Salve, Nichols still the iron in a tough Commonwealth Coast Conference

Nichols forward Vinny Crivello has a team-high 12 assists. (Brian Foley)

Nichols College coach Parker Burgess made a prediction on the eve of the season: As the Commonwealth Coast Conference has gotten collectively better, and the schedule has increased the number of head-to-head match-ups, the contending teams in the league were going to flat-out beat each other up.

And that’s pretty much been the case.

The league is coming off its watershed season, sending three teams (Salve Regina, Nichols and the University of New England) to the 12-team NCAA tournament, where Salve advanced to the championship game, losing to St. Norbert (Wis.), 3-2, in overtime.

With talented Endicott poised to rejoin the fray, and improved Curry looking to elbow its way into the top four, there’s not much room to maneuver in the top tier.