It was a good weekend to be a Division 3 team from Maine.
NESCAC travel partners Colby and Bowdoin faced one of the tougher road trips of the season and both came away with a haul of points to tighten their grip on top-four spots.
While Bowdoin was upsetting first-place Hamilton on Friday, Colby was taking a neat win at Amherst. The teams switched opponents Saturday, with the Mules nicking a point at Hamilton and Bowdoin tying Amherst.
The University of New England, meanwhile, extended its win streak to nine games with back-to-back shutouts.
So, where do Colby, Bowdoin, UNE and the region’s other top teams rank in our latest Top 10?
1. CURRY
Record: 19-3 (13-2 CNE) | Last ranking: 1 | Next game: Friday vs. Endicott (7 p.m.)
The Colonels have put themselves in excellent position for another trip to the NCAA tournament, but this weekend will determine if they can finish first in the Conference of New England, facing closest pursuers Endicott (Friday) and UNE (Saturday). Only two teams in the nation are allowing fewer than their 1.50 goals per game.
2. TRINITY
Record: 14-5-1 (10-3-1 NESCAC) | Last ranking: 2 | Next game: Friday at Bowdoin (7 p.m.)
Senior defenseman Eamon Donehy’s (Lunenburg, Mass.) overtime goal capped a 5-4 win over Williams and a perfect weekend for the Bantams. The defending league champs are the only team that can catch Hamilton for the regular-season crown, but the Bantams face a tough weekend trip to Bowdoin and Colby, which sit in third and fourth, respectively.
3. UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
Record: 16-5-1 (12-3 CNE) | Last ranking: 4 | Next game: Friday at Western New England (noon)
The Nor’easters are flying, with nine straight wins and first-place Curry in clear view. Senior Ryan Kuzmich of Norton, Mass. (18-13-31), and sophomores Drew Olivieri of Swampscott, Mass. (10-20-30) and Dominic Murphy of Worcester, Mass. (13-16-29) have formed one of the most dynamic lines in D-3. Kuzmich has a chance to top Ryan Bloom’s single-season program goal record of 22.
4. ENDICOTT
Record: 15-6-1 (12 2-1 CNE) | Last ranking: 3 | Next game: Friday at Curry (7 p.m.)
The Gulls surprisingly needed to rescue points late Saturday at Nichols, getting a game-tying goal from freshman forward Jack Costanzo with 58 seconds left and then an extra point by winning the shootout. Senior Ryan Wilson (Shelton, Conn.), one half of what feels like a forever goalie tandem with classmate Atticus Kelly, made a season-high 43 saves.
5. PLYMOUTH STATE
Record: 17-5 (14-1 MASCAC) | Last ranking: 7 | Next game: Thursday at Fitchburg State (6:30 p.m.)
Junior forward Will Redick scored twice in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Rivier, extending his point streak to eight games and moving up to fourth in the national rankings in points (17-17-34). The Panthers can’t afford to take their foot off the gas with league newcomer Anna Maria (15-5, 11-2) breathing down their necks in the MASCAC.
6. COLBY
Record: 11-5-4 (6-5-3 NESCAC) | Last ranking: 6 | Next game: Friday vs. Wesleyan (7 p.m.)
Senior forward Will Molson scored a goal in both games over the weekend as the Mules kept up their push for a top-four finish (and home quarterfinal playoff game). Freshman Cooper Rautenstrauch out of Cushing Academy has held the fort in net, with a 2.19 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.
7. BABSON
Record: 13-9-1 (11-7 NEHC) | Last ranking: 5 | Next game: Feb. 21 vs. Hobart (7 p.m.)
The Beavers took care of their weekend business, winning twice at UMass Boston by identical 4-2 scores. Sophomore Joseph Kramer (Bridgewater, Mass.) produced a career-high three assists in Friday’s win. A quirk in the NEHC schedule has the Beavers off for 13 days before No. 1 Hobart comes to town for a pair in two weekends.
8. SALVE REGINA
Record: 11-9-3 (9-9 NEHC) | Last ranking: 8 | Next game: Saturday vs. Skidmore (8 p.m.)
The Seahawks played their ninth overtime game of the season Friday at Norwich, losing 5-4 to drop them to 2-4-3 in those contests. To their credit they bounced back for a 5-1 win on Saturday, with freshman Max Jaldung and junior Cade DeStefani (Bedford, N.H.) each scoring twice.
9. NORWICH
Record: 10-8-3 (9-5-2 NEHC) | Last ranking: 9 | Next game: Friday vs. Elmira (7 p.m.)
One thing the Cadets have done pretty well during an uneven season is protect home ice, Saturday’s 5-1 loss to Salve Regina notwithstanding. Norwich is 7-2-1 at Kreitzberg Arena, and finishing strong in its last two series against Elmira and Skidmore will earn it quarterfinal home ice in the NEHC tourney – and maybe more.
10 (tie). ANNA MARIA
Record: 15-5 (11-2 MASCAC) | Last ranking: NR | Next game: Thursday at UMass Dartmouth (7:30 p.m.)
It’s now a program-record seven straight wins for the Amcats, who’ve moved into second place in their first season in the MASCAC. Coach Dave McCauley felt coming into the season his team would score goals and it has, an average of 4.0 a game, with veterans Matthew Gilbert (12-11-23) and Derek Raposo (4-19-23) leading the way.
10 (tie). BOWDOIN
Record: 8-9-3 (6-5-3 NESCAC) | Last ranking: NR | Next game: Friday vs. Trinity (7 p.m.)
Somehow, facing a nationally-ranked Hamilton team that had won its last nine games – and looked good doing it – Bowdoin got outshot 51-13, but still skated to a 7-5 win on Friday. Freshman goalie Jacob Osborne was superb, making 46 saves, and junior forward Gabe Shipper had two goals and two assists. The Polar Bears are riding a six-game unbeaten streak, which began after a six-game losing streak.
@MikeZhe603
mzhe@hockeyjournal.com
