This is the second to last weekend of conference series for 2019 and six conference members take part in conference games. Marian University, the newly #1 ranked team in the ACHA D2 Central Region, leads the way with their home and home series with University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. On top of becoming the top ranked team in the region, Marian also reclaimed the top spot in the conference standings and increased their regular season winning streak to 32 games after their last series against DePaul University. UWO will have their hands full as they try and defeat their neighbor to the south, keeping their faint hopes of the post season alive.

 

The second series of the weekend is between #13 Concordia University WI and DePaul University. CUW sits in a tie for third place, with Lewis University, entering this series with DePaul, only two points behind Marquette University and three behind Marian. After a non-conference heavy schedule for the first half of the season this will be the second of six straight conference series DePaul. Currently sitting in 8th place in the standings DePaul will have the comfort of home ice as they try to start their climb into the top six.

 

Finally, #12 Aurora University heads across town to grapple with Lewis University. Aurora, like DePaul, has only played two conference series to this point, but now gets into the meat of their NCHL season. Sitting in 4th place, Aurora has a two point deficit to overcome if they wish to jump Lewis in the standings and challenge Marian for the top spot once again. Lewis’ program has seen a resurgence this season and they are not only looking to get back to the conference tournament but secure one of the top seeds. To be seen is whether or not Lewis can sustain their offensive pressure through high shots on goal numbers or if Aurora keeps up their offensive onslaught.

 

In non-conference action Marquette University host #2 Sault College on Saturday and Sunday and Robert Morris University – Maroon partakes in a home and home with Purdue University Northwest.

 

#1 Marian University takes on Hwy 41 neighbor University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in a home and home series, with Friday night’s game in Oshkosh, WI and Saturday’s in Fond du Lac, WI. After their last conference series Marian once again ascended to the top of the conference standings, a position they have enjoyed for a majority of the past three seasons. Through their first six conference games Marian is outscoring their opponents by a 7-2 margin, which is almost the reverse for UWO. So, this series will be a severe test for UWO as they hope to keep their slim chance to make the conference tournament alive.

 

Marian was last in action the weekend before the Thanksgiving break, sweeping DePaul University. When UWO hits the ice on Friday it will have been three weeks since their last game action, where they split against Robert Morris University – Maroon. The win against RMU was UWO’s first conference victory of the season, ending their longest winless streak to start a conference season.

 

Since entering the league, Marian has enjoyed a 7-0 all-time record against UWO, with one victory coming in the conference tournament. When these two teams met last season, Marian won by scores of 10-3 and 5-1. Given all that has transpired so far this season it looks like Marian will add to their win total, but nothing is assured and UWO will come out fighting in the hopes to enter the winter break on a high note.

 

#13 Concordia University WI goes on the road to take on DePaul University at Johnny’s IceHouse West. Sitting in a tie for third, with Lewis University at nine points, who is also in action this weekend, CUW is only one point out of second place. DePaul sits in eighth place (2 points), one point behind University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, but they are just starting to get into their conference slate of game; giving them multiple opportunities to improve their positioning and make the conference tournament field.

 

Both teams were on the ice against conference opponents the weekend before the Thanksgiving break. CUW split with Marquette University, bringing their record over their last four games to 1-3. So, with a month between games after this weekend CUW wants all the positive momentum they can get. DePaul faced-off against #1 Marian University and came out of the weekend emptyhanded. They took the early lead in each game but could not hold on against the formidable Marian offense. Though DePaul only has one victory to show for their conference series of work to this point, they still have 2/3 of their season remaining to add to that number.

 

After one season of league play, CUW and DePaul sit with a 1-1 record against one another. With the way teams are playing in front of them, neither CUW nor DePaul want or can afford to give up any ground as they look to strengthen their spot in the conference standings.

 

#12 Aurora University heads to Canlan Ice Arena to face-off against Lewis University. This will be the third conference series of the season for Aurora, all of which have been on the road. Having played half the amount of conference games as most of the other teams in the league, Aurora has earned seven points and sits in 5th place, but they are only two points out of third. Third place is where Lewis sits, with #13 Concordia University WI, as they start the second half of their conference season.

 

Aurora and Lewis both took on non-conference opponents the weekend before the Thanksgiving break. It was a busy week for Aurora as they were on the road for three games; a single game that Wednesday against #8 Adrian College, which they won, and then a weekend series with #20 Bradley University that they split, winning the opening game of the series. Lewis had the luxury of staying home to battle with Winona State University and came away with a sweep.

 

During their conference series last season Aurora powered to a series sweep, winning by scores of 9-0 and 5-1. The sweep brought their overall record against Lewis to 4-0. This is a different Lewis team compared to the last couple of seasons and they have been putting up staggering numbers of shots on goal the past month. So, if they can keep that offensive pressure up, they could finally get in the win column against Aurora. However, Aurora has been averaging nine goals a game, to three against, over their first two series, which will surely put Lewis to the test.  

 

Marquette University v. #2 Sault College (12/7-8)

Robert Morris University – Maroon v./at Purdue University Northwest