D-III Women’s NCAA Semifinals: Game Picks from Chris, Tim & Brian!

We’re in River Falls, Wisconsin at Hunt Area for the 2024 Girls’s D-III Frozen 4. Undefeated River Falls appears to be like to go excellent and finish the 12 months 31-0-0 with a pair of wins at house. The semifinals are on Friday, March 14 and the Nationwide Championship is Sunday, March 16.

#10 Elmira (22-7-1) vs #6 Middlebury (18-6-4) – 4pm

CS – Each groups are coming off huge wins, Middlebury beating Plattsburgh and Elmira beating Amherst. Elmira’s been sizzling and took benefit of Norwich dropping early to USM within the NEHC convention match. Greg Haney finds himself within the Frozen 4 and the Hovering Eagles want to pull one other “upset” 

Middlebury’s Head Coach Invoice Mandigo is nearing retirement from his legendary profession, he and his Assistant Coach Emily McNamera placed on a training masterclass final weekend vs Plattsburgh, shutting them out. The historic document vs Plattsburgh is horrible, in order that was a substantial upset with the circumstances.

I like Elmira right here to tug off one other upset, goaltender Chloe Beaubien, a Plattsburgh switch, has performed a stellar string of video games, I don’t count on it to vary together with the remainder of the group. – Elmira 3-1

TC – Each groups have proven their capacity to play stingy group protection backed by nice goaltending. Add in some well timed scoring at even-strength and this matchup between longtime and perennial powers within the girls’s recreation has the whole lot for any fan of the sport. Goaltender Sophia Will and the Panthers have 4 shutouts in a row and surrendered only one objective of their final 5 video games that began the “win-or-go-home” season. Lengthy technique to journey for the Frozen 4 however what a chance for each groups to say one other huge win on the way in which to a date within the nationwide title recreation. Low-scoring for positive however this one will get determined in regulation with the Panthers persevering with their profitable components – Middlebury, 2-0

BL – The Panthers are looking for their seventh journey to a nationwide remaining and first title since 2022. Going through powerful competitors has been a daily factor for Middlebury, which has performed towards 14 ranked opponents. It’s 6-4-4 in these video games.This can be a group that’s powerful defensively, recording 10 shutouts, an a group that shares the puck, allotting 114 assists. Sophia Will has eight of these shutouts and has saved greater than 95 p.c of the photographs she’s confronted.

Elmira, an NCAA tourney finalist seven instances, is trying to transfer one step nearer to its first title since 2013. And just like the Panthers, they’re a tough group to attain on, rating second in scoring protection, permitting lower than a objective (.90) per recreation. They’ve dished out 179 assists, which has been large to their success offensively. First one to attain may simply find yourself profitable. – Middlebury, 2-1

#5 Adrian (28-2-0) vs #1 UW-River Falls (29-0-0) – 7pm

CS – River Falls has been excellent this season, these two confronted off earlier this season by which the Falcons received 7-5 in Hunt, which suggests Adrian is considerably acquainted with the rink. The sport wasn’t shut till the third interval of play, however Adrian confirmed the struggle they’ll want on this one.

River Falls to me obtained previous their greatest hurdle final recreation, Gustavus for a fourth time in a single season, sweeping the Gusties in a powerful method. 

Joe Cranston’s group has appeared unbeatable for many of the season exterior of some video games and once they did look beatable, they weren’t overwhelmed. River Falls wins and can win the title. – UW-River Falls 5-3

TC – Whereas Adrian exorcized some demons in defeating a Hamilton group that knocked them out of the NCAA match final season, UWRF continues to dominate D-III girls’s recreation with a fourth win over the defending champions from Gustavus Adolphus giving them internet hosting rights for the Frozen 4. Une Bjelland continued her torrid offense for the Bulldogs whereas Tia Lascelle offered a hat trick in Adrian’s win however now face a group that has the right alternative to shut out a tremendous season by profitable the nationwide championship on house ice. There is not going to be any wanting previous a succesful Bulldog group as Aubrey Nelvin, Jordan O’Connor and Alex Hantge assist UWRF to a different low-scoring win. – UW-River Falls 3-1

BL – After knocking the reigning champs off their throne final week, the Falcons now look to maneuver one step nearer to a title.

These two groups aren’t any strangers to one another, going through off 21 earlier instances, with UW-River Falls holding a 12-7-2 benefit all-time, together with a 7-5 win this season. The Falcons are averaging 5.3 objectives per recreation, the perfect common nationally, and Maddie McCollins leads the way in which with 32 objectives and 30 assists. She’s the nation’s main scorer.

The Bulldogs are available in having received their final 21 video games and they’re a troublesome group on the street, going 8-2 in true street video games this season. They’re averaging 5.1 objectives per outing, with Une Bjelland tallying 27 objectives and 32 assists.

This needs to be a extremely entertaining nationwide semifinal, one which probably goes proper right down to the tip. However it’s onerous to wager towards the Falcons at house, the place they’re 18-0. – UW-River Falls, 5-4