February Findings: Conference Rundowns- Women (Part 1: CNE, LEC, MAC, MASCAC, MIAC)

As the season approaches the home stretch, it’s time to glance at each women’s conference and the stakes that remain in the last few weekends.  While the national tournament remains a massive talking point, conference races are what makes this sport great, and defeating your rivals and earning bragging rights is one of the best feelings out there for both coaches and players.  We will take a look at who is in line to win conference titles, as well as who can earn byes, home ice, and final playoff spots.  This will be broken into two articles, with the first half of the alphabet coming today, and the second half coming later in the week.  Today, we’ll cover the CNE, LEC, MAC, MASCAC, and MIAC.

CNE

After Endicott suffered a few tough upsets in tournament play, last year, the Gulls returned to glory, capturing both the CNE regular season and tournament title.  While EC finds themselves at the top of the standings for now, they have a familiar face battling them to the finish line.

Western New England has also separated themselves at the top from other programs trying to catch Endicott as a seemingly perennial favorite. Below the Golden Bears, there are a plethora of teams bunched up in the standings, with Nichols in the basement, trying to make up ground.

The CNE expanded their conference tournament this year by one, meaning six of the seven teams will earn the right to play postseason hockey.  This means that the top two seeds will earn byes, with seeds 3 and 4 receiving a home game for the first round.  Endicott and WNE have clinched playoff bids early, with no one eliminated quite yet.  Teams have either five or six games remaining, so there are lots of points left on the table.

Remaining Schedules

The Contenders:

Both of these programs have been smoking hot as of late, as the Gulls have won seven in a row, while the Golden Bears are on six-game heater.  While EC has two extra points, WNE has the “upper hand” with one more game to play.  But, both teams control their own destiny, with Saturday’s massive rubber match in West Springfield.

Each team has won a game against the other, with Endicott’s win coming in OT.  So, a potential tiebreaker could come down to the result of this Saturday’s game.  Although both teams are playing great as of late, and have minimized damage to their resumes, they’ve each had the rare struggle against other CNE opponents. Suffolk has knocked off both programs this season, and JWU took Endicott to OT earlier this year.

As you’ll see the middle tier of this conference is very close as well.  So as important as Saturday’s game is, don’t be shocked if a lesser team can play spoiler down the stretch.  Endicott needs to win out if they have any shot at preserving a case for an at-large should they slip up in the CNE tourney.

The Playoff Bubble:

With a nine point game to come up and get into the top two, these five teams probably won’t be able to reach the first round bye.  However, getting home ice in Round 1 will be the main priority for most of these schools.  Nichols is very much up against it, with tons of ground to make up.

In regards to the other four schools in this grouping, the standings are extremely tight, and all of these schools have shown they can knock each other off.  With five games apiece remaining, this almost certainly will come down to the final day.  If any of these team can pick up points against Endicott and/or WNE, it will be massive down the stretch.

Suffolk may have a tad easier path, as they are the only ones to avoid Endicott the rest of the way.  However, Suffolk is in complete freefall as of late, with their last win coming on January 10, against Endicott surprisingly.  After a pretty strong start, the Rams have gone 1-12-1 since Thanksgiving.

Curry is another team on a losing streak, but those four losses have come against the two top teams, and they’ve played them all very close.  So, read into that what you will.  UNE and Johnson & Wales have been a bit inconsistent the last few weeks, with the Nor’Easters and Wildcats splitting a series last weekend, and JWU’s win coming in OT.

My Call:

1. Endicott (Conference Champion & First Round Bye & Semifinal Home Game)
2. Western New England (First Round Bye & Semifinal Home Game)
3. Curry (First Round Bye)
4. UNE (First Round Home Game)
5. Johnson & Wales (Playoff Berth)
6. Suffolk (Playoff Berth)
7. Nichols

LEC

In a brand-new league, this appears to be one that a certain someone will be dominating for the foreseeable future.  Entering the Little East’s inaugural season, most people thought the Cadets would run away with this league.  Most people were correct, but even those who were highest on Norwich coming in probably couldn’t predict just how dominant they would be in this new environment under first-year coach Justin Simpson.

