This season figures to see plenty of parity around the MIAA girls hockey scene.
“The level of play has risen significantly,” Duxbury head coach Dan Najarian said.
There are sure to be plenty of impact players around the region this year, especially with fewer superstar “one-offs” in Najarian’s eyes.
Here are 10 players to watch in girls MIAA hockey this season:
Caroline Doherty, jr., F, Hingham
Doherty has been Hingham’s go-to producer since her freshman year when she put up 25 goals and 23 assists to lead the Harborwomen. In her sophomore season, she exploded for 48 goals and 20 assists, bringing her career point total to 116 and leading Hingham to a 14-5-2 record. The power forward had a four-goal outburst against Longmeadow in the Sweet 16 before the Harborwomen bowed out in the Elite 8. Her seven-goal outing on Feb. 8 broke Hingham’s single-game record. With another year under her belt, the question becomes just how much more the Harborwomen’s captain can produce.
Caroline Batchelder, jr., F, Archbishop Williams
Batchelder was a key producer for Archbishop Williams as a sophomore last season. She put up 25 points, helping her team finish 16-3-1 en route to the state semifinals. Coach Doug Nolan believes her high-end shot, physicality and puckhandling ability help set her apart. Expect her to take another step as a junior.
Allison Corrieri, sr., D, Acton-Boxboro
Corrieri has been the complete package for Acton-Boxboro since her freshman year. The defender factored in on 25 of the Revolution’s 31 goals on the season with 19 goals and six assists. It came on the heels of her sophomore season, which saw her lead the team in scoring with 14 goals and 40 assists, holding things down on the power play, the penalty kill and 5-on-5. Corrieri nearly averaged two points per game as a freshman as well with 15 (six goals) in eight games.
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Vanessa Hall, 8th grade, D, St. Mary’s
In her seventh-grade year, Hall stepped in as a key cog for St. Mary’s and their run to the Division 1 title game last season. The youngster posted 20 points (five goals) on the blue line and helping the Spartans finish 21-1-0. After a strong starting point last season, the Saugus, Mass., native figures to take an additional step for Frank Pagliuca’s team as an eighth-grader this year.
Anna McGinty, sr., G, Duxbury
McGinty was the bedrock of the Dragons’ success last season as one of the best goaltenders in the state. She finished with a .944 save percentage, a 0.77 goals-against average and 11 shutouts as her team finished 19-1-2. She allowed just eight goals in five state tournament games en route to the Division 2 championship last season. McGinty enters her senior year with a 54-5-5 record through her first three seasons.
Jen Birolini, jr., F, Pembroke
Birolini already eclipsed 100 points as a sophomore last year, sitting at 124 for her career, thanks to a 40-goal and 17-assist season. She’s been the heartbeat of the Titans’ attack since joining the team as an eighth-grader in 2021, posting 30 points (16 goals) before 37 points (26 goals) as a freshman in 2021-22.
Sarah Francis, sr., D, NDA Hingham
Few were better at facilitating offense from the blue line than Francis last season. She picked up 20 assists to go along with four goals for the Cougars, who went 17-7-0 en route to the Division 1 semifinals. Francis’ smarts with the puck, passing prowess and ability to quickly filter shots in from the point set her apart.
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Emily Johns, sr., F, Algonquin-Hudson
Johns was a scoring machine last season for Algonquin, which finished 18-4-1. She led the team with 29 goals and 35 points. She played a central role as a junior assistant captain, helping to lead a young Titans squad with eight freshmen to the Division 2 Elite 8. The Clinton, Mass., native broke out with 33 points (22 goals) as a sophomore the year prior.
Harper Friedholm, sr., F, Lincoln-Sudbury
Friedholm has been a key contributor for Lincoln-Sudbury’s varsity program since eighth grade. Sitting at 95 career points, she put up 26 goals and 22 assists as a junior last season, helping the Warriors finish 17-5-0 after she had 19 goals and 10 helpers as a sophomore. She earned MVC/DCL Small MVP honors last season and is committed to Cornell for lacrosse.
Alyse Mutti, jr., G, Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading
A North Reading, Mass., native, Mutti was nails for PLNR last season. She broke the program record for wins (18) and shutouts (10) in a single season, playing every minute for the Tanners. Mutti posted a .938 save percentage and a 1.08 GAA, helping PLNR reach the Division 1 Elite 8. One of her signature performances came in a 27-save, 3-0 shutout of Methuen/Tewksbury in the Sweet 16. She looks to again be the foundation for PLNR.
