Nicole's NCAA Notebook: January 20, 2025

The Notebook returns from hiatus while I was in Finland covering the IIHF U18 Women's World Championships. This version will be a little long because there were some pretty goals during my break and I want to make sure VP readers see them all!

• There continues to be some dissonance between how the voters are ranking teams and what the Pairwise computes. Most notably, Cornell is 4th in the Pairwise, Penn State is 6th and Clarkson is 11th.
• The Golden Knights have stumbled in the new year. Clarkson have lost four of six games since January 3, including a 2-1 loss to Yale and a 3-2 OT loss to Brown this weekend. They went from solidly a tournament team to one on the outside looking in over three weekends. With just about a month of the regular season left, the pressure is on. There is no longer any margin for error. They might not be in must-win territory, but they sure are close.
• The fight for the Hockey East title continues to be close. BC and UConn are currently tied atop the standings. BU is one point back, but with one game in hand. Northeastern is five points back from the lead and Providence, who swept Northeastern this weekend, is now eight points off the lead.
• The ECAC isn't any clearer, with Cornell and Colgate currently tied for first with 33 points. St. Lawrence is just 0.5 points back in third and Clarkson is seven points off the lead in fourth.
• Sacred Heart leads NEWHA, but Franklin Pierce and LIU are just three points back and LIU has a game in hand.
• Penn State has a nine-point lead atop the AHA and Wisconsin is 16 points clear of Minnesota and Ohio State, who are tied for second in the WCHA, though OSU has two games in hand.
• The Beanpot is tomorrow! Boston University and Northeastern faceoff for the 46th Women's Beanpot. The game will air on NESN and be available streaming on ESPN+. BU last won in 2019. Northeastern have won the past two Beanpots. Notably, the Terriers last two Beanpot championship game appearances ended in overtime losses to the Huskies.
• Brown was a lot of fun to watch this weekend. There was no quit in that team and the emergency of Monique Lyon as one of the best rookies this season has been impressive. It's a massive step for them to have a weekend sweep of ranked teams as they took down both Clarkson and St. Lawrence.
• Providence also had a big weekend, taking two from Northeastern and earning a season sweep. The Friars seem to be gaining momentum and confidence as we get later in the season. They're currently fifth in Hockey East, but are playing higher than that and they could be a problem for teams when it comes to the postseason.
• Minnesota Duluth gave up more than 100 shots to Ohio State over the weekend, but goalie Ève Gascon was outstanding, making 102 saves in two games. I'm sure it's little comfort since they lost both games, but what an accomplishment to have kept both games against the Buckeyes so close (OSU won 3-1 and 2-1).
• Wisconsin's Casey O'Brien became the first player to reach 50 points over the weekend as she hit 55 points on 17 goals and 38 assists. Last year, just 13 players (including O'Brien herself) scored 50 or more points all season.
• Colgate's Kalty Kaltounková and Wisconsin's Laila Edwards are tied for the lead in goals scored with 24
• Goals you need to see:

Union's Stephanie Bourque with the fancy footwork and a snipe to win in OT

All three goals from Wisconsin's Laila Edwards' natural, first-period hat trick

This cheeky shootout goal from Holy Cross' Emily Crovo

The passing and execution on this goal for Maine

Colgate's Kalty Kaltounková goes through the legs

UConn's Claire Murdoch with the patience and the mitts

And a few from while I was gone ...

Lacey Eden to Cassie Hall for Wisconsin

Northeastern's Skylar Irving making everyone else look like they're standing still

This shootout goal from UConn freshman Claire Murdoch

The hand-eye coordination from Bemidji's Isa Goettl