In this seven-team league, six teams will qualify for the postseason, just like the aforementioned CNE.  That means the top two will get byes, with the third and fourth place teams earning a home game.  The Cadets have predictably clinched a playoff spot with their undefeated LEC record, and are just four points away from clinching the first-ever LEC regular season title.

Outside of NU, everyone has a legit shot to make the playoffs, and quite a few squads have a first round bye in sight, as well.  With teams playing two-game series, there should be lots of drama down the stretch, with teams playing either 4 or 6 more games depending on when their bye week is/was.

Remaining Schedules

The Contender:

There’s really not much more to say here other than their national postseason status.  Unfortunately, the LEC does not yet receive an automatic bid, so Norwich needs to keep on winning to preserve their sky-high NPI ranking of #3

With their weaker conference schedule accounting for a majority of their games played, a loss could put their NCAA tournament hopes in danger.  It wouldn’t necessarily eliminate them, but would certainly make for a sweaty Selection Sunday in Northfield, VT.

The Playoff Bubble:

There’s a very tight race here that will determine seeding and home games the last three weekends.  Even with #2 USM getting a home series with Norwich, they have almost zero chance to catch Norwich, even if they can somehow sweep the Cadets.  Most of these teams have been pretty inconsistent this season, and very hard to predict.  But, it does seem like UMass Boston is starting to find themselves a bit.  On the flip side, NEC looks to be falling apart.

Obviously, Castleton, Keene, and NEC have less chances to earn points, so they have to make the most of their existing opportunities.  However, I would argue that the other three schools all have a Norwich series on the docket, and based on what we’ve seen, I don’t know if anyone is picking up points against them.

With just four points separating teams #2 through #5, it really could go any which way, and this weekend’s Castleton vs. UMB series will be huge to see who has the inside track towards potentially catching Southern Maine and receiving a bye.

My Call:

1. Norwich (Conference Champion & First Round Bye & Semifinal Home Game)
2. UMass Boston (First Round Bye & Semifinal Home Game)
3. Southern Maine (First Round Bye)
4. Castleton (First Round Home Game)
5. Keene State (Playoff Berth)
6. Plymouth State (Playoff Berth)
7. New England College

MAC

After winning the MAC the first year the conference had an automatic bid, Wilkes looks poised to go 2 for 2 in this new era.  While Wilkes looks to be charging ahead of the pack, I do feel that the middle of this conference is getting a little bid wider and more competitive.  Hood has been a very pleasant surprise this year, and are still in the thick of things.

The top half of the league makes the conference tournament, meaning it’s a short four-team bracket, with the first two seeds getting home ice advantage.  Most teams have five games remaining.  But, there was a postponed game between LVC and Stevenson that has yet to be rescheduled.  We’ll see what’s in the cards there, or if they can find a way to play that one.  Wilkes has clinched a playoff berth, and Arcadia is just four points away from doing the same. Unfortunately, King’s and Neumann have both been eliminated from postseason play.

Remaining Schedules

The Contenders:

Wilkes has a massive advantage here, and with just one OT loss to LVC earlier this season, I thought about putting them alone at the top.  However, the fact Arcadia gets a chance at home against the Colonels, along with Wilkes having a couple decent teams left on the schedule, I do think the Knights belong here as well.

Arcadia has played Wilkes tough in their two previous matchups, but now the Colonels have to travel away from home for this one. With the 7 point lead, even should Wilkes lose to Arcadia, they’re in good shape provided they don’t lose twice more.  But a decent Alvernia team and a tough road game to close the season against a potentially desperate Hood squad could be enough to make this close.  Obviously, Arcadia basically needs to run the table to make that a possibility.

The Playoff Bubble:

Again, the main story here is who can sneak into that top four to earn a shot at one of the top two in a postseason setting.  LVC had their chances last weekend against each of them, but fell in both games, essentially ending their chances at winning a title.  Also, they’ll need Arcadia to fall off big time if they want to sniff a home playoff game.  I do think LVC is in solid shape to hang onto their playoff spot, as they have no more games versus Arcadia or Wilkes.

