Despite its loss to UMass-Lowell on Saturday, the Massachusetts hockey team's win over then-No. 1 Boston University was enough to move to team up in the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll rankings from the No. 20 spot to No. 16.
The Minutemen's new ranking marks the team's highest position of the season since beginning the season unranked.
After facing the top team in the country, the Minutemen will be facing off against another one of the nation's top teams in defending national champion Boston College.
The No. 4 Eagles, Minutemen and No. 2 Terriers are three of the six Hockey East teams included in the top 20 poll. No. 6 Northeastern, No. 13 New Hampshire and No. 15 Vermont round out the ranked teams while UML and Maine received votes.
With only two teams not mentioned in the polls (Providence and Merrimack), the Minutemen will be facing some of the nation's top teams every week as they continue in conference play in the latter parts of the season.
The second half of the season will be key for the Minutemen this year. In 2007, the team began to struggle after the Holidays. In what UMass coach Don Cahoon calls "the men's league," the Minutemen must flourish where they floundered a year ago if they are going to get home ice in the Hockey East tournament this season.
Conference inconsistencies
UMass' victory over BU is the team's second win over a top-5 team this season. The Minutemen defeated then-No. 4 North Dakota as part of the Ice Breaker Invitational at BU on Oct. 11.
The top ranked teams, however, have not been the problem for UMass this season. The Minutemen are 2-1-1 against ranked teams this season. It has been the middle-of-the-road teams that have bested the Minutemen.
Against Hockey East foes Merrimack (3-5, 1-4 Hockey East) and UMass Lowell (5-4, 3-2 Hockey East), UMass was defeated by a combined score of 5-1.
In both games, the Minutemen were coming off great performances. A week before playing at Merrimack, UMass swept Providence while the loss to UML was a day after the Minutemen upset BU.
The conditions for both matchups received part of the blame for the loss. Merrimack, which is known for its small playing surface, has caused problems for UMass over the years. Against the River Hawks at home, though, the humid conditions in the Mullins Center led to soft ice - making the puck bounce unexpectedly and slow down the usually quick skating Minutemen.
Dainton the man in goal
When the season began, sophomore goaltender Paul Dainton on the bench with an injury and junior Dan Meyers playing at an exceptional level, it seemed as if the primary starter from a year ago would be fighting for playing time.
However, Meyer's early struggles in the Minutemen's 9-5 win over Providence opened a window for Dainton's return to the crease for the Minutemen - and he hasn't looked back.
Against BU and UML, Dainton allowed only three goals while accumulating 52 saves - 30 of those saves came against the Terriers as Dainton and the Minutemen defense limited one of the nation's best offenses to a single goal. For his performance, Dainton earned UMass/Dinn. Bros Athlete of the Week.
In five games this season, Dainton has allowed six goals while posting a 3-2 record. His 1.30 goals-against average ranks sixth in the nation. Meanwhile, his .948 save percentage is fifth.
Penalty streak killed
Before their game against the River Hawks, the Minutemen have killed 29 consecutive powers plays. However, during the third period, the River Hawks' Scott Campbell scored while on the man advantage. The goal was only the third of the season against the UMass penalty kill unit.
The unit consists of a rotation at forward with senior captain Cory Quirk and senior Alex Berry switching with junior captain Brett Watson and senior Chris Davis. On defense, junior Justin Braun, junior Martin Nolet, senior John Wessbecker and senior Topher Bevis take the majority of minutes with a man down.
UMass, which boasts one of the best penalty killing units in Hockey East, has defended their penalties at a rate of .921 this season, allowing only three goals on 38 opportunities.
Nick O'Malley can be reached at nomalley@student.umass.edu.
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