The six women’s Division III conference playoff championships will be decided this weekend.
That much is fact.
What isn’t known is which team skates away with their respective trophy and by what score.
Women’s editor Candace Horgan and women’s writer Matt Mackinder take a stab at both.
ECAC EAST
Candace: This tournament is Norwich’s to lose, but who do the Cadets face? I like Castleton in the other. Semis: Norwich 5-1, Castleton 3-2, Final: Norwich 5-4
Matt: I like No. 5 Norwich beating Massachusetts-Boston and then Salve Regina downing Castleton in the semifinals and then in the finals, let’s go with Norwich winning the title, but not easily. Norwich 4, Castleton 3
ECAC WEST
Candace: Number one will play number two in what could very likely be a preview of the NCAA Championship. Elmira has had Plattsburgh’s number, and I think the Soaring Eagles take it. Semis: Elmira 5-1, Plattsburgh 4-1, Final: Elmira 3-1
Matt: This will be the best final of the bunch. I see top-ranked Elmira handling Utica in the first semi and then No. 2 Plattsburgh beating Oswego in the second game. How to pick a winner here? I’ll go with the Soaring Eagles in overtime on an Ashton Hogan goal. Elmira 2, Plattsburgh 1 (OT)
MIAC
Candace: Can Cinderella keep up its run? Something tells me yes, so I’m going with Bethel. Bethel 2-1
Matt: Bethel has been on a roll and no one thought the Royals would be here. Kind of like the Kansas City version in the MLB’s World Series last October. That said, St. Thomas has also been playing some pretty good hockey as of late and prevails here, ending the Cinderella run for Bethel. St. Thomas 3, Bethel 1
NCHA
Candace: A really hard one to pick, but I think Adrian is going to come out on top in a tight few games. Semis: Adrian 3-1, St. Norbert 3-2, Final: Adrian 2-1
Matt: If home ice is really an advantage, then No. 4 Adrian beats Concordia (Wis.) in the semis and then St. Norbert in the final. I do think there is such a thing as home-ice advantage. The Green Knights get to the final with a win over Lake Forest. Adrian 3, St. Norbert 0
NESCAC
Candace: Middlebury looked very vulnerable last week, but I think the Panthers are rested enough to take this. Semis: Middlebury 3-1, Trinity 2-1, Final: Middlebury 3-2
Matt: See the ECAC West. Just too hard to call here, especially with three ranked teams. Let’s say No. 8 Amherst beats No. 10 Trinity in the semis and No. 3 Middlebury beats Bowdoin in the other semifinal. That leaves an upset to be had in the finals. Amherst 3, Middlebury 2.
WIAC
Candace: This should be another barn-burner between two very evenly matched squads. I like River Falls. Wis.-River Falls 2-1
Matt: What is it with these ranked teams? Sheesh. No. 6 Wisconsin-River Falls takes on seventh-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Man, oh man. I like Janna Beilke-Skoug in the Pointers’ net and if a No. 7 team beating a No. 6 team is an upset, then so be it. Wis.-Stevens-Point 3-1
