Trinity tops NCAA Regional Rankings for second straight week

RANK/REGION	SCHOOL		IN-REGION RECORD		OVERALL RECORD
EAST
1.	Trinity (Conn.)		20-3-0		20-4-0
2.	Norwich		16-4-2		18-5-3
3.	Plattsburgh State		19-4-2		19-4-2
4.	Babson		16-4-1		20-4-2
5.	SUNY Geneseo		19-5-0		20-5-0
6.	Utica		15-6-4		15-6-4
7.	Massachusetts-Boston		13-5-3		17-5-4
8.	Oswego State		17-6-2		17-6-2
WEST
1.	St. Norbert		23-3-1		23-3-1
2.	Adrian		22-1-4		22-1-4
3.	Wisconsin-Stevens Point		19-4-2		19-4-2
4.	St. Thomas (Minn.)		19-4-2		19-4-2
5.	Wisconsin-Eau Claire		17-7-1		17-7-1
6.	Wisconsin-River Falls		15-7-3		15-7-3

Source

Today the NCAA released its second of three public regional rankings, used to determine seeding and at-large bids in the NCAA tournament, and Trinity once again topped the East Region. Williams, the only other NESCAC team to make the initial rankings at number six, has fallen from the ranks of the ranked. Williams was the only team to fall out of the original eight team ranking after the Ephs split the regular season finale weekend with a win against Hamilton and loss to Amherst.

The continued appearance of Trinity in the top spot makes it very realistic that the NESCAC could get two teams into the 11 team NCAA tournament should the Bantams make it to the NESCAC tournament finals and lose. This past weekend the Bantams swept travel partner Wesleyan for Trinity's first regular season 'Cac crown since 2005. Trinity became the first team not named Middlebury to win the NESCAC regular season title as the Panthers finished first for the first five years of the NESCAC's existence as a playing conference (2000-2004).

If anyone wants to upset Trinity, they will have to do it at the Koeppel Center as the Bantams earn home ice throughout the NESCAC playoffs by virtue of their regular season finish. Matt Greason's team is 11-2 at home this year with the only conference loss in Hartford coming to Amherst, 3-2, on February 1st. The second seeded  Lord Jeffs swept the regular season series with the Bantams.

Don't forget to vote (on the left sidebar) for which one of the eight teams in the NESCAC tournament you think will win the postseason conference crown.