Sophomore year is always a big one for women’s college hockey hopefuls.
From summer showcases to the fall slate and the scholastic season, plenty of eyes are watching.
Everyone has the same date circled on the calendar: June 15. That’s the first day that Division 1 college coaches can officially begin contacting and extending verbal offers to recruits, who will then be rising juniors. Official visits can begin on Aug. 1.
There’s a lot of hockey left to be played between now and then. A lot can change. But as we begin 2026, these 20 local players in the Class of 2028 are worth keeping an eye on ahead of the recruiting season.
Of course, there are plenty of others to watch as well. This list could be double (or triple) the size if it weren’t for pesky word counts.
Let’s dive in. All stats are as of the morning of Feb. 11.
Forwards
Catherine McCool
Nobles, 10/2/2009, F, left shot, 5-6
Hometown: West Roxbury, Mass.
McCool has been a key contributor at Nobles since stepping on campus as an eighth-grader. After 22-point and 27-point seasons, the '09 has 17 points (eight goals) through 20 games. She’s strong, dependable in all three zones and dynamic with the puck on her stick. She also has a knack for showing up in big moments. McCool made Team USA for the U18 Women’s World Championship after skating at National 16/17 camp, the U18 Festival and the U18 Series last summer.
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Bella Freitas
Cushing, 8/12/2009, F, right shot, 5-7
Hometown: Everett, Mass.
Freitas has an electrifying skill set. After scoring more than 40 goals and 60 points at St. Mary’s, Freitas stepped right into prep and put up 43 points as a freshman at Cushing, tying for second in goals with 25. The sophomore has 22 points (19 goals) through 18 games this season. She’s confident with the puck, has an accurate shot and can take over shifts. Freitas, who also plays for the East Coast Wizards, skated at National 16/17 camp and the U18 Festival last summer, and she was invited to the U18 selection camp in the fall.
Brooke Carlson
Governor’s, 01/2009, F, left shot, 5-8
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.
Carlson was one of the top rookies in prep last season with 30 points (14 goals) in 29 games, and she picked up right where she left off, putting up 25 points (18 goals) in 21 games for Gov’s this season. The Valley Junior Warriors standout has good size and plenty of skill with a knack for finding open space between the dots in the offensive zone, leading to plenty of chances.
Francie Ames
Nobles, 5/25/2010, F, right shot, 5-7
Hometown: Brookline, Mass.
Ames is enjoying a career season as a sophomore at Nobles after putting up back-to-back 14-point campaigns. So far, she leads prep with 41 points (16 goals) in 20 contests, finding the scoresheet in every game this season. She plays with poise and is strong on her feet, in addition to a quick, hard release. Her versatility is key, too, as she played defense (and looked the part) for Nobles as a freshman. Ames skated at National 15 camp last July.
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Simone Burns
Rivers, 05/2009, F, left shot, 5-4
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
Burns has gotten better every year. After 12 points as an eighth-grader, she broke out with 23 as a freshman. She’s been one of prep’s most productive skaters this season with 20 points (16 goals) in 20 games. She sees the ice well, finding skating and passing lanes, and her strong speed and skating constantly make her a threat. Burns was at National 16/17 camp.
Maddy Call
Thayer, 02/2009, F, left shot, 5-5
Hometown: Dedham, Mass.
Call is a heart-and-soul player, voted one of Thayer’s captains as a sophomore, and she has plenty of skill, strength and compete to back it up. After 12-point and 22-point seasons, Call has had no problem stepping into more of a premier role, posting 33 points (16 goals) in 20 games this season. She skated at National 16/17 camp, and she was instrumental to the Boston Americans 16U Mass. state title, along with McCool, Ames and Burns.
Lydia Kealty
Thayer, 02/2010, F, left shot, 5-8
Hometown: Norfolk, Mass.
Kealty, like Call, has stepped in seamlessly to a bigger role at Thayer this season, posting 27 points (15 goals) in 20 games. It’s a strong follow-up to 19 points as a freshman and seven as an eighth-grader. Kealty constantly creates chances and gets to the dirty areas, and she isn’t afraid to pay the price. She also has a terrific shot. The Boston Junior Eagles standout was at National 15 camp.
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Alexa Georgantas
Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 6/3/2009, F, left shot, 5-3
Hometown: Foxboro, Mass.
Georgantas was one of the top producers in prep last season with 41 points (21 goals) in 30 games as a freshman at Nobles. It was a massive breakout after a 10-point eighth-grade season. Now at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the ’09 has 20 points (nine goals) so far this season. Her skating makes her a constant factor and tough to handle in transition. She was at National 16/17 camp.
Ava Carr
Williston Northampton, 4/28/2010, F, right shot, 5-4
Hometown: Medway, Mass.
Carr is having a career season at Williston, posting 15 points (six goals) through 17 games after 10 points (two goals) in 25 as a freshman. The Bay State Breakers standout plays with pace and has a knack for getting to the middle ice and creating chances in the slot. She also executes well in transition, finding outlets. Carr skated at National 15 camp.
Giuliana Polcari
Tabor, 6/7/2010, F, left shot, 5-7
Hometown: Marshfield, Mass.
