After Tough Northern Lights Final, Winona Looks Ahead
Despite being put in a very tough position in the Northern Lights playoffs, Winona State Coach Jeff Noe is philosophical about his teams 64-0 loss to Minnesota-Duluth in the final.
The playoffs in the conference were supposed to provide a two-game weekend for all four teams involved. Duluth was supposed to play MUS-Mankato, while Winona took on the very tough North Dakota State.
Who Shines in Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights conference seems like such a foregone conclusion that USA Rugby and Goff Rugby Report both made the same mistake, penciling in Minnesota-Duluth as the conference champion before the conference playoffs.
Winona-Mankato Clash Has Playoff Implications
While Minnesota-Duluth is the #1-ranked Men’s DII college team, the rest of the Northern Lights Conference is looking for a pathway through the DII playoffs by finishing 2nd.
Duluth On Its Way
Having defeated Winona State, the top-ranked and defining national DII college champions Minnesota Duluth Fighting Penguins look to stay undefeated against North Dakota. Having already defeated their top two rivals for the Northern Lights Conference title, UMD are heavily favored to go unbeaten.
Northern Lights Season Starts UMD Title Defense
The University of Minnesota-Duluth deigns their defense of their Men’s DII college championship on September 19 when the Fighting Penguins visit North Dakota State.
Duluth finished the 2014 fall season 7-0 in the Northern Lights Conference before running the table in the national playoffs.
