We're in the thick of the women's college hockey commitment season.
Rising juniors in the class of 2028 became eligible to commit on June 15. Meanwhile, rising seniors continue to lock in their next steps as well.
The next big date on the calendar is Aug. 1, which is when official visits can begin for the class of 2028. It's safe to expect even more commitments will continue to roll in over the coming weeks and months.
It's been about a month since we last took stock of the latest women's college hockey recruiting news around New England. A lot has happened since then, as many of the region's top rising juniors have landed commitments. Another top prospect flipped commitments as well.
Let's dive in.
Annabelle Lovell commits to Wisconsin
One of the very best prospects in New England, Lovell announced her commitment to Wisconsin on Friday. She was previously committed to Minnesota.
The Hingham, Mass., native joins Lovell Academy teammate Chyna Taylor in the Badgers' pipeline.
Lovell has posted gaudy numbers with the Lovell Academy 16Us over the past two seasons. She had 130 points (43 goals) in 65 games this past season, helping lead the Lions to a 16U national title, a run which included four points (two goals) in the title game. In 2024-25, Lovell put up 158 points (57 goals) in 83 games.
The speedy, versatile '09 suited up for Team USA at the previous two IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships. After helping the U.S. to silver in 2025, Lovell posted five points (three goals) in six games en route to gold in the 2026 tournament. She made the U18 Women's National Team Festival once again and figures to be a centerpiece for Team USA at the Under-18s.
Lovell is an elite skater with blazing speed. Her quick feet, smooth hands and high hockey IQ make her a constant threat. She can play forward and defense effectively, and she elevates those around her.
“I don’t know of any other player in the country who can go and play on a first line or be a team’s best defender,” Lovell Academy girls program coordinator and head coach Caitrin Lonergan (Roslindale, Mass.) told NEHJ last June. “Her skating is extremely dynamic. She’s able to generate speed so quickly, especially in the neutral zone. She’s able to go north-south and east-west extremely quickly. Her edges are some of the best edges I’ve seen for her age in the whole country.”
Minnesota underwent a coaching change earlier this spring, as former assistant Greg May replaced Brad Frost, who was fired after 19 seasons and four national titles. Frost's contract was also expiring. Lovell Academy standout Sydney Stoughton, previously a Minnesota commit, committed to Penn State in the spring.
Princeton gets commitments from three NEPSAC standouts
The Tigers landed a trio of New England prep stars with commitments from Nobles' Francie Ames (Brookline, Mass.) and Reese Engel (Westwood, Mass.), as well as Phillips Andover's Marie Lee (Southboro, Mass.). All three play club hockey for the Boston Americans.
After playing defense as a freshman, Ames returned to her natural position as a sophomore and led the NEPSAC in scoring and assists last season with 65 points and 39 helpers. Her 26 goals were tied for second. She also became the first prep player in four seasons to reach the 60-point threshold. It followed back-to-back 14-point seasons as a freshman and eighth-grader. The '10 forward plays a poised game with plenty of compete, and her shot is a weapon.
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Engel, an '09 defender, took a step as a sophomore with 19 points (three goals) on the back end, following 11 as a freshman. Standing at 5-foot-7, Engel brings a big frame and plenty of strength in the defensive zone, and her intensity makes her a difficult 1-on-1 matchup. She's also effective when jumping into the rush.
Engel and Ames each made USA Hockey's National 16/17 Camp this season as well.
Lee, meanwhile, has posted a pair of strong seasons in the crease at Andover. The '10 finished with a .921 save percentage as a sophomore, following a .940 as a freshman when she anchored the Big Blue's run to the Elite 8 final. Lee is as athletic as they come in the crease, and she has shown she can rise to the occasion, especially in the Americans' 16U Mass. state title win last fall.
Alexa Georgantas and Nicole Sciarretta commit to Harvard
The Crimson landed a pair of the region's top prospects in Georgantas (Foxboro, Mass.) and Sciarretta.
