Week 3 NBN NESCAC Power Rankings
& Predictions
# 1 Amherst 5-0; Great Weekend for the Mammoths at the Mustang Classics, Absolutely crushed F&M in a total domination and showed championship character with the comeback against RIT. If they are not number #1 in the country someone over at IL needs their head examine. X play is the best I have seen at this level ever. The Gals signature wins this year look a little less impressive based upon recent play of G-berg, Stevenson & Lynchburg
#2 Tufts 6-0; the Jumbo seem to always play to their competition’s level. I’m just wondering what day will this catch up to them…, maybe sooner than many think…, but they know how to win…, even if it’s ugly. Strong Middy play and physical… all business attitude.
#3 Bates 5-1; The Bobcats Offense is quick, efficient and opportunistic, Sometime as I watch I think this could be a team that could give Amherst a run for their money if they can just eliminate taking their foot off the gas while on defense. Watch the video of Trinity game today and thought goalie play came up big when it meant the most and Coach L did a tremendous job working the refs to his advantage. The Bobcats should break the TOP 10 this week in IL
#4 Williams 3-1; still think Talent wise maybe the 2nd best team in the NESCAC; while they rolled CC today; consistency of play remains a question mark. I watched the Union game Friday night and felt Erphs played with passion and I think that they wish they could have Open Day to do all over. After, what I watched in the Mustang Classic; William should break into the Top 20 and see these guys close to that Top 10
#5 Wesleyan 5-1; Maybe the Cards with the National Championship under their belt only have to do what the Jumbo’s do: WIN, they are winning but I just don’t feel the same level of control of the games like they had last year…, and the Bates Game, was it just a bad game? Or a prelude to future problems?
#6 Bowdoin 4-1; I admit that I haven’t seen enough to really assess this team yet other than from the game highlight reels. I think that we will learn much more about this team this week with 2 good match ups with St. Lawrence & Middlebury. Are the Polar Bears Contenders or Pretenders?
#7 Middlebury 2-3; The Panther took care of Dickinson this past weekend and maybe showed the rest of D3 that it is not even close that the NESCAC is Heads and Shoulders… the best D3 conference in the country. I am still pondering the ST.L game and the early season kickoff with Bates and how it totally got away from them. While this is not a vintage Middlebury team they still have a lot of talent that can win any given day. You made the NESCAC Proud with your dominating performance vs. the Red Devils…, thank you for make me look good on that pick, I never had any doubts……
#8 Hamilton 2-2; The Continentals have been playing teams with tough…. going to Maine and having a 7-5 lead at half time, but coming up just short vs the Polar Bears. Playing Tufts strong early on …, maybe with 2 more wins against a Trinity and CC could be their ticket out of the league floor and into the playoffs.
#9 Trinity 2-2; if they didn’t have bad luck this team would have no luck. Watched bits and pieces of both games. They may have the best FOGO hands down in the league, but they allow just too many transitional goals where the defense is unsettled and the other teams can take advantage. Based on the Goalie Stat lines, Coach T may need to invest in some Seeing Eye Dogs…
#10 Connecticut College; PJ Kellecher maybe the most talented player on any field he steps on. Face-off was a struggle this last game. The new 80 second shot clock rule, I personally feel has had the greatest impact on this team than any other in the NESCAC. A team that would run down it opponent and was very patient in the past is now forced to play a new style.
#11 Colby; Great effort this past weekend against Tufts. I haven’t had the chance to see much of Colby yet this year. While I know that it’s disappointing to come up a little short, a 2 point lost to the 5th rank team in the country can build a lot of confidence.
Predictions for Week 4
Monday 18th
• Trinity 20 vs Roger Williams 8
Tuesday 19th
• St. Lawrence 8 vs. Bowdoin 7
• Amherst 22 vs. Endicott 9
• Bates 19 vs. Keene State 5
• Tufts 16 vs Stevenson 6
Wednesday 20th
• Nazareth 8 vs Hamilton 9
• Williams 14 vs RPI 12
• Trinity 26 vs UMass Boston 4
• Merchant Marine 7 vs CC 12
• Wesleyan 15 vs Cortland 10
Saturday 23rd
• Bowdoin 8 vs. Middlebury 9
• Conn College 8 vs. Colby 7
• Amherst 25 vs Hamilton 9
Game of the Week
• Bates 16 vs Williams 17 (OT)
Upset of the Week
• Trinity 15 vs Tufts 14
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