Polcari, who skated at National 15 camp, was a top player for Tabor last season with 16 points (11 goals), and she’s been a key play-driver for the Seawolves once again with 10 points (seven goals). The East Coast Wizards standout projects well going forward, thanks to her size, strength on the forecheck and power with the puck on her stick. Keep an eye on Tabor teammates Sofia Nardelli (Cranston, R.I.) and Dawson Styles (South Hamilton, Mass.), too.
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Defenders
Megan Carlson
Governor’s, 01/2009, D, left shot, 5-7
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.
Carlson is also enjoying a career year with 13 points (four goals) through 20 games after posting 10 (two goals) as a freshman at Gov’s. The Junior Warriors standout creates offense from the blue line with her speed and ability to find skating and passing lanes through the neutral zone. Carlson skated at National 16/17 camp this past summer, and she advanced to the U18 Festival in 2024.
Keira Gould
Williston Northampton, 2009, D, right shot
Hometown: White Plains, N.Y.
Gould has improved a ton from the end of last season to now. The Connecticut Polar Bears standout was the top scorer among 16U defenders at USA Hockey Nationals in the spring, and she has kept it going into the new prep season. Gould has four points (one goal) through 17 games as a sophomore, matching her output from her freshman season. She’s a quick puck-mover who reads the ice well, has quick feet and makes a good first pass. She also anticipates well without the puck.
Mia MacDonald
Rivers, 06/2009, D, right shot, 5-5
Hometown: Walpole, Mass.
MacDonald, who was at National 16/17 camp, creates a ton of offense from the blue line for Rivers. She had 18 points (six goals) as a freshman, and she was on a similar pace with eight points (three goals) in 11 games through Jan. 10. Similar to Megan Carlson, MacDonald’s quick feet help her evade pressure and open lanes through the neutral zone. She’s fearless with the puck, and she has a good shot from distance.
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Nora Shea
Nobles, 08/2009, D, left shot
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.
Shea has taken off as a sophomore. After nine points (three goals) in 30 games last season, she already has career highs in a fraction of the games with 20 points (five goals). The East Coast Wizards standout has good length, using her reach effectively and recognizes when to take advantage of skating lanes in transition. Nobles teammate Reese Engel (Westwood, Mass.) is a sophomore defender to watch as well.
Maggie Chudzinski
Dexter Southfield, 4/3/2010, D, right shot, 5-8
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
Chudzinski is a gamer. She was outstanding as a freshman last season, and she’s in the spotlight even more on Dexter’s blue line this season. The sophomore has eight points in 18 games after eight in 25 last winter. She can handle a ton of minutes, and her vision and confidence with the puck make her a force in transition. Her blend of size, skill and mobility makes her an exciting prospect. Chudzinski, a Junior Eagles standout, was at National 15 camp. Her brother, Rian, is committed to Boston University.
Maddy Humber
St. Paul’s, 06/2010, D, left shot, 5-9
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
Humber has shattered her freshman year totals, sitting at 20 points (five goals) in 21 games this season. She put up 15 points (three goals) last winter. The East Coast Wizards standout takes away time and space when defending the rush, and she makes good decisions with the puck in the neutral and offensive zones. She was at National 15 camp.
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Nicole Sciarretta
Deerfield, 02/2009, D, left shot, 5-6
Hometown: Dix Hills, N.Y.
Sciarretta parlayed a terrific 16U Mass. state tournament with the Junior Eagles into a strong start to her prep career at Deerfield, as the sophomore has six points (four goals) on the season. She makes heads-up plays, thanks to her good instincts, especially in the offensive zone. Sciarretta skated at 16/17 camp.
Raven Bennett
Frederick Gunn, 07/2010, D, left shot, 5-8
Hometown: Morris, Conn.
Bennett, who was at National 15 camp, makes an impact in all three zones. Defensively, she uses her size and long reach to gain leverage and win pucks. She’s effective at pushing the pace in transition, with quick feet and solid hands. She also makes herself available at the point and in the high slot, getting shots through. After six points (one goal) as a freshman, she’s already more than doubled that output with 16 points (eight goals) through 20 games.
Goalies
Marie Lee
Phillips Andover, 3/6/2010, G, catches left, 5-8
Hometown: Southboro, Mass.
Lee was terrific as a freshman for Andover, being thrust into big minutes and posting a .926 save percentage. She’s been just as good this time around. She opened the season with four shutouts in her first seven starts. Lee is quick and anticipates plays around the net, and she was sensational in the Americans’ 16U Mass. state title run, coming through in the clutch time after time.
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Emily Hosman
Loomis Chaffee, 03/2009, G, catches left, 5-10
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Although she hasn’t gotten the bulk of the workload for Loomis Chaffee, Hosman has been dependable when called upon. She posted a .957 save percentage with five clean sheets in nine appearances as a freshman. She did not allow a goal in her first six starts this season. Hosman currently holds a .978 save percentage. Her size alone makes her an exciting prospect in the crease, and she has a strong record with the Mid Fairfield Stars. Hosman was at National 16/17 camp.