Georgantas, an '09 forward, posted 27 points (11 goals) in 57 games at Shattuck-St. Mary's. She was among the top scorers in prep a season ago with a breakout, 41-point (21-goal) season as a freshman at Nobles, following 10 points as an eighth-grader. Georgantas has solid speed to go along with strong play along the boards.
Sciarretta, meanwhile, stepped right into a key role at Deerfield in her debut prep season, putting up four goals and eight points on the blue line as the Big Green reached the Elite 8 final. The Boston Junior Eagles standout has strong instincts, especially in the offensive zone, and she should be a major piece for Deerfield next winter.
Georgantas and Sciarretta each made 16/17 Camp, too.
Harvard also added 5-foot-10 goalie Emma Forrest to the pipeline. The '10 backstopped the U18 Stoney Creek Sabres last season.
Callie McCullough commits to Minnesota
One of New England's best is headed to a WCHA power, as McCullough (Westport, Conn.) committed to the Golden Gophers.
The '10 defender made the Under-18 Women's National Team Festival in her first try this season after standing out at the New England District tryouts. McCullough, who has been a standout with the Bishop Kearney Selects 16U squad over the past two seasons, is a dynamic presence on the blue line with her mobility and knack for finding lanes.
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Dartmouth lands three prep standouts
The Big Green made a big splash in the NEPSAC talent pool with commitments from Dexter Southfield forward Leah Hafer (Winchester, Mass.), Groton goalie Nora Wilson (Weybridge, Vt.) and Rivers defender Mia MacDonald (Walpole, Mass.).
Hafer, an '08, had a big breakout as a sophomore this past season with 22 points (10 goals) in 25 games, following six and nine points as a freshman and eighth-grader, respectively. The Boston Junior Eagles standout plays with plenty of compete and pace to go along with her skill.
Wilson, meanwhile, is coming off two strong seasons as Groton's starter. She had a .944 save percentage as a junior, leading the Zebras to the Small School title. The '09 was fantastic in the postseason with a .982 save percentage over three games en route to tournament MVP. Wilson had a .935 save percentage as a sophomore, too.
As for MacDonald, the '09 missed some time with injury this past season but still posted eight points (three goals) on the back end. It followed 18 points (six goals) as a freshman. The right-shot blue-liner plays with tons of confidence with the puck on her stick, and she's able to evade pressure and open lanes.
Wilson and MacDonald each made 16/17 Camp, too.
Dartmouth also added Jaime Theron and Pippa Green to the mix. Theron, a '10 forward out of Ontario, had 20 points (five goals) in 45 games with the U22 Mississauga Hurricanes this past season. Green, a rangy '10 at 5-foot-10, is coming off 29 points (five goals) in 48 games on the blue line for the U22 Durham West Lightning. It followed 43 points (14 goals) in 67 U15 contests the year prior.
Maddy Humber commits to Yale
The Bulldogs added another standout prep defender to their pipeline in Humber (Concord, Mass.).
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The left-shot '10, who made 16/17 Camp, was one of the most productive blue-liners in the NEPSAC this past season with 24 points (five goals) in 30 games for St. Paul's. It was a step up from 14 points (three goals) in 29 games as a freshman. The East Coast Wizards standout, who is 5-foot-9, uses her reach effectively in the defensive zone, and she can push the pace up ice.
The Bulldogs also picked up Kailyn Stanway and Brannagh Rae. Stanway, a '10 goalie, skated with the U18 Toronto Leaside Wildcats this past season. She had a .940 save percentage with the U15 Durham West Lightning the year prior. Rae, a '10 forward, had 35 points (19 goals) in 30 games with Balmoral Hall last winter. It was a huge breakout after 13 points (nine goals) in 30 games in 2024-25.
Keira Gould commits to Boston University
The Terriers got involved, adding Gould, a standout defender at Williston Northampton.