The battle for the final playoff spot should be very interesting, as we’ll see Alvernia and Hood battle it out this weekend for who has the upper hand for that spot.  The two teams have each won a close one so far, so I’m expecting an intense matchup this Saturday.  Both teams have a date with the top two teams before the regular season concludes.

Stevenson needs a miracle to get in, but with a couple easier games this weekend, maybe they catch some life.  The Mustangs have won 3 of their last 6 after going winless in their first 16 games.  If I’m SU, my goal is to earn enough points to make sure the MAC plays that rescheduled game against LVC.  Neumann and King’s will be reduced to playing spoiler the rest of the way, but I don’t see that happening.

My Call:

1. Wilkes (Conference Champion & First Round Home Game)
2. Arcadia (First Round Home Game)
3. Lebanon Valley (Playoff Berth)
4. Hood (Playoff Berth)
5. Alvernia
6. Stevenson
7. Neumann
8. King’s

MASCAC

The MASCAC is in Year Two of sponsoring the sport, and one year closer to sending its champ to the national tournament.  Time will tell who can emerge as a potential power player in this conference, but through two seasons, it definitely appears that Worcester State and Rivier are forces to be reckoned with.  At the top, it’s been fairly competitive with those two, along with Salem State, showing themselves to be the class of the league.

In this league, all six teams will make the field, with the top 2 seeds earning byes.  Seeds #3 and #4 will have home games in Round 1.  With no auto-bid, these schools are trying to find their footing, hoping to increase confidence and skill when the automatic bid does come around.  Teams have anywhere from 6-8 games remaining, meaning a lot can change still, as the conference schedule is barely half over.

(Note: MCLA appears to have something going on with their program, as they’ve had numerous cancellations and more coming this weekend.  I hope everything is okay there, but I’m sure it partially has to do with their tiny 14 player roster.  For this exercise, let’s assume MCLA can complete their MASCAC schedule.)

Remaining Schedules

The Contenders:

It’s most certainly a three horse race at the top, with Worcester holding the edge over the others with one more opportunity for points.  Rivier will have two big chances to jump ahead of the Lancers.  The only prior meeting was a 1-0 victory for Worcester, so I expect some very competitive games with those two.  WSU just earned a massive win over Salem to keep pace with the Raiders.

New-to-the-league Salem State most definitely has a tougher path than the prior two teams I discussed, but the Vikings do have games with both those teams as well.  Thus, if SSU can hold serve at home against both of those squads, they can very well be in the mix for a potential conference title, or at least in play for the bye.  The Vikings have showed they belong here, as they’ve played a pair of OT games with Rivier, going 1-1.  They also are 1-1 versus Worcester, so the rubber matches will be key in both MASCAC rivalries.

Playing for Seeding:

There’s not a ton to say here, but one of these three will be getting a home game in the first round.  None of these three have had good seasons at all, but there are opportunity for some late-season momentum with multiple games between the three programs.  If Framingham State can beat Anna Maria that last game of the season, it could be the deciding factor for home ice.

AMC and Framingham have split the two-game series thus far, while MCLA has lost to Anna Maria, while splitting with Framingham.  The MCLA win over the Rams was a non-conference game, however, explaining the zero conference points.  Here’s to hoping the Trailblazers can play the rest of their schedule.

My Call:

1. Worcester State (Conference Champion & First Round Bye & Semifinal Home Game)
2. Rivier (First Round Bye & Semifinal Home Game)
3. Salem State(First Round Home Game)
4. Anna Maria (First Round Home Game)
5. Framingham State
6. MCLA

MIAC

Out west to Minnesota we go, where we see in my opinion, the best conference in Division III women’s hockey.  I think it’s proven to be the deepest for some time now, but we’re starting to see multiple top tier teams at the same time now.  There are two national title contenders at the top in Augsburg and Hamline, with the rest of the teams below them at various tiers, but all able to knock off the very best on any given day.

As I mentioned on the men’s side, what makes this meat grinder of a conference schedule all the more daring is the fact that only five teams earn the right to play postseason hockey, meaning the regular season matters a ton here.  You have to earn it in the MIAC for all 18 games.  The top 3 teams will get a bye to the semifinals, while #4 hosts #5 in the play-in game.  Each team has six games remaining, and no team has clinched or been eliminated just yet.  We should be headed for a photo finish here with plenty of chaos to ensue with these highly competitive two-game sets.

