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The conference season has arrived at its penultimate weekend and all of the conference tournament seedings have yet to be determined, along with who takes the final spot, making for an intriguing finish to the season. Kicking things off this weekend is the home and home series between #7 Aurora University, who is currently in first place, and DePaul University, who sits in a tie for sixth. This is the final conference series for Aurora and they already have one of the two first round byes sown up, however, there is still the matter of trying to earn the top overall seed. DePaul needs two points over their final two conference series to lock up the final spot in the conference tournament, but to do so they will have to stop the formidable Aurora offense.

 

In a rare Saturday/Sunday series #3 Marian University hosts Lewis University in Fond du Lac, WI. This is the second to last conference series for third place Marian and they only need to secure one point over their remaining four games to earn the remaining first round bye. However, they will be looking for more as they try to overtake Aurora for the top overall seed. This is the last series for Lewis and there is the possibility of them taking the number four seed, depending on how Marquette University’s final series goes and whether or not they can do something only one team has done to Marian since they entered the league, sweep them.

 

Rounding out the weekend, #14 Concordia University WI heads to St. Mary’s University of MN, Marquette University hosts Bradley University, and Robert Morris University – Maroon travels to #2 Lindenwood University for non-conference series.

 

#7 Aurora University and DePaul University have a home and home series this weekend, with Aurora hosting game one and DePaul game two. This series concludes Aurora’s conference season and is the second to last series for DePaul. Aurora has their sights on the number one overall seed in the conference tournament but will need to take care of business this weekend and hope for some help from #3 Marian University’s final two opponents as the Aurora advantage over Marian is only two points. DePaul is still fighting for their postseason fate. Sitting in a tie for sixth, with Robert Morris University – Maroon, DePaul needs only two points to grab the final spot in the conference tournament field. Should they fail to earn any points this weekend then everything will hinge on their final conference series against University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

 

Aurora comes into this series fresh off a sweep by then #1 Lindenwood University last weekend. It has been a rough January for Aurora, who have compiled an overall record of 2-4, with one loss coming in overtime. DePaul was able to pull out a series split with Lewis University last weekend, winning the series finale, so they have a bit of positive momentum on their side.

 

DePaul will need all of the momentum they can carryover from last weekend to slow the Aurora offense. Meeting only during the regular season last season, Aurora swept the series with wins of 11-4 and 9-1. The two wins brought Aurora to a perfect 4-0 against DePaul and took their average winning margin to seven goals a game. There will be no rest in this series as both teams have something to fight for and to make sure they are clicking on all cylinders heading into February.

 

#3 Marian University hosts Lewis University for a rare Saturday/Sunday series. This is the second to last series of the season for Marian and the finale for Lewis. Entering this series Marian sits in third place, two points behind conference leader #7 Aurora University, and Lewis sits in fifth place, four points behind Marquette University. Both teams are still jostling for the best possible conference tournament seed and there are multiple scenarios that could play out depending on this weekend’s results. Winning always takes care of things and if Marian were to win their final four games they would take the number one seed and Lewis has an opportunity to go as high as the fourth seed with a two win weekend.

 

Last weekend Lewis punched their ticket to the conference tournament thanks to their split with DePaul University. Marian was also in action and is coming off a series sweep of #15 Adrian College. This is Marian and Lewis’ first meeting since their series to open the 2018-19 conference season, a total of 16 months. In that meeting, Marian won both games of the series and brought their all-time record to 6-0 against Lewis. Over those six games Marian has enjoyed an average winning margin of over five goals a game.

 

Lewis is a different team this year and they have a chance to reverse that trend, but it will take a full team effort. Marian knows there can be no letting off the gas pedal if they wish to repeat as conference champions and that every team is going to give them their best effort.   

 

#14 Concordia University WI at St. Mary’s University of MN

Marquette University v. Bradley University

Robert Morris University – Maroon at #2 Lindenwood University (2/1-2)

 

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh