The Oswego State men’s ice hockey team held the distinction of the being the best division III hockey program for all of one week, as the Lakers dropped a spot to No. 2 in the country in the latest USCHO.com Men’s Poll released Monday. Oswego State fought back from a three-goal deficit, but were unable to net the game-winning goal in a 3-3 tie to Morrisville State College on Saturday night at the Campus Center Ice Arena. It was the team’s first tie since a 5-5 decision against the same Mustang team back on Nov. 14, 2008. The Lakers received five out of a possible 20 first place votes.
Oswego State’s tie opened the door for Norwich University to take over control as the No. 1 team in division III hockey, moving up one spot from last week. The Cadets received the majority of first place votes with 15. Norwich opened up its regular season with victories over the University of New England and Southern Maine. Castleton College continues to move up the poll, jumping three spots to No. 3, sitting at 4-0-0 overall. Castleton defeated New England College and St. Anselm on the road. Adrian College remains at No. 4, splitting a two-game series against Milwaukee School of Engineering. Wisconsin-River Falls made the biggest leap this week, moving up seven spots to No. 5. Wisconsin-River Falls went 1-0-1 in a two-game series against St. Norbert, who were ranked No. 3 last week.
SUNY Plattsburgh dropped one spot to No. 6 after losing to Buffalo State on the road on Saturday night. Utica College remained at No. 7, while St. Norbert’s tough weekend dropped them five spots to No. 8. St. Norbert, last season’s national champions, are 3-2-2 overall this season. Milwaukee School of Engineering’s split against Adrian College moved them up two spots to No. 9. Bowdoin College, who has yet to play a game this season, rounds at the top 10. Bowdoin’s first game of the season is at Williams College on Saturday, Nov. 19.
Elmira College and Neumann College both dropped two spots, sitting at No. 11 and No. 12, respectively. Wisconsin-Superior remains at No. 13, while Wisconsin-Eau Claire moved up one spot to No. 14. New England College breaks into the top 15 this week at No. 15. SUNY Geneseo dropped out of the top 15 after losing 6-1 to the College at Brockport on Friday night.
Other teams receiving votes include: Williams (22), Marian (15), Middlebury (13), Wisconsin-Stout (10), Amherst (9), Curry (8), Hamline (7), Geneseo (6), St. Thomas (5), Wesleyan (4), Gustavus Adolphus (3), Hobart (3), St. Lawrence (2), Salem State (2), Plymouth State (1), St. Scholastica (1), Wentworth (1).
USCHO.com Men’s Poll 11/14/11 (first place votes)
1. Norwich (15)
2. Oswego State (5)
3. Castleton
4. Adrian
5. Wisconsin-River Falls
6. Plattsburgh
7. Utica
8. St. Norbert
9. Milwaukee School of Engineering
10. Bowdoin
11. Elmira
12. Neumann
13. Wisconsin-Superior
14. Wisconsin-Eau Claire
15. New England College
