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As the NCHL heads into the final weekend before the Thanksgiving, two conference series are on the schedule. The first series is between Marquette University and #14 Concordia University WI. It will be a short jaunt up Hwy 43, from Milwaukee, WI, to the Ozaukee Ice Center for Marquette to try and hold on to their first place position in the conference standings. CUW will be facing another stern test as they look to bounce back from their first losses of the season two weekends ago and state their case for a top seed in the conference tournament.

 

The second series is between two teams who have yet to get deep into their conference seasons, #2 Marian University and DePaul University. This will be only the third conference series for Marian while DePaul will be playing in their second. Even though they have only played two conference series Marian is once again looking strong. They have continued their regular season unbeaten streak which now sits at 30 games, last tasting defeat outside the conference tournament on 10/21/17. With only one conference series played coming into this series DePaul has gotten to see how the standings are shaking out and what teams are playing well, allowing them to better prepare for their upcoming matchups. This series will be on DePaul’s home ice, Johnny’s IceHouse West, giving them a chance to play in front of their fans for the first time in almost a month.

 

In non-conference action #9 Aurora University travels to #8 Adrian College for a single game on Wednesday, 11/20, and then goes to Bradley University for a Friday/Saturday series and Lewis University hosts Winona State University for a Friday/Saturday series.

 

Three teams from the NCHL are ranked inside the top 20 and each improved their spot from the week before. Marian leads way, moving up to #2, Aurora jumped three spots to #9 and CUW improved one position to #14. 

 

Marquette University heads up Hwy 43 to tussle with #14 Concordia University WI. Both teams sit inside the top four of the conference standings heading into this weekend’s contests, with Marquette in a tie for first and CUW a tie for fourth, but CUW sits only two points behind.

 

Only Marquette was in action last weekend, against Lewis University, and they had their hands full. However, they were able to squeak out a series split, winning Friday’s game and losing Saturday’s game. The two points from the split allowed Marquette to jump ahead of then standings leader Marian University. CUW on the other hand had last weekend off, their first since the end of September, and it gave them a chance to regroup after being swept by #2 Marian University the weekend before. The losses to Marian were CUW’s first of the season, conference or non-conference, so they have been enjoying success and should be raring to start a new streak this weekend.

 

Last season was CUW’s first as a conference member and as a result have only played Marquette two times. In both games last season CUW could only muster one goal against four and seven by Marquette in games one and two, respectively, leading Marquette to claim both games of the series. So, CUW will be looking to bounce back from their series against Marian and get back to their winning ways, while also trying to overtake Marquette in the standings. Marquette knows they will have played more games than everyone chasing them after this weekend, putting a tenuous grip on their position in the standings if they are not able to break their streak of splits or fail to win. So, if they wish to improve on last season’s 3rd place finish they will need all the points they can earn.

 

In their first home series in over a month, DePaul University welcomes #2 Marian University to Johnny’s IceHouse West. This will be only the second conference series for DePaul and third for Marian as we reach the weekend before Thanksgiving. As a result of only playing two games DePaul sits in 8th place in the conference standings, with two points, while Marian, in 3rd place, is only one point out of a tie for first.

 

Last weekend both Marian and DePaul were in action against non-conference opponents. Marian took on then #2 Lindenwood University and came away with two hard fought one goal victories. DePaul traveled to Winona, MN to take on St. Mary’s University of MN and also came away with a series sweep. So, each team comes into this contest with some momentum.

 

Marian holds a 4-0 overall record against DePaul, winning 6-2 an 10-1 last season, with Marian and DePaul having yet to meet in the conference tournament. DePaul will be looking to start their climb up the conference standings this weekend and at the same time end Marian’s undefeated record against them, in addition to Marian’s 30 game regular season streak, but it will take a full team effort to do so. Marian’s immediate goal will be to take care of business this weekend and position themselves to once again take over first place in the conference standings, letting the regular season winning streak take care of itself.

 

#9 Aurora University at #8 Adrian College (11/20)

#9 Aurora University at Bradley University (11/22-23)

Lewis University v. Winona State University

 

Robert Morris University – Maroon

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh