Harvard held onto the top spot of the USCHO.com Division I Women’s Poll this week with 11 first-place votes, earning two wins on the weekend, 6-0 over Yale and 5-2 over No. 8 Princeton. The Crimson enter into their exam break, with the next games coming on January 28.
The nation’s No. 2 team, Minnesota-Duluth, had a successful weekend with two wins over nationally ranked Dartmouth, 5-3 and 6-3. The Bulldogs held steady in second place, earning four first-place votes.
Minnesota also was in a holding pattern at No. 3, with two wins over St. Cloud State. After shaking off some rust in a 2-1 win after not playing for a month, the Gophers turned in a 10-2 performance as Natalie Darwitz had a six point game.
The top teams all stayed in the top ten, although there was a bit of jostling for position. Most of this was caused by Wisconsin’s 2-1 win over St. Lawrence, which resulted in the Badgers climbing two spots from last week to No. 7, while the Saints fell one spot to No. 6.
This weekend promises some terrific action in all parts of the country, as Wisconsin travels to Minnesota-Duluth, hoping to pull off an upset. Minnesota plays its final non-conference games of the regular season, traveling to No. 4 Dartmouth Friday before swinging down to No. 5 New Hampshire on Saturday.
The USCHO.com Poll is compiled by U.S. College Hockey Online, and consists of 15 voters, including 11 coaches of Division I programs and four women’s hockey writers.
