Nicole's NCAA Notebook: October 12, 2026

• You get an upset, and you get an upset - There were eight games featuring ranked teams on Friday and half of them were won by the unranked or lower ranked team - Syracuse over Penn State, Colgate over St. Cloud State, Ohio State over Wisconsin and St. Thomas over Minnesota Duluth.
• Ohio State made a massive statement this weekend with their sweep of Wisconsin. They looked like a complete team ready to win a title in the first weekend of October. They responded to adversity and were stronger in the third period of each game than they were to start it. They're going to be a big, big problem for everyone.
• I'll preface this by saying I think Ohio State is the team to beat this year and all things equal, they probably would have swept no matter what. That being said, Wisconsin responded when they went down and held on for much of the weekend. They didn't manage a full 60 minutes, which is obviously an issue. They made a ton of mental mistakes and got a little exposed, but they also kept the games close even when OSU was outplaying them and keeping them hemmed in. Those mistakes have to be cleaned up and they can't let anyone, much less Ohio State, go 4-for-7 on the power play in a weekend. OSU got their whole squad up to speed much sooner than UW and played more disciplined, but I'm already anticipating how good the games between these two will be to close out the regular season.
• One more thing from that series - the biggest names stepped up for both sides and directed the game, but I was also pleasantly surprised by some of the rookies that stood out. OSU defender Kate Viel was noticeable on both sides of the play. Ohio State was already trusting her in key situations and she met - and exceeded the moment. There was of course her goal, but she was also great under pressure, controlling Wisconsin's attempts to break out and forcing turnovers. Though she didn't make the score sheet, Haley Box looked like a much more veteran player to this series throughout the weekend. Her speed was evident, but it was also how she kept up with the play, read what was happening and adjusted throughout the game. When a lot of UW's play was marked with mistakes, Box looked ready to play a dozen more games of this caliber immediately.
• Syracuse upset Penn State in overtime and the most impressive part is how the Orange weathered two big pushbacks from PSU where the Nittany Lions erased a two-goal lead to tie the game each time but still came out with the win. The win was as much mental as it was physically scoring goals and shoutout to Brian Idalski and the new staff for setting Syracuse up to handle themselves in moments like this.
• I admittedly feel like I don't have a solid idea on where to set expectations for Colgate and I feel like they made a bit of a statement this weekend with their sweep of St. Cloud State. With the Ivies hitting the ice this week we'll better know what the ECAC might look like, but I like that Colgate got those wins.
• I use Chromecast on my two living room tvs and for the past several years have had to pull up WCHA games on my laptop and then cast them as their was no app. Between the BTN+ app and the better usability of the FloHockey app, it's so easy to move between games. Sometimes it's the little things.
• There's been a lot of talk about St. Cloud State and Minnesota State as taking steps forward in the WCHA, but St. Thomas showed they were already leading that conversation while we weren't paying attention. They controlled play against UMD on Friday, outshooting them and taking the upset win. They couldn't hold that through the second game, but the Tommies have been slowly but reliably building.
• Goals of the week:

One of Stryker Zablocki's two short-handed goals on Friday

Jocelyn Fiala's overtime game winner for Syracuse over Penn State

Great decision-making from UMD's Edit Danielsson

Nice team movement and better redirect from Holy Cross' Violet Carroll

Gorgeous one-time wrister for a first collegiate goal by Maddie Kimbrel

Patience and vision for a first career goal by Colgate's Kiera Owen

Yes it's an empty-netter, but the I love the wheels and fight from Minnesota's Adiranna Milani here