St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s hockey team kept its No. 3 ranking in this week’s USCHO.com Women’s Division III poll. After being named the third-ranked team in the first poll of the season last week, the Gusties retain their spot after a 3-2 victory over UW-Superior last Tuesday in their season opener at Don Roberts Ice Rink. The No. 1 team in this week’s poll is 2011-12 runner-up, Norwich, who Gustavus lost to in the semifinals 4-3 in overtime last season. Ranking in as the only other team in front of the Gusties in the No. 2 spot is Plattsburgh, who defeated Gustavus 4-3 in overtime in the third-place game a year ago.
Bethel is the only other team to represent the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in the most recent poll. The Royals slid in at No. 10 after defeating previously 10th-ranked Concordia 4-1 last weekend. Gustavus and Bethel are set for a top-10 showdown this weekend as both teams kick off conference play. The first game of the series will get under way on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in St. Peter. Game two is set for Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.