The Gophers are No. 1 in the USA Today poll after being tied with Boston College for the top spot last week.

None of the top 15 teams have played a game yet, so at least two voters must have changed their minds. Minnesota had only 12 first-place votes last week. Now the Gophers have 14 while the number of first-pace votes for BC fell from 20 to 19 and for Michigan from two to one.

Boston College, the defending NCAA champion is still No. 1 along in the USCHO.com poll.

Union, a Frozen Four team last April, is the only team in the top 15 in the ratings that has played a game. The Dutchmen lost to Merrimack 4-1.

USA Today

Rank School Last Week's Ranking

1University of Minnesota, 483 (14) 1

2Boston College, 482 (19) 1

3University of Michigan, 429 (1) 3

4University of North Dakota, 406 4

5Cornell University, 284 6

6UMass-Lowell, 263 7

7Western Michigan University, 250 11

8Miami University, 234 9

9Union College, 227 5

10University of Denver, 200 8

11Ferris State University, 176 14

12 Minnesota Duluth,140 12

13 Notre Dame, 136 10

14Boston University, 119 13

15 Wisconsin, 63 15

USCHO.com

1Boston College(37) 978 1

2Minnesota(12) 948 2

3Michigan( 1) 871 3

4North Dakota 837 4

5Cornell 704 6

6Mass-Lowell 680 7

7Denver 624 8

8Miami 588 9

9Western Michigan 584 10

10Union 0- 1-0 581 5

11Ferris State 466 11

12Boston University 429 13

13Minnesota-Duluth 404 12

14Notre Dame 400 14

15Wisconsin 242 18

16Michigan State 222 16

17Harvard 179 17

18Quinnipiac 1- 0-0126 NR

19Merrimack 1- 0-0120 NR

20Maine 0- 1-0 102 15

MAVERICKS ROLL

Minnesota State Mankato handled th University of Lethbridge on Sunday night about as easily as the Gophers the night before.

The Mavericks routed the Pronghorns 7-1. Freshman Bryce Gervais had two goals for the home team at the Verizon Wireless Center. Lethbridge scored first but Gervais' first goal made it 1-1 after the opening period.

Senior Eriah Hayes, freshman Dylan Margonari and sophomore Leitner made it 4-1 Mavericks after two periods.

"It was nice to see them build on a lead," MSU coach Mike Hastings said. "I thought they would come out quick in the period."

The Mavericks outshot Lethbridge 29-1 in the period and got three more goals.Junior Johnny McInnis, Gervais and senior Evan Mosey scored.

"Bryce is just a pure goal scorer," said Leitner, who had a goal and three assists. "He has an ability to put the puck in the net."

"Leitner is an easy guy to play with," Gervais said. "He'll always find the open guy."

Said Hastings, the former Gophers assistant coach, "We got a long way to go. I like how we played for 60 minutes, but we have a lot of work we need to do between now and Friday."

The Mavericks play at Alabama-Huntsville Friday and Saturday.

* The Gophers beat the Pronghorns 7-0 last Saturday.

BEAVERS TIE

Senior Mathieu Dugas (L'Assomption, Quebec) played the first 30 minutes and 28 seconds in goal and stopped all 11 shots he faced. Freshman Fabian Sivnert (Holviken, Sweden) finished and gave up three goals on 14 shots.

The Beavers were out shot 28-26. Each team was 0-for-4 on the power play.

The Beavers play the U.S. Under-18 Team in another exhibition game Saturday at 7:07 p.m., then host Lake Superior State University to open the regular season on Oct. 19 and 20.

U WOMEN STILL NO. 1

The Gophers women's hockey team (4-0-0) remains No. 1 in USCHO.com's national ratings. It receiced all 15 first-place votes.

Other WCHA teams in the top 10 are Wisconsin at No. 4, North Dakota at No. 6 and Ohio State at No. 10.