The NESCAC and the LE are the top dogs of the Northeast. i would guess the NESCAC is a little stronger because of the depth. Aftger ECSU and So. Maine, there is a pretty significant dropoff, although Keene St. is showing alot of life.
in the NESCAC, Trinity made the CWS last year and Amherst beat them 3 out of 5 times. This year, Mid and Bowdoin made the NCAAs, and Tufts and Williams were very close to getting there. The two best teams from last year, Amherst and Trinity, didn't even make the league tourney.
What separates these 2 leagues to the top leagues in the country is the bottom teams. Colby, Bates, Hamilton, Plymouth St., Western CT, and UMass-D really brought the eagues down this year. The bottom of the NJAC, USA South, and other top leagues are much more competetive.