The Maine women suffered a blow to their post-season hopes when they lost to
Princeton 3-1 on Saturday, and when Niagara beat #1 Dartmouth in a big
upset.

The Black Bears rebounded to beat Yale 5-1 Sunday, and are still alive for
the post-season.  In fact, they control their own destiny.

If Maine wins both its games next week against Harvard and Brown, they will
make the playoffs.  This is because Niagara, currently in 7th-place has
completed its conference schedule and is only 3 points ahead of Maine.  This
is a very tough task.  Maine has never beaten either of these two programs
and they are both ranked high nationally.  Harvard is 19-8-0 on the year and
in second-place in the ECAC.  Brown is 17-5-3 and currently resides in
4th-place.  (Maine is 14-13-1).  But, both games will be at Alfond Arena.

There are some other senarios.  If Maine takes 3 of 4 points in their games
and Providence (17-12-3) loses their final 2 games, Maine will overtake them
and qualify for the playoffs.

I am not sure about tiebreakers.  Maine could tie Niagara with 3 of 4 points
and in doing so would have more conference wins, so it is possible that
Maine wins a tie-breaker as well since NU and Maine split the season series
1-1.  Maine loses a tiebreaker to Providence by going 0-1-1 against the
Friars this year.

Should Maine lose either game, I don't see a way they can still make the
playoffs.

Maine will play AT HOME Saturday at 1:00 against Harvard and again Sunday at
3:00 against Brown.  Hopefully some of you in town to take in the men's
games vs. PC will stop by and show your support to the women's team as well.