on Mayflower Hill as a freshman, Tucci was supplanted last year by Quinnipiac transfer Sean Lawrence, who led Colby to the NESCAC title and Frozen Four. Having never recorded a shutout prior to this season, Tucci (1.72 GAA, .937 save percentage) ranks among the top 10 nationally in both categories, and is now riding a streak of three shutouts in a row.
Midseason Team of the Year
UMass-Boston
The Beacons are the only New England team that ranks in the national top 10 in both scoring (4.62 goals per game/fifth) and defense (1.92 goals allowed per game/10th).
Their 8-0 league mark is the best they’ve ever started a conference season, and leaves them three points ahead of rival Babson, the only team they’ve dodged so far. UMB already owns wins against preseason favorites Hobart and Norwich, both by 4-2 scores.
Midseason Top 10
1. UMass-Boston (11-2)
The second half will begin with a Jan. 4 date with Tufts in the first round of the annual Codfish Bowl, with Cortland or Bryn Athyn awaiting the winner. UMass-Boston's record is tops in New England.
2. Salve Regina (8-3-1)
The defending national runner-up Seahawks own a one-point lead in the tightest of the four conference races and have passed most tests, but missed a chance to raise their national profile with two losses (2-0 and 6-3) at No. 7 Adrian earlier this month.
3. Endicott (7-3-1)
No team is playing better heading into the break. Gulls have scored 27 goals in their last four games -- all wins, two against ranked teams -- and senior Tommy Besinger (Milton, Mass.) is third in the nation with 18 assists.
4. Trinity (4-2-2)
The Bantams have been strong defensively, allowing just 1.75 goals per game, a figure that ranks sixth in Division 3. But a six-game unbeaten streak to start the season was marred by 3-2 losses to Amherst and Manhattanville right before the break.
5. Plymouth State (8-1-1)
There's just one wart on the Panthers’ first-half resume, but it’s a big one: an 8-2 home loss to Endicott earlier this month that saw them give up the game’s last seven goals. Aberration? They hope so.
6. Babson (8-3-1)
As good a story as there’s been in the first half. The Beavers entered the year having graduated their top four scorers but have already scored 41 times. In goal, Bryan Botcher (1.82 GAA, .935 save percentage) has outplayed incumbent Matt Pompa (3.18, .907).
7. Williams (5-2-1)
Good special teams have been a part of the recipe for the Ephs, with five power-play goals and two more shorthanded to their name. A double-header at Oswego will be a good test to close out 2018.
8. University of New England (7-3)
Not many teams can boast a tandem like Fleurent and junior Ryan Bloom (6-11-17). But the defense has to be better than it was in the losses to Nichols (4-3) and Endicott (7-3) that closed out the first half.
9. Colby (4-2-2)
Senior forward Nick O’Connor (Canton, Mass.) leads the NESCAC in scoring (7-5-12), and three of his goals have been game-winners. The Mules are also red hot -- they haven’t lost in six games.
10. Fitchburg State (6-3-2)
There has been no sophomore slump for Sascha Figi. The 13 goals he’s already scored for the Falcons is tied for the most in the nation.
