LINK TO FINAL POLL

MINOT, N.D. – The final ACHA Division I women's hockey poll, prior to the ACHA National Tournament, was released this week and set the matchups for pool play, and the Minot State Beavers find themselves No. 3 in the nation.

The Minot State women (18-7-7 overall) wrapped up their regular season with wins on Friday and Saturday at Jamestown, maintaining their No. 3 ranking in the final poll.

Michigan-Dearborn, the champion from the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association (CCWHA), Grand Canyon (Ariz.), the champion from the Western Women's Collegiate Hockey league, and Liberty (Va.), the Women's Midwest College Hockey league champion, each earned automatic berths to nationals, along with the next 9 highest-ranked teams in the final poll.

The rankings then determined the teams in each of the four pools, who will play two games each at the national tournament, March 18-20, with each pool winner advancing to the semifinals on Saturday, March 21.

Minot State's No. 3 ranking puts them in Pool C with No. 6-ranked Michigan-Dearborn and No. 10-ranked Jamestown.

Liberty remained No. 1 in the final poll, followed by Midland (Neb.) at No. 2. Minot State was No. 3, and McKendree (Ill.) was No. 4.

Minot State opens pool play at nationals in Maryland Heights, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 18, playing in-state rival Jamestown (9-18-1) at 2 p.m. The Beavers wrap up pool play against No. 6 Michigan-Dearborn (29-2-1) on Thursday, March 19, at 2 p.m.