University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Ranked as the Nation's Top Team
2/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
For the first time this season, the University of Minnesota women's hockey team has been voted as the nation's top-ranked team, announced today by U.S. College Hockey Online. With the Golden Gophers' series sweep over Minnesota State and a Mercyhurst split over Niagara last weekend, the Gophers have received the top vote in this week's poll.
The Gophers edged out the Lakers by five points and five first-place votes to gain their top ranking. Minnesota holds an overall record of 21-3-4. Mercyhurst broke a 16-game unbeaten streak after a 2-1 loss to the Purple Eagles last Saturday and hold a 20-2-3 mark this year. The Lakers were ranked No. 1 every week this season, until Minnesota established themselves No. 1 this week. Rounding out the top five includes Clarkson in third, New Hampshire is ranked fourth and the Gophers' next opponent, Minnesota Duluth is ranked fifth.
The Gophers and Bulldogs will battle this weekend in Duluth, Minn., Friday and Saturday night. The Gophers will look to keep their No. 1 ranking, while Minnesota Duluth looks to close the gap in the WCHA standings. Minnesota enter this weekend's series with a seven-point lead in the conference standings with 40 points, while the Bulldogs have 33 points and rank second in the WCHA.
USCHO.com Division I Women's Poll
Minneapolis, Minn./February 1, 2010
Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week
1 Minnesota (10) 21-3-4 145 2
2 Mercyhurst ( 5) 20-2-3 140 1
3 Clarkson 19-5-3 119 3
4 New Hampshire 15-4-5 100 4
5 Minnesota-Duluth 19-7-2 94 5
6 Harvard 12-5-4 69 7
7 Northeastern 16-5-4 63 6
8 Connecticut 17-6-5 50 8
9 Wisconsin 15-10-3 22 10
10 Providence 12-9-8 9 9
Others Receiving Votes: Cornell 7, Syracuse 3,
Ohio State 2, Niagara 1, Quinnipiac 1
