Arlan is within three games of me after the first half. In our last weekend, we went 4-4-1 (.500). On the year, I am 161-56-26 (.716), while Arlan is 158-59-26 (.703). Let’s get to our first week’s action.
Friday, Jan. 2
Harvard at Brown
Candace: This may be closer than in recent years, but the Crimson still take it. Harvard 4-1
Arlan: The Crimson start a busy month on a right note. Harvard 5-1
Princeton at RPI
Candace: RPI showed signs of life at times, but is too inconsistent to beat Princeton. Princeton 4-1
Arlan: Rensselaer was erratic in its final four contests of 2014, which was an improvement over the first 13, when the Engineers were consistently on the short end of the score. Princeton 4-2
Dartmouth at Yale
Candace: I’m tempted to pick the Bulldogs, but they’ve been too inconsistent, and Dartmouth looked good in crushing Northeastern Wednesday. Dartmouth 4-1
Arlan: Can Dartmouth get off to a decent start? It’s been blanked, 8-0, in the first periods of its last four games, but has outscored those opponents 14-6 over the following frames. Dartmouth 3-2
Bemidji at Lindenwood
Candace: Lindenwood is better this year, and this will be a closer series than it might have seemed at the start of the year, but I think Bemidji returns to its winning ways. Bemidji State 3-1, 2-0
Arlan: The Beavers’ previous multi-game losing streak ended with a successful road trip to Minnesota. Bemidji State 1-0, 3-1
Friday-Saturday, Jan. 2-3
Colgate at Vermont
Candace: Vermont was dismal for much of the first half after a strong start, but Colgate wasn’t any better. Vermont 3-1, 3-2
Arlan: The Raiders and Catamounts went into the break on five and six-game losing skids, respectively. Vermont 4-3, 3-2
Saturday, Jan. 3
Dartmouth at Brown
Candace: The Big Green have a great start to the second half. Dartmouth 4-1
Arlan: Dartmouth has looked good when I’ve had a chance to see them, so they could be sitting on a big second half. Dartmouth 4-1
Quinnipiac at RPI
Candace: The Bobcats generally aren’t threatened by anyone in the ECAC outside of the top four. Quinnipiac 4-1
Arlan: The Bobcats had four weeks to think about their only loss of the first half. Quinnipiac 3-0
Princeton at Union
Candace: Union posted a couple of surprising wins to close the first half, but I think Princeton is too strong. Princeton 3-1
Arlan: The Dutchwomen will likely keep it close but come up just short. Princeton 2-1
Harvard at Yale
Candace: Yale gave the Crimson all it could handle last year, but the Bulldogs seem to have regressed a bit. Harvard 3-1
Arlan: If their ECAC quarterfinal last season was an indicator, this should be a great game. Harvard 3-2
Connecticut at Northeastern
Candace: The Huskies looked awful Wednesday, but I think they will pull it together in this game. Northeastern 3-1
Arlan: Northeastern is kind of a mess right now, but this is a key game with a BC-BC-BU stretch looming. Northeastern 2-1
Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 3-4
Ohio State at Penn State
Candace: Penn State hasn’t been swept yet in a weekend, but I think it happens here. Ohio State 3-1, 3-2
Arlan: Both teams swept ranked opponents before their breaks; one tie is likely. Ohio State 2-1, 3-2
Monday-Tuesday, Jan. 5-6
St. Lawrence at Minnesota
Candace: As much as I’d like to pick St. Lawrence in one of these, the Saints have been way too unpredictable to do so. Minnesota 3-1, 4-2
Arlan: Early games out of the break can be unpredictable, but the Saints’ whole season has been. Minnesota 3-2, 3-1
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Princeton at Quinnipiac
Candace: Princeton will make this a nail-biter, but fall short. Quinnipiac 2-1
Arlan: It’s been four years since the Tigers won a game in this series. Quinnipiac 2-0
Syracuse at Colgate
Candace: The Orange start their second half off well. Syracuse 3-1
Arlan: Greg Fargo’s teams have been outscored 12-2 in dropping four straight to the Orange over the last two and a half years. Syracuse 2-1
Connecticut at Harvard
Candace: UConn has shown improvement, but not to Harvard’s level. Harvard 4-1
Arlan: The only hurdle here for Harvard would appear to be three games in five days. Harvard 3-1
Wednesday, JAn. 7
Boston University at Boston College
Candace: Even though the Eagles will be without starting goalie Katie Burt, who is on the U.S. Women’s U-18 roster and playing in Buffalo, I think Boston College will pull it out. Boston College 4-3
Arlan: The Terriers typically close the gap by season’s end; this game will demonstrate how sizable that gap currently is. Boston College 5-1
