If ever there was a week for a titanic shift in the D-III poll, this was it.
But after the top two teams in the nation — including the previously unbeaten Plattsburgh Cardinals — fell victim to upsets, the world of Division III felt only minor tremors.
Now 12-1-2 on the season, Plattsburgh remained at No. 1, receiving 13 of a possible 20 first place votes, despite losing to Skidmore on the road, 5-3.
St. Scholastica, now winners of 10 straight games, ascended to second (and received four top tallies) after besting Northland, 6-1, and dominating then-second ranked University of Wisconsin-Superior, 7-2.
With the Yellowjackets now third, St. Norbert actually fell down a rung, despite a convincing 9-0 whitewashing of Lake Forest. As a consolation prize, the Green Knights did receive the three remaining first place votes.
Despite combining for a 10-0-1 record (and outscoring their opponents by a healthy 75-21 margin), teams five through nine — Middlebury, Elmira, UW-Stout, Adrian, Hobart — remained unchanged.
Switching places for No. 10 and 11 were Oswego and Manhattanville, with the idle Lakers losing ground after the Valiants road sweep of Fredonia.
The Norwich Cadets were one of the week’s big movers, ascending two spots to No. 12 after defeating Babson, 5-2, and edging the University of Massachusetts-Boston 3-2 in overtime.
After tying in-state rival UW-Eau-Claire, Stevens Point remained at No. 13. Hamline, who split a home-and-home series with St. Olaf, fell two spots to No. 14.
Moving into the top 15 this week were the Curry Colonels, who registered impressive wins on the road (5-4 over Utica in OT) and at home (10-3 triumph over ECAC Northeast member Franklin Pierce).
New England College, losers to Plymouth State (in overtime) and Trinity before eking by Wesleyan, fell out of the national poll.
