2nd semester rankings

[sid21]

some D1 thoughts, rankings. probably going to change a lot after next weekend in Chicago.

1 Lindenwood 10-0-0
Still the team to beat. Picked up Johnny Mac now so they’re even stronger. Did they lose Gouge or is he scratched on their roster for another reason? Some big challenges next weekend in Chicago but they should still remain unbeaten.

2 UMSL 9-3-0
No major 2nd semester pickups but still great team, great goaltending. Maybe have the most on the line in Chicago since the gap between them at teams #3-5 is closing and they play Buffalo, Michigan State, and Central Michigan next weekend.

3 Buffalo 14-0-1
Dominating the east this year with only one slip up, a tie against West Point. Have a shot to show just how good they are with games against UMSL and Lindenwood next weekend.

4 Michigan State 13-1-0
Have a big challenger in their own region from Central Michigan, the only team who has beat the Spartans so far. Games against UMSL and Lindenwood next weekend so we’ll see just how close they are to the top tier teams.

5 Central Michigan 11-3-1
Can be inconsistent at times (loss to Ohio State and tie against Eastern Michigan) but have still earned a win over Michigan State and have the talent to compete with the best. Chance to prove it next weekend: they play all top 3 teams, Lindenwood, UMSL, and Buffalo.

6 Central Florida 7-1-3
Only D1 challenger in their region is Florida Atlantic and they haven’t lost to them yet. Matchup with Rhode Island coming up is a chance to prove they're more than just top team in the southeast.

7 Arizona State 16-1-0
Dominating the west right now, winning 16 straight games since their only loss. But the rest of the west is looking weaker, time will tell if they’ve been beating up on weaker competition or not.

8 Rhode Island 11-2-1
A rough weekend recently with a loss to Towson and tie against West Point but they’re still the second best team in the east, for now at least.

9 Florida Atlantic 5-3-3
They don’t have a big win under their belt yet, losing to top D2 teams and going 0-1-3 so far against Central Florida. But they’ve been in every game and seems like they can compete with most top teams.

10 Mizzou 6-6-0
All six losses have been to Lindenwood, UMSL, and St. Charles CC. They’re still a talented team and could be dangerous at nationals.

Maybe next time?
Towson - Beat Rhode Island, has played Buffalo close before but have also been beaten handily by then recently.

North Texas / UL Lafayette - Still not sure what to think of top southwest teams, which one is better and which one, if either, deserve to be on here. North Texas has a chance to prove something in Chicago when they play 3 of the top 5 teams.

UNLV / Long Beach State - Not sure if another west team deserves to be up here: Long Beach has fallen off, losing 4 of their last 5. Looks like their top scorer Ryan Burrows isn’t with the team anymore. UNLV is improved but have lost 2 of the last 3.

[FAUplayer]

Rhode Island, Florida Atlantic, and Central Florida will be playing in Ft Myers next week. League already stated that FAU and UCF will not meet next weekend, but will probably see Rhode Island a few times (FAU will play 6 games that weekend). Should be interesting to see how the two top SECRHL teams match up with a ECRHA powerhouse.

[InlineMBA]

Would have really liked to see Michigan State play Buffalo next weekend instead of North-Texas. This is not a negative comment about North-Texas, just would have been one heck of a weekend if Buffalo played: Lindenwood, UMSL, Central Michigan and Michigan State.

That's going to be one great weekend out there.

Steve Inge - ROXBURY 8

ps - I saw the addition of Johnny Mac, and the X for Kyle Gouge, but what about no Sully on the Lindenwood Roster?

[Mr Hockey]

Mizzou Lost 3 times to Lindenwood's B-Teams....

So, Do they really get that 10th spot?
Yes, If they find a new goalie. I think their goalie let in the first 4 shots he faced.
No, If they can't find a way to stop a puck.

UNT will be in Chicago to face 3 of the top teams, and UL-Laf will be in St. Louis to play some of those same teams.

Also, Kyle Gouge has been forced to take the semester off due to grades. This is unfortunate for Lindenwood, as Kyle has always been an intelligent young man, and no one saw bad grades coming.

[Meade]

Mizzou has a good team and one of the better goalies in the Great Plains, their goalie unfortunately wasn't there this past weekend.

I know our team wouldn't be the same without our starting goalie and I'm sure the same goes for the majority of teams in the NCRHA.

[Ben Lambert]

Not to put a target on anyone's back, but I fully expect UMSL to do VERY well in Chicago. Seems like they are playing better than ever...

I haven't seen any of their 2nd semester games yet, but all the guys who I've talked to have really good things to say about the way the teams been playing, practicing, etc.

I may have to rearrange my schedule so I can make it up there.

[betteronice]

I'm not sure UCF should be 6 after last weekend. I think Rhode Island and Arizona State have proven more.

[sid21]

good points about mizzou and ucf. these rankings were done before both teams lost a few this past weekend though. didnt want to re-do them already since im sure things will change a lot after this coming weekends games too...