The '09 has posted four points (one goal) in back-to-back seasons for the Wildcats, and her stock continues to rise. Gould, who also skates with the Connecticut Polar Bears, is an excellent puck-mover with her quick feet, anticipation (with and without the puck) and ability to find passing lanes in the neutral zone.
Catherine McCool commits to Penn State
Another Nobles standout locked up her next steps, as McCool (West Roxbury, Mass.) recently committed to the Nittany Lions.
The '09 forward, who is also a standout with the Boston Americans, has been a key piece for Nobles over the past three seasons, reaching the 20-point threshold in each. She had a career year with 28 points (12 goals) in 30 games as a sophomore, following 27 points (11 goals) as a freshman. McCool also had 22 points (12 goals) as an eighth-grader, playing a big part in the Bulldogs' Elite 8 title run.
McCool is strong on her skates and difficult to contain, and she's dependable in all three zones. She was part of Team USA's gold-medal run at the U18 Women's Worlds in January.
Giuliana Polcari commits to Northeastern
The Huskies added one of Tabor's best returners in Polcari (Marshfield, Mass.).
The '10 is fresh off two strong prep seasons as an underclassman. She had 17 points (10 goals) in 27 games as a sophomore, following 16 points (11 goals) in 28 games as a freshman. Polcari, a 5-foot-7 forward, plays a powerful game and is a standout with the East Coast Wizards. She figures to be a centerpiece for the Seawolves next winter.
Northeastern also added Whitney Basso and Brooke Lakowske to their pipeline. Basso, a '10, is a mobile blue-liner, coming off 24 points (11 goals) in 44 games for the U22 Whitby Wolves. She had a monster season in U15 last winter with 64 points (24 goals) in 68 games for the Durham West Lightning. Meanwhile, Lakowske, a '10 who made 16/17 Camp this season, has been a productive forward for the Madison Capitols over the past two seasons.
Merrimack lands two Lovell Academy standouts
The Warriors added Lovell forwards Montana Morris and Cassidy Dailey. Both made 16/17 Camp.
Morris, a '10, has put up back-to-back productive seasons for the Lions. She had 51 points (25 goals) in 50 games with the 16Us this past season. It followed a monster 14U season in 2024-25 with 72 points (55 goals) in 66 games.
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Dailey, a '10, has put up solid numbers over the past few seasons as well. She had 37 points (11 goals) in 70 games with the Lovell 16Us this past season, after 49 points (24 goals) in 64 games for the 16U New Jersey Colonials in 2024-25, following a productive 14U season.
Boston College adds two productive '10s
The Eagles picked up a pair of 2010-born prospects in Audrey Soja and Aleah LaFleur.
Soja had 27 points (eight goals) in 46 games for the U22 Mississauga Hurricanes in 2025-26, following 24 points (12 goals) in 55 games for the U18 North York Storm Elite the year before.
Meanwhile, LaFleur has been a standout defender for the Breck School in Minnesota. She had 30 points (14 goals) in 30 games on the blue line this past season, following 22 points (11 goals) in 24 games in 2024-25.
Other notable commitments...
- Adrienne Shannahan commits to Holy Cross: The Crusaders landed Shannahan, a '10 defender out of St. John's, Newfoundland. The 5-foot-5, left-shot blue-liner had three points in 15 games with the Rothesay Netherwood School this past season.
- Cali Lavallee commits to Sacred Heart: The Pioneers picked up a productive '09 forward in Lavallee. The Manitoba native posted 53 points (31 goals) in 60 games over the past two seasons for the Winnipeg Avros, including 35 points (22 goals) this past winter.
- Makenna Vinc commits to UConn: The Huskies added Vinc, a standout with the U22 Stoneycreek Sabres this past season. The '10 forward out of Ontario had 20 points (10 goals) in 48 games this past season. It followed 26 points (17 goals) in 42 games with Ridley College the year prior.
- Alessia Longo commits to Quinnipiac: Longo, a '10 forward, committed to the Bobcats following a breakout season with the U22 Nepean Wildcats, posting 35 points (24 goals) in 48 games.
