Week 12 Preview: Home and Homes featured as #9 DePaul takes on #7 Marian and Aurora faces-off against Lewis
Weekly Preview:
A number of NCHL members have started to get back on the ice and into game shape now that the calendar has changed over to 2023 and the winter break is over. This week, however, is the first in six weeks that divisional games will take place. The Orange Division has finished their schedule, with UW Oshkosh defending as Bruno’s Goblet Champions, so all the remaining divisional series are between Black Division members.
Leading things off is the home and home series between #9 DePaul University and #7 Marian University. DePaul currently sits in second place in the Black Division, six points behind #3 Concordia University WI, while Marian sits in an uncharacteristic fifth place, having only earned three points over two divisional series.
DePaul has looked strong this year and will need to keep up the high level of play if they hope to finally take down Marian as they have an overall record of 0-8 against Marian. The advantage of home ice for game one falls to DePaul and the series will conclude on Marian’s home ice. A positive weekend for DePaul will keep CUW in their sights when those two teams meet in their regular season finales. This is also the start of a crucial stretch for Marian as their next three weekends have series against divisional opponents, giving them the opportunity to move up the division standings.
The second Black Division series this weekend is also a home and home matchup and features Aurora University and Lewis University. This series is the final divisional series of the season for Aurora and the second to last for Lewis. To this point, Aurora has tallied four points and a fourth place divisional standing while Lewis is still trying to secure their first points of the season and sit in sixth place.
As with the DePaul/Marian matchup this one has also been one-sided with Aurora holding a perfect 8-0 record against Lewis. Lewis will have the ability to notch that first win in front of their home fans at Canlan Sports before moving to All Seasons Ice Rinks and Aurora’s home contingent for game two.
In non-conference action, #3 Concordia University WI hosts #17 Illinois State University, UW Oshkosh hosts UW Stout D3, Northern Michigan University has home and home with Finlandia University, and UW Milwaukee has home and home with Milwaukee School of Engineering.
#9 DePaul University and #7 Marian University battle in home and home series:
#9 DePaul University and #7 Marian University battle it out in a home and home series this weekend, with DePaul getting to start the series on home ice before finishing on Marian’s. Coming into this series, DePaul sits in second place, with 10 points, in the Black Division and is six points behind division leader #3 Concordia University WI while Marian sits in fifth place, with three points. This is also the second to last divisional series for DePaul and only the halfway point for Marian. Mathematically, DePaul is still in the hunt to possibly overtake CUW for first place in the Black Division, but they need to win out. Should Marian win out they have a chance to move up to second place.
Over DePaul’s first six divisional contests they have amassed a 6.5 goals for to 2.5 goals against average, along with a +24 goal differential. Marian has not put up the numbers they are used to over their first four divisional games as they average 4.5 goals for and 5 goals against average, for a -2 goal differential.
While those numbers show two teams, as their records confirm, on opposite ends of the standings, Marian has held a decided advantage against DePaul. Over their previous eight meetings, including a sweep last season, Marian has yet to taste defeat and has won by an average score of 7-2, with the largest margin of victory nine goals.
DePaul got back on the ice last weekend and did not show any signs of rust as they easily swept Orange Division member UW Oshkosh. If ever there was a time for DePaul to find their first win this might be it as they come into the matchup on form and the last time Marian was on the ice for game action came all the way back on the weekend of December 2nd, 2022. However, while it has been over a month since they have been game tested that weekend of December 2nd saw Marian sweep the #1 team in the Southeast Region, Florida Gulf Coast University, becoming the first team to ever do so on FGCU’s home ice. So, there could be some residual moment on Marian’s side.
Aurora University faces-off against Lewis University in home and home series:
Aurora University travels to Lewis University for the first part of their home and home series. Neither team currently sits in the top half of the Black Division standings, with Aurora holding down the fourth position, having earned four points, just one point ahead of #7 Marian University, and Lewis sitting in sixth position and looking to secure their first points of the season. This series also concludes Aurora’s divisional slate of games for this season and is the second to last for Lewis.
Neither team has had much luck on the offensive or defensive side of the ice. Through their first eight divisional games, Aurora is averaging 2.5 goals for and 5.25 goals against, for a -23 goal differential. Lewis has fared a bit better offensively over their six divisional games to this point, averaging 3 goals for, but defensively they are giving up on average 9.5 goals per game for a -40 goal differential.
During their matchup last season, Aurora swept Lewis, bringing Aurora’s overall record against them to 8-0. The average score of those eight games is 6.8-1.9 in favor of Aurora. Additionally, Aurora averages one more goal for and one goal less against at home versus away in this matchup.
Only Aurora has been in action since the winter break ended as they took on #17 Illinois State University last weekend and came away with a victory in game one. Lewis last played the weekend of December 9th, 2022, when they split with UW Oshkosh. So, it will be seen if there is any rust when Lewis hits the ice in game one and if Aurora can keep up their mastery over Lewis.
Inter-Division Game:
#19 Marquette University v. Roosevelt University
Non-Conference Games:
#3 Concordia University WI v. #17 Illinois State University
UW Oshkosh v. UW Stout D3
Northern Michigan University at/v. Finlandia University
UW Milwaukee at/v. Milwaukee School of Engineering
