MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University hockey team is off to a solid start in the second half of the season.

And the national media is continuing to give the Wildcats some respect in the polls.

After a tie and a loss at No. 1 Cornell (13-1-3, 8-1-1 ECAC) over the weekend, NMU (13-8-3, 11-5 WCHA) climbed from No. 17 to No. 15 in the USCHO poll and is also ranked No. 15 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

Two other WCHA teams are in the top 20 with Minnesota State (22-3-1, 16-2) sitting third and Bowling Green State (13-11-2, 8-8-2-2) in 18th. The Mavericks also received 16 first-place votes.

Michigan Tech (13-11-3, 8-8-2) got votes in both polls, while Bemidji State (13-7-4, 13-3-2-1) received consideration in the USCHO poll.

Northern travels to Alaska-Fairbanks (13-12-1, 11-8-1) this weekend.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.