Hockey / Week 14 Preview: Regular season concludes with Marian hosting Lewis

Week 14 Preview: Regular season concludes with Marian hosting Lewis

Date:  Source: Northern Collegiate Hockey League
Weekly Preview:
The NCHL’s regular season wraps up this weekend with a sole divisional series between #7 Marian University and Lewis University. Marian also has the honor of hosting this series at the Blue Line Family Ice Center. While the field for the conference tournament has not been finalized, Marian is a lock to get in and Lewis is still waiting to see if they get to punch their ticket. So, both teams have an opportunity this weekend to get their games firing in the hopes of making a run in the conference tournament.
 
In non-conference action, #3 Concordia University WI hosts #2 St. Thomas University, #6 DePaul University travels to #9 University of Iowa, Aurora University has home and home with #18 Davenport University, UW Oshkosh hosts #2 St. Thomas University (2/5), and UW Milwaukee hosts St. Mary’s University MN.
 
#7 Marian University hosts Lewis University:
#7 Marian University hosts Lewis University at the Blue Line Family Ice Center in Fond du Lac, WI to close out regular season play for the NCHL. While Marian, fifth, sits just above Lewis, sixth, in the Black Division, they do hold a six point advantage. So, Marian will end up no lower than fifth but they have a chance to move up into a tie for third with #17 Marquette University. There is a good chance Lewis will make the conference tournament field, so this series is an opportunity for them to capture some momentum.
 
Last season, Marian swept Lewis at CanLan Sports in Romeoville, IL. The two Marian wins increased their overall record to 10-0 against Lewis, with four of those wins coming in Fond du Lac. Over the course of those ten contests Marian holds a 6.7-1.4 average score advantage, which increases to 7-1.25 when on their home ice.
 
Over their previous eight divisional games Marian is averaging five goals for to six goals against while Lewis is averaging three goals for to nine goals against. So, defense will be of the utmost importance for Lewis if they wish to have success against Marian.
 
Both teams will enter this series having played the weekend before. Marian took on #17 Marquette University and came away with a series split while Lewis swept Milwaukee School of Engineering.
 
Non-Conference Games:
#3 Concordia University WI v. #2 St. Thomas University
#6 DePaul University at #9 University of Iowa
Aurora University at/v. #18 Davenport University
UW Oshkosh v. #2 St. Thomas University (2/5)
UW Milwaukee v. St. Mary’s University MN
 
Idle:
#17 Marquette University
Roosevelt University
Northern Michigan University