School Wrap Sunday

One team is still perfect while another is free falling and likely out of the top 20 rankings. Just some of the stories in our school wrap Sunday.

Atlantic
(12)Air Force kept it's perfect season alive by pasting Sacred Heart in a weekend sweep. The Falcons pounded the Pioneers 8-1 and 7-1 with Junior Jacques Lamoureux picking up a pair of points to move back into a tie for first in the nation. Lamoureux was recently a guest on TPS and talked about the critics who say Air Force hasn't played anybody tough lately. That will change next weekend with a pair of non conference games against Denver and Colorado College.

WCHA
Speaking of the two mountain schools both wound up on the wrong end of the scoreboard on Friday night before rebounding on Saturday. (10)Denver, like many teams couldn't contain (1)Minnesota freshman Jordan Schroeder (ranked 6th by ISS for 2009 draft) who notched a pair of goals while adding an assist and moving into a tie for 10th in NCAA scoring. Schroeder who is pictured playing for Team U.S.A at last year's World Junior Championship, should wear stars and stripes again this year. The top ranked Golden Gophers ran their unbeaten streak to 11 games thanks to 3 points from captain Ryan Stoa (Colorado, 2nd round, 2005) as well. As the Gophers expected, Denver came back with a stronger effort Saturday night. 2 Assists from freshman Joe Colborne (Boston, 1st round, 2008) and 34 saves from goaltender Matt Cheverie (Florida, 7th round, 2006) led the Pioneers to a 4-0 victory. It was the sophomore's first NCAA shut out and it came after a players only meeting. The victory snapped a 3 game losing skid for the Pioneers, and it should keep them in the top 10, while the Gophers shouldn't lose their top ranking.

As for the other mountain school, (3)Colorado College things started well Friday night up north against Alaska-Anchorage, as senior Chad Rau (Toronto, 7th round, 2005) opened the scoring midway through the first. But 3 straight from the Seawolves and CC's power play scoring only once in 12 chances earned AA a 4-2 victory and should sneak them into the top 20. Saturday night it was looking like the Seawolves would earn the sweep after sophomore Tommy Grant tied it shorthanded to force overtime. But Addison DeBoer bailed out his Tigers with the overtime winner to salvage the split.

Elsewhere (11)Minnesota State swept Michigan Tech, Wisconsin split with St. Cloud State, while (20)North Dakota lost and tied Minnesota-Duluth, which could mean UND ending up outside of the top 20.

Hockey East
For (2)Boston University to lose to (15)Vermont once after tying the game late is one thing, but for it to happen one night later is just bizarre.
The Catamounts scored 2 huge 4-3 victories over the Terriers giving Vermont just one loss in it's last 7 games and a shot at the top ten when the rankings come out Monday. Freshman goaltender Rob Madore made 38 saves for Vermont Friday night, while the Cats trapped the Dogs on Saturday to earn the sweep.

(4)Boston College didn't get swept by (16)Massachusetts, but they didn't win both either. Friday night sophomore tender John Muse kicked out 27 for the shut out, which was a nice turnaround for the Eagles who gave up 13 goals the weekend before. Muse made 37 saves Saturday night, but it was the 38th he couldn't stop that gave the Minutemen a 4-3 overtime victory. 21 year old freshman Casey Wellman capped off a 3 point night with the overtime winner.

Elsewhere, (6)Northeastern won both of it's games, beating (13)New Hampshire on Friday and Mass-Lowell on Saturday. As for New Hampshire, the Wildcats edged Providence 4-3 on Saturday.

CCHA
A key match up between (7)Miami and (9)Michigan was hard fought, tight checking and down to the wire, exactly what you'd expect from conference rivals who met in the CCHA championship game last year. Red Berenson's Wolverines beat the Redhawks in the title game a year ago, but this weekend, Miami swept Michigan for the first time in almost 3 years. Michigan native Andy Miele burned his home state for 2 goals on Friday night while freshman Cody Reichard made 20 saves for the shut out. Saturday night things were just as tight, but this time it was Connar Knapp beating Michigan 2-1. Miami head coach Enrico Blassi rotates his goaltenders and who can blame him as the Redhawks are red hot. Miami won it's 4th straight overall and 4th in a row over a Michigan based school (they swept Michigan State the weekend before) thanks to a pair of assists from Carter Camper. Miami could move into the top 5 this week as they're easily the top team in the CCHA.

If Miami can't bust into the top 5, it's because (5)Notre Dame is representing the CCHA. The Irish pounded Bowling Green into submission with 5-1 and 9-1 crushings. Notre Dame scored 6 times in the 3rd on Saturday and went 6-12 on the power play in remaining unbeaten in 8. Notre Dame is the text book team for spreading out the offence as they don't have anyone in the top 30 of NCAA scoring, but can boast 6 players in double digits in team scoring.

Elsewhere how far the Michigan State Spartans have fallen. Out of the top 20, MSU watched that bus drive further away after getting swept by (19)Nebraska-Omaha on the weekend. Rick Comley's crew hasn't won in 7 games and have given up 18 goals in their last 4.

ECAC
The big nuts among Ivy league schools kept rolling on. (8)Princeton edged out St. Lawrence on Friday and doubled up Clarkson on Saturday 4-2. The Tigers who put up 47shots Saturday night have only lost once this year and sit atop the ECAC.

That one loss for Princeton came to (14)Cornell. Big Red has yet to lose this year after weekend wins over (18)Harvard 2-1 and Dartmouth 3-1. Cornell outshot Harvard 37-15 on Friday and watched sophomore Riley Nash (Edmonton, 1st round, 2007-pictured) awoke from his scoring slumber with his first 2 goals of the season. He'll need much more production in Big Red's next 4 games if he wants to earn an invite to Canada's World Junior camp. Junior goalie Ben Scrivens continues his limbo dance with statistics, as you have to wonder how low he can go in goals against average. It's now at .81 and he owns a saver per centage of .971 to go along with his 4-0-2 record. You have to wonder if the 22 year old will get a contract offer from a few NHL teams at seasons end.