Three series in the conference ended with a sweep last weekend, and I predicted nearly all splits. The sole sweep I did predict ended with the other team getting the wins. Typical. I went 3-5-0 (.375) last weekend, bringing my season total to 40-31-4 (533). Like any good player, I’m going to put that weekend (along with any pick I’ve made since December) behind me and look forward to the next games.
Milwaukee School of Engineering will host conference rival Adrian this weekend. Concordia and Lake Forest will battle in a home-and-home series. Lawrence is hosting Northland. Marian is traveling to Finlandia. Here we go!
Friday-Saturday, Jan. 25-26
Concordia vs. Lake Forest
Concordia (6-6-0) was swept by Northland last weekend by 5-3 and 5-2 scores. Lake Forest (4-7-1) completed a weekend sweep of Finlandia with a 4-2 victory on Friday, followed by a 5-0 shutout on Saturday. The Foresters are 5-1-0 in their last six games. Earlier this season, the Falcons swept past the Foresters. The Foresters have really made strides since the beginning of the season. Lake Forest 4-1, 3-2
Northland at Lawrence
Lawrence (4-6-2) hasn’t won a conference game since Dec. 1, when they beat Finlandia. The last win on the season for the Vikings was Dec. 30 against Castleton. Lawrence was swept by MSOE last weekend with 3-4 and 0-4 losses, which marked the first time the Vikings were shutout all season. Northland (4-8-0) has won four of the last six. Their most recent triumph was a sweep of Concordia. The Lumberjacks won 5-3, before a 5-2 victory. Lawrence needs the win, but Northland is riding high. Northland 4-2, 6-2
Adrian at MSOE
The two nationally-ranked teams met once before this season. On Nov. 9-10, the Bulldogs swept past the Raiders with 4-2 and 5-1 scores. Last weekend, Adrian (10-0-2) downed Marian with 6-0, 3-1 scores, it was the first time this year the Bulldogs shutout their opposition. MSOE (8-3-1) took two games from Lawrence, as they battled to a 4-3 overtime win on Friday before a 4-0 win Saturday night. These teams don’t like each other, and I think MSOE will want to avenge their bitter losses earlier in the season. MSOE 4-1, Adrian 3-2
Marian at Finlandia
Marian (6-6-0) was swept by Adrian last weekend. They remain the top team in their division. The squad has had a rough go since Dec. 1, going 2-4-0. Finlandia (3-9-0) hasn’t won a game since Nov. 16 against Northland. They are on an 11-game skid. Earlier this season, the two squads split a series, with Finlandia winning 1-0 on Nov. 9 before dropping a 3-0 game on Nov. 10. I think Marian will want to secure their Northern Division top spot, and they’ll need wins to do so. Marian 4-1, 3-2
