ACHA Ranking Preview #1
ACHA 1st Ranking Preview
The first ACHA ranking comes out later this week and all the top teams in the west will be looking to see where they stack up against the competition. This first ranking will be tough for the ACHA staff, as almost everyone has had big wins along with crippling losses so far this season. Now I know all of you can’t wait till the end of the week to find out who’s where so here is where I believe everyone will be come ranking time.
1. Utah State Aggies (8-0)
Key Wins: @ Weber St, @ Colorado, Arizona St (x2)
USU is still the beast in the West, putting up a perfect record so far this season. They’re the only team without a loss this season in the top 20, and are the unanimous decision for the number one spot in the polls.
2. Colorado State Rams (5-4)
Key Wins: @ SDSU, Northern Arizona, Denver, @ Arizona St, Colorado
Key Losses: @SDSU, @ Long Beach, Utah State
The season is still early, but the Rams have had a somewhat rocky start to their year. They’re starting to pick it up though after splitting last weekend with ASU down in Tempe.
3. Northern Arizona Icejacks (6-1)
Key Wins: @ UNLV (x2), @ Denver (x2), @ Arizona St (x2)
Key losses: @ Colorado St
NAU has done impressively so far this year, especially not playing a game at home so far this season. The shootout wins against ASU stand out the most so far and are one of the early favorites in the West this year.
4. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-5)
Key Wins: @ Utah, Texas A&M, Colorado St
Key Losses: @ Utah St (x2), Colorado St, Northern Arizona (x2)
Last year’s number one has dropped down a peg but like most teams they’re gaining momentum after wins against Utah and Colorado St. This is another team that could fluctuate anywhere between number five and three in this ranking.?
5. San Diego State Aztecs (4-2)
Key Wins: @ Long Beach (x2), Colorado State
Key Losses: Colorado, Colorado State
The Aztecs are another surprising team this year, beating quality Long Beach St and Colorado St teams this year. The only downside was the blowout loss to Colorado, which means they’re not quite there just yet.
6. Colorado Buffaloes (2-3)
Key Wins: @ SDSU
Key Losses: @ Long Beach, Colorado St, Utah St
Colorado has been very inconsistent so far this year. They have the big win against San Diego but have bad losses to Long Beach, CSU and USU. It’s another team that hasn’t started off on a very high note, but the season is still early.
7. San Jose State Spartans (6-2)
Key Wins: Long Beach, Utah
Key Losses: Cal State Fullerton, Denver
SJSU has the potential to be near the top with wins against Long Beach St and Utah, but took a big hit losing to Denver this past weekend. They haven’t really been tested against the top yet which will hurt them in this ranking.
8. Long Beach State 49ers (5-4)
Key Wins: Colorado, Colorado State
Key Losses: SDSU, SJSU, Loyola Marymount
The 49ers have wins over the Colorado duo but losses to San Diego and San Jose have them all the way down at number 8. This year could be a banner year for the program if they can get it together for the rest of the season.
9. Utah (7-3)
Key Wins: @ Weber State
Key Losses: Weber State, @ SJSU, Arizona State
Utah is probably the best team on this list that does not have a signature win yet. The weak PAC-8 schedule hasn’t helped them so far and until they pick up a win against a top opponent they’ll stay down here at the bottom.
10. Weber State Wildcats (9-3-1)
Key Wins: @ Utah
Key Losses: Utah, Utah St (x2)
Weber State falls in the same category as Utah. The team is a vast improvement from years past, but like the Utes they lack that signature win. They’ll have chances to fix that as well.
Best of the Rest
11. UNLV (2-3-1)
12. Loyola Marymount (3-1)
13. Washington (6-2)
14. Cal State Fullerton (4-5)
15. Dallas Baptist (3-0-1)