Nicole's NCAA Notebook: November 9, 2026

• Apparently you have to be a top-10 ranked team for RPI to bother beating you. The Engineers have two wins this season. The first was over #5 Northeastern to start October and the second came this weekend against #9 Clarkson. It's kind of ridiculous and kind of a flex. But mostly I think it's a sign of things to come for RPI. Clearly there's a ton of heart and potential on this team.
• One of the most fun series to watch this weekend was Assumption v LIU. On Friday, Assumption took a 2-0 lead 7:09 into the third and looked to be on their way to a big win over one of the teams pushing them for the top stop in the standings. Instead, LIU scored less than a minute later to cut into the lead and then again 21 seconds after that to tie the game. And just four minutes later they scored again to take the lead. Assumption got a late power play, but looked like they were trying too hard to find the perfect shot instead of just getting the puck to net. They had no shots on goal and just four shot attempts, three of which were blocked and one which missed. LIU took the win. The second game went to Assumpation after LIU took a 1-0 lead. The Greyhounds scored three straight. LIU pulled one back late, but Assumption took a 3-2 win. Unfortunately for them, Franklin Pierce won both their games to move to the top of the table ahead of them.
• I might be the only one who noticed, but I appreciated the symmetry of Syracuse and Czechia both winning 4-1 on Friday. Brian Idalski is the coach of both teams.
• You don't always get to see a momentum shift happen, particularly without a goal being scored, but it was entirely visible on Thursday at Boston College. The Eagles were in full control for the first 14 or so minutes of the game. They were moving the puck, outshooting UConn 8-1 at one point, even though the Huskies had a power play and generally looked like they were going to direct the game from start to finish. But something clicked in for Connecticut as the clock ran down. You could see it build, then Jessie Pellerin hit the post and it feels like that reminded the Huskies who they are and what they're capable of. They scored twice in the final four minutes of the first period and seemed to control the weekend from there. They won again at home on Saturday.
• Princeton stayed perfect despite facing two ranked teams this weekend. They looked like a team already ready for the playoffs against Colgate on Saturday. Just totally in control. Of all the freshman we talked about coming into this season, Chloe Brinson was not one of them but goodness she's been spectacular to start this season, averaging 1.25 poings per game.
• Goals of the week:

Love all the quick puck movement from Holy Cross that heads to Reghan Chadwick's goal

The quick turn and touch from Brown's Avery Saba

Beauty of a breakaway from UNH's Addison Spitz

A bullet from Union's Evie Hanson

Monique Lyons fights on the boards and Ella Murault finishes it for Brown

Mia Montanari as she's falling down for RPI

Grace Sadura takes the space and is patient with this goal for Northeastern

Great perseverance from Claire Murdoch and Ellie Markakis on this game-winning goal for UConn

Chloe Brinson has been on fire for Princeton to start her collegiate career