After a shaky claim to the top spot last week, Plattsburgh solidified their position with D-III voters by virtue of convincing victories over Fredonia and Buffalo State. Now 14-1-2 on the season, the Cardinals are No. 1 for a school-record eighth straight poll, receiving 18 of a possible 20 first place votes, their most lopsided tally in weeks.
Remaining in second was St. Scholastica after they tied seventh ranked University of Wisconsin-Stout and eked by UW-River Falls, both at home. Their two first place tallies were half their total from last week.
UW-Superior, who also tied Stout (by identical 2-2 scores) and defeated River Falls, remains in third. The Middlebury Panthers ascended to fourth and are now 12-2-1 on the season.
Dropping to fifth after falling to then-No. 13 UW-Stevens Point in overtime, St. Norbert is now only two votes ahead of the Elmira Soaring Eagles, whose 2-0-1 week solidified their sixth place standing.
Spots seven through 11 — UW-Stout, Adrian, Hobart, Manhattanville, and Oswego — remained unchanged despite the teams combining for a 7-0-2 record, Stout’s ties of the second and third ranked teams in the country, and the irrepressible Bulldogs putting up 99 shots on goal in their 4-0 win at Northland. In the game, sophomore Daniel McIntosh made an astounding 95 saves for the Lumberjacks.
By virtue of their back-to-back wins over Lake Forest (4-0) and defending national champion St. Norbert (2-1 in overtime), UW-Stevens Point moved up one slot to No. 12, replacing Norwich who fell down one rung after being upset by Trinity, 4-2, on the road.
Moving back into the top 15 is the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. After falling to previously fourth ranked St. Norbert, the Blugolds stomped Lake Forest, 7-1, to up their record to 13-6-1 on the year. Rounding out the field is Curry, who remained at No. 15 after topping Becker, 6-1, and skating to a 6-6 tie with Wentworth.
Hamline dropped out of the poll after splitting a home-and-home series with Bethel.
