West Weekend Preview

CHA Series
#5 Mercyhurst @ Robert Morris
FRI, 7:00 PM ~ SAT, 2:00 PM
Live Stats
Audio ~ Webstream
Season Results: 10/29 - RMU 3, MC 7

After falling to #2 Cornell during the week at home the Lakers look to get back on the right track this weekend with a series at struggling Robert Morris. Since the teams played in October the Colonials have managed just a 3-8-3 record and dropped their last three contests where they have been outscored 14-5. While the Lakers are clearly the deeper more skilled bunch they are beatable, especially when trailing after the first period. However with the offensive issues that RMU has displayed as of late, I doubt that either Hillary Pattenden or Stephanie Ciampa are losing much sleep in preparation for what should be a nice rebound weekend for the Lakers.

Syracuse @ Niagara
FRI, 7:00 PM ~ SAT, 2:00 PM
Live Stats
Audio ~ Webstream
Season Results: Initial Match-up

Stuck below the top could easily be the motto for the 2010-2011 Syracuse Orange or Niagara Purple Eagles. While each team has put up rather impressive wins early in the season the stigmata of being unable to best Mercyhurst when it really counts, continues to keep these two emerging programs in the middle of the CHA pack. My expectation for this weekend is that fans of either team will see a talented goaltender with a team in front that rolls two solid lines and a shaky third. Special teams play certainly matters as neither team has mastered the Power Play or the Penalty Kill effectively. The key for Niagara could be as simple as shutting down Isabel Menard and containing Holly Carrie-Mattimoe and Julie Rising. For the Orange its as simple as getting the puck away from Kristen Richards and past Jenni Bauer. Experience often wins games and in that regard the Orange are slightly ahead of the Purple Eagles. Anyone in attendance or watching on the web should be in for a treat watching these two teams square off.

WCHA Series
Minnesota State @ Bemidji State
FRI, 2:07 PM ~ SAT, 2:07 PM
Live Stats
Audio ~ Webstream
Season Results: 12/10 - BSU 1, MSU 2; 12/11 - T 1-1 (2-1 SO)

While the Mavericks from Mankato started the season on a roll the stretch that has followed has been nothing short of frustrating for Eric Means' club. Looking for redemption after the Beavers took the series in Mankato to end the first half the Mavs are looking to extend Bemidji's two game slide. The Beavers who need two wins to stay in the race for home ice in the first round playoffs will be looking to rebound after a disappointing series with North Dakota last weekend. Erin Cody drives the Beavers offense in front of Zuzana Tomcikova in net. The Mavericks will need to limit these two players ability to control the game as well as feed Kathleen Rogan and Moira O'Connor with good quality scoring chances if they hope to take two points in their first trip to the brand new Sanford Center.

#4 Minnesota @ Ohio State
FRI, 7:07 PM ~ SAT, 4:07 PM
Live Stats
Audio ~ Webstream
Season Results: 12/10 - OSU 0, UMN 6; 12/11 - OSU 1, UMN 2

While the initial matchup was billed as a battle, this rematch in Columbus will feature the up and down bucks trying to stop the hot Gophers. While Minnesota is 6-1-1 since the first week of December, the Bucks have continued their trend of the past few seasons of scoring the occasional upset and dropping games they should be winning. While some may look at the Buckeyes record and write them off, the gophers know full well of the firepower that comes when OSU is clicking on all cylinders. The biggest issue for the gophers to exploit is putting pressure on Lisa Steffes. With Chelsea Knapp out for the season the freshman Steffes has assumed the starting role and when her defense breaks down often the results look ugly. With the Gophers in solo posession of second place and OSU stuck in sixth assumptions can be made, but as has been shown in the past, anything can happen with OSU when all the stars align.

#8 North Dakota @ St. Cloud State
FRI, 7:07 PM ~ SAT, 7:07 PM
Live Stats
Audio ~ Webstream
Season Results: 11/19 - SCSU 3, UND 6; 11/20 - SCSU 1, UND 6

Coming off the break with a 5-0-1 record the Fighing Sioux are intent on locking down home ice in the WCHA playoffs and doing their best to finish above their top rivals Minnesota, and UMD. Despite a few head scratching wins and losses the Sioux have done a 180 this year across the board. There biggest hindrance has been their depth and ability to stay out of the penalty box. Neither issue should be an obsticle this week as the Sioux trip east to take on the winnless Huskies. Nonetheless, anytime Ashley Nixon is in net the Huskies still stand a slim chance at scoring the upset. But don't look for too many miracles here as the Sioux look ready to put on a clinic this weekend in St. Cloud.

#1 Wisconsin @ #6 Minnesota Duluth
FRI, 7:07 PM ~ SAT, 7:07 PM
Live Stats
Audio ~ Webstream
Season Results: 11/26 - UMD 2, UW 3; 11/28 - UMD 1, UW 3

The Bulldogs of UMD are opening up their new digs in style as the #1 Badgers come to town with the hopes of crashing the 'dogs homecoming. The Badgers who will look to extend their comfortable league points lead are all two familiar with what Shannon Miller's squad is capable of producing when they are on. After a long holiday break the Bulldogs came out flat last weekend at Minnesota getting swept from Ridder and struggling all weekend to get their offense rolling again. Managing just two power play goals (both in the first game) all weekend the Badgers will need to limit their trips to the box if they hope to stay effective. The key to victory in this series could also be the goaltending battle. While the 'dogs have the experience of Jennifer Harss and Kim Martin, the Badgers have mostly relied on Freshman Alex Rigsby to keep them in games but Becca Ruegsegger has been outstanding for Bucky as of late as well. This series should be about as good as it gets for a regular season matchup!

Non Conference Series
#9 Quinnipiac @ Wayne State
FRI, 7:00 PM ~ SAT, 2:00 PM
Live Stats
Audio ~ Webstream

Stepping outside the CHA this week the 7-13-0 Warriors host one of the fastest rising teams in the Nation, the Quinnipiac Bobcats. The Warriors will need an MVP performance in net from Delayne Brian and scoring in bunches from Julie Ingratta, Alyssa Baldin, and Jill Szandzik if they hope to steal a home ice victory. The Bobcats who are led by a pair of freshman and a pair of juniors offensively should be ready to press offensively from the drop of the puck in hopes of wearing down their slightly less experienced opposition. In addition QU has stellar sophomore Victoria Vigilanti in net which presents even more of a challenge for the Warriors offensive. Despite the outcome the player every fan should keep their eye on in this one is Quinnipiac freshman forward Kelly Babstock. The Mississauga native is first on the team in all offensive categories as well as in penalty minutes. If Babstock gets hot, which I am sure she will, the Bobcats should return to the east coast with two victories in hand.

*Mel Webster is the CHA and WCHA Corrispondent for Beyond the Dashers