The Most Surprising Team in the NCAA So Far

As the opening month of the season is almost wrapped up, there are some teams that have disappointed per their expectation. But there are also teams that have exceeded those expectations and look like a whole new team; that’s Colorado College. 

They’ve started this season 3-1 and have the fourth-best goals allowed in the entire country, having not given up more than one goal, outside of their 3-2 overtime loss to UConn. 

They sit in the 12th spot in the newest USCHO rankings with wins against UConn and a sweep over UMass, where they had an 8-1 goal differential. 

In the UMass weekend, they also outshot them 75-55, showing how they can turn their defensive pressure into offense. 

The team also doesn’t have many outliers in terms of scoring; many top-end teams have a couple of players who can light up the lamp to get them out of tight games. The Tigers only have one player at a point-per-game rate, with five other players one point below. 

They’ve shown that they can compete with some of the nation's top teams, teams who are able to recruit better, teams who have better facilities, and teams that come into the rink thinking they have it. They’ve brought an approach that forces teams to make plays, and when they can’t, the Tigers do a great job of making sure every offensive possession they can generate a shot or some type of offense. 

Although it’s only four games, Jackson Unger has given the team confidence between the pipes, and as long as he does his job, he’s going to shut the door and keep them in any game. 

The biggest question will be: when teams are able to score against them, can they consistently generate against the best teams in the country, or will they get outskilled down the line?