Two conference champions from the region have skated into the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. Both are riding lengthy win streaks.
And both will be decided underdogs when they take New York State ice against their powerful opponents in Saturday's quarterfinal round.
One could make a case that both Babson (20-5-2) and the University of New England (22-3-1) are playing with house money after winning their leagues and first-round NCAA games. UNE faces No. 2 Utica (25-2-1) at 2 p.m., while the Beavers play at No. 3 Geneseo (22-3-1) at 7 p.m.
The winners advance to Lake Placid for next weekend's first Frozen Four since 2019. Let's answer some burning questions on the eve of the games.
How did Babson and Geneseo get to this point?
It was a long-awaited first NCAA win for the team’s veteran core, who were set to host Wesleyan in the 2020 first round when the pandemic arrived and canceled everything.
“You look at what they've been through the past two years, it's tremendous for them,” Babson coach Jamie Rice (Newton, Mass.) said afterward. “We're looking forward to having practice on Monday.”
Geneseo has spent the entire year near the top of the national rankings. It cruised through its bracket to win the SUNYAC tournament and received one of four first-round byes in the NCAAs.
How did UNE and Utica get to this point?
Senior captain Austin Morgan’s great individual rush four minutes into the second OT capped a come-from-behind 3-2 win and marked the team’s 12th victory in a row, a program record.
“I’ve been here for five years and I don’t know if I’ve ever been in such an intense atmosphere,” senior defenseman and captain Chris Jones said this week.
Utica is also riding a long win streak – 19 games, including a shootout win – and earned an auto-bid by winning the UCHC tournament. Like Geneseo, it was awarded a first-round bye.
What does Babson need to do to advance?
The Beavers can score goals, but they’ll need to be locked in defensively for 60 minutes against one of the nation’s most explosive offensive teams.
It’s been a terrific season for their top line, sophomore Thomas Kramer of Bridgewater, Mass. (11-12-23) centering veteran wingers Mike Egan of Billerica, Mass. (14-18-32) and Ryan Black of Pomfret, Conn. (19-19-38).
But in the money games – wins over Norwich (2-1) and Elmira (3-2) in the NEHC tourney, and the shutout of Trinity – the defense has been key.
Senior John Corrigan (Stoneham, Mass.) has had a splendid two-way season on the blueline (3-17-20), and his unit will need to be sharp against a Geneseo squad that comes in averaging 4.77 goals per game, the fifth-highest mark in Division 3.
What does UNE need to do to advance?
Plain and simple, the Nor’easters cannot start the game slowly the way they did against Plymouth, falling into a 2-0 hole, and against Endicott in the CCC championship, falling behind twice before winning, 3-2, in overtime.
“We have to start having better starts to the game,” said coach Kevin Swallow.
The host Pioneers boast two of the nation’s top four scorers in Regen Cavanagh and Buster Larsson, who both have posted 46 points for the second-highest scoring offense in the nation (5.86 goals per game).
UNE can score goals (4.23 per game) but it doesn’t want to be chasing a deficit in Utica.
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