Providence--also tied for third in the ECAC--are coming off of a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Brown last weekend. Nonetheless, the Friars have won four of its last six games as it heads into the break.
Cornell (6-4-0, 5-3-0) and Dartmouth (4-2-2, 4-2-2) find themselves tied for sixth in the ECAC, but are only four points off of the division-leading Tigers.
With a conference win last week over Boston College, the Big Green moved out of the bottom tier of the standings. Boasting the ECAC's fourth-best defense, Dartmouth can move up substantially in the standings when they travel south to Boston to play a series against both Northeastern and Harvard.
Cornell heads into the winter break with a sweep of Niagara, beating the Purple Eagles by a combined score of 11-1. Niagara's low scores were no surprise, as the Big Red's net is manned by the ECAC's best goalie. With a .67 goals against average and a .975 save percentage, senior netminder Melissa Junkala may just be able to lead the Big Red into the top of the conference.
Losers of two of their last three--including a 6-1 loss on Wednesday to the Crimson--Northeastern (7-3-2, 3-2-2) looks to rebound with upcoming road games against Boston College and Dartmouth. Led by the scoring of junior Hilary Witt, who has 18 points on the year, the Huskies currently hold the No. 8 ranking in the ECAC.
Right behind Northeastern in a tie for 9th place with three total points, sit St. Lawrence (4-6-0, 2-6-0) and, the Crimson's next opponent, Niagara. St. Lawrence finished out the year with two wins over the University of Maine.
Currently sitting in 10th place in the ECAC standings, Boston College (2-7-1, 1-6-1) has just come off of a weekend home stand, splitting games with Mankato State. Led by sophomore Jen Buckley, who netted three goals in the series, the Eagles look to continue their midseason turnaround at Harvard on Dec. 18th.
Yale (3-5-0, 1-5-0) and Maine (6-5-0, 1-5-0) are presently tied for 12th in the division. The Bulldogs--losers of three straight conference games including a 4-0 shut out by Princeton last Wednesday--get to take the next few weeks off.
Maine has won six of its last seven games. It heads into the break coming off a 9-1 creaming of Bowdoin University, and does not play again until it meets the Crimson on Jan. 2nd.
Rounding out the ECAC standings is Colby University (0-6-0, 0-6-0), who has yet to win a game this year. Losing by an average of 9.6 goals per game, the White Mules just might be the worst team in ECAC history.
With only a few games remaining before winter break, the contending teams hope to hit a hot streak to gain the momentum needed for a strong 1999 and a shot at the ECAC Championship.