Remaining Schedules

The Contenders:

While Gustavus finally fell off the pedestal last season, it was the Auggies, who took a thrilling overtime MIAC title game, and #1 overall seed into the NCAA tournament, where they made it to the national semifinals.  While everyone and their brother thought the Auggies were the team to beat in the MIAC this season, that hasn’t quite been the case.  Both teams have legit NCAA tournament hopes this season, and potential to be a very high seed.

Hamline has long been an extremely competitive program, whose NCAAT hopes have been decimated by the MIAC’s strength for years.  This year, the Pipers are not using that as a crux, as they’ve rolled to an amazing record thus far, and look to be a certain top 5 team alongside the Auggies.  The two teams split their series a couple weekends ago, with the Auggies victory coming in overtime, as Hamline captured 4 of 6 points.  Both teams have tough challenges remaining, as Hamline closes the regular season against GAC, while Augsburg has CSB and SMU left on the docket.

Gustavus’ program has fallen off a cliff this season, but given their standing in the MIAC, that’s more of an indictment on just how dominant this program used to be.  This team still has shown they can skate with just about anyone on the right day.  However, they have shown they can lose on any given day as well.  They did split with the Auggies earlier this season.  While the Gusties look to be turning a bit of a corner as of late, earning points in six straight MIAC games, they still have extreme tests with the Bennies and Pipers left to be played.

The last team to be mentioned is Saint Ben’s, who is enjoying one of the best seasons in program history, finally starting to emerge from the middle of this conference and ascend towards the upper tier.  The Bennies have been through the wringer as of late, facing off against an extremely lethal, albeit inconsistent SMU team, followed up by Hamline, whom they earned a tie against.  Now, they have the Gusties and Auggies back-to-back.  If they can show they can win these upcoming games, they certainly belong in the conversation and can play their way into a potential title.

The Playoff Bubble:

I’m by no means saying only one of these teams is a potential MIAC playoff team.  I can very much see the Gusties or Bennies getting some poor luck in close games with schedules that hard, and two of these teams maybe jumping into the field.  But obviously, whoever that is would need some help around them.  St. Olaf has drastically improved as a program under coach Tracy Johnson in recent years, and are in the thick of a tight playoff race yet again.  While the bottom of the MIAC is very tough, it helps that the Oles have played all of the top four so far.

Saint Mary’s has some of the most-skilled players in the country on their roster, but their consistency has plagued them this season.  This weekend’s Bethel-SMU series will be absolutely massive for who has a realistic chance to potentially climb into the field.  Bethel has been awfully snake-bitten in close games as of late, and they could’ve used a couple more points to help out.  Luckily, the Royals can play with anyone, as seen in a 4-0 defeat of top-ranked Hamline.

Concordia has shown impressive strides this season, and is always a tough out with their physical style.  I think if you’re the Cobbers, you just want to give yourself a chance to be playing for something the final weekend.  If they can steal a point or two against Hamline and earn a valuable sweep over Bethel, the last series against the Bennies could prove to be massive.

Scholastica and St. Kate’s are two more teams with first-year head coaches who look much improved from last season, even if the records don’t necessarily show it.  Both teams are far back, so it would take a bit of a miracle, especially given the schedule St. Kate’s has.  Regardless, very impressive building seasons for those programs.

My Call:

1. Hamline (Conference Champion & First Round Bye & Semifinal Home Game)
2. Augsburg (First Round Bye & Semifinal Home Game)
3. St. Benedict (First Round Bye)
4. Gustavus (Playoff Berth)
5. St. Olaf (Playoff Berth)
6. Saint Mary’s
7. Concordia
8. St. Scholastica
9. Bethel
10. St. Kate’s

Wrap-Up

Part 2 will be coming later this week featuring the NCHA, NESCAC, SUNYAC, UCHC, and WIAC.  Hopefully this provided some insight on what can help your school in the next couple weeks and who you should be rooting for!  Any comments or questions are welcome down below.