March 6, 2011
ECAC Roundup: RPI, Clarkson Fall in First Round
by Adam Wodon/Web Editor
The higher seeds did not fare well in the first round of the ECAC Tournament this past weekend, with Colgate and St. Lawrence both pulling off upsets.
Clarkson, which went in as the No. 7 seed, fell to red-hot Harvard in two straight games, ending the Golden Knights' season. It was a better season than a year ago, when Clarkson finished last, but it still has work to do to return to the national limelight.
Colgate finished last in the league this season, after being picked to finish as high as fourth in some polls. After a dreadful first 3 1/2 months, however, the Raiders suddenly became one of the hottest teams in the league down the stretch.
Colgate played No. 5 seed Rensselear, and won in three games, capturing games two and three. They won the finale in double overtime, severely damaging RPI's NCAA chances.
RPI was as high as sixth in the rankings before faltering down the stretch, including dropping out of a bye position in the league's final weekend. With this latest blow, the Engineers now sit outside the NCAAs looking in. It needs several teams to lose their own conference tournament series next weekend in order to have a shot of sneaking into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 16 years.
Finally, No. 11 seed St. Lawrence knocked off No. 6 Princeton, also in three games, also winning the latter two.
St. Lawrence advances to play Yale in the quarterfinals next weekend. Colgate will take on first-place Union.M
Meanwhile, Cornell, which had a bye in the first round, will host Quinnipiac at Lynah Rink.
