Nicole's NCAA Notebook: October 21, 2024

• I am, at all times, a member of Team Chaos. I want underdogs to win. I want epic comebacks, wild endings, overtime, shootouts ... I am here for all of it. It's good for the game that unranked teams are beating ranked teams and lower ranked teams are pulling points off the top teams in the country. No one wants blowouts every game. The first few weeks have brough so much good drama with tons of one-goal games and overtime. It's what makes watching all of these games and becoming a fan so fun. I don't want the outcomes to be assumed before the puck is dropped. This week was absolutely stellar for Team Chaos from Holy Cross tying #13 Northeastern and #11 St. Cloud State tying #2 Ohio State to Mercyhurst taking 4 of 6 points from #6 Cornell, formerly winless Vermont blanking #7 St. Lawrence, unranked Harvard winning their first game of the season over #9 UConn and six OT games, it was a fantastic weekend of stellar hockey.
• In that vein, I loved the watching the growth and fight evident in Holy Cross this weekend. They didn't earn that tie by chance or just because their goalie played well - they were in those games from start to finish. Northeastern put an extra attacker on with more than six minutes to play and eventually scored twice to force overtime. That whole games was a fight - the Huskies had 18 blocks and the Crusaders racked up 24. It was just really good hockey at a level Holy Cross hasn't much been at in recent years. I hope to see more of it from them.
• Similarly, the compete from St. Cloud State to not just force overtime after giving up a late goal but then win the shootout and extra point was so impressive. The results are secondary in both these cases - it's about how the teams didn't get dejected and still believed they could win. That determination and grit will serve them well in February and March
• There have been a few televised games on NESN and BTN to start the season, which is great, but they just highlight to me how frustratingly difficult it is to try and watch games the rest of the time. I've been doing it for years and still find it so clumsy and frustrating. Sure, it's massively better and honestly even as pricey as it all is, still cheaper than it has been in years past, but it's still not easy. ESPN+ is by far the easiest and cheapest (Good God BTN+ why do I have to Chromecast games from my computer or phone?! Get a smart TV app already!) but the conferences use three different platforms and then several schools have their own streams. When all the games are happening at the same time, it's nigh impossible to switch from game to game and I just wish it wasn't so damn hard for people to watch this sport because as mentioned above, they're missing out on some pretty amazing hockey.
• Late in Friday's UW/UM game, Minnesota play by play guy Dan Hamann noted that down 5-0, Minnesota's fourth-line players (Franco-O'Hara-Puppe, all freshmen) were seeing ice time and I believe he said it was the first time all year he'd noted them getting much ice time. None of the three have a point and combined have 17 shots on goal through 19 combined games played. It was a comment I might not have otherwise noted, but it felt really stood out in stark relief compared to Wisconsin's fourth line (McCarthy, Scannell, Halverson, also all rookies) who had two of the Badgers' five goals on Friday and had the game-tying goal on Saturday. Overall that line has seven goals and six assists through the team's first eight games. They've also logged decent time on special teams. I don't say any of that to pick on the Gopher youngsters, but as an illustration of the sorts of things that separate the top team in the country. Wisconsin is not just four lines deep, but getting production from all of them and in putting them on the ice, is only growing their skills and development. Being able to count on a fourth line, much less a fourth line of freshmen, gives the Badgers so many options, rests their players and sets them up for the toughest parts of the season.
• Tangential to that, shoutout to Ohio State, who due to injuries skated with just 9 forwards all weekend. It's a given that the Buckeyes are beyond fit and able to handle it, but it's still a tough ask and they have three games this coming week.
• I've made it my pet project to point out how Makenna Webster is excelling at two DI sports, so I'll tell you she's still averaging a goal a game (tied for fourth in the country) and averaging 2.75 points per game, also fourth in the nation) and she scored with :29 left to give Ohio State their first win over Maryland ever. The Buckeye field hockey team is currently ranked #3.
• New Hampshire still has not given up a power play goal - they are 14-for-14 on the penalty kill. Harvard joins them after having played their first game this week. They were a perfect 4-for-4 on the kill in their only game so far.
• Goals you need to see:

Freshman (and Minnesota native) Hannah Halverson's one-timer from the slot on a great pass and effort from KK Harvey to tie the game for Wisconsin.

Northeastern's Morgan Jackson, from a knee, for her first career goal to force overtime with just over a minute to play.

The buildup and patience from Bemidji State and then a top shelf shot on a bouncing puck from Riley Reeves.

This snipe from Quinnipiac's Maya Labad was the second of her three goals on Saturday for her first career hat trick.