We're in the heart of the high school hockey season.
The last two weeks have seen some big-time wins and upsets. The usual suspects like St. Mary's and Duxbury appear to be in cruise control right now, while others like Lincoln-Sudbury, Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading and Burlington continue to surge.
Boston Latin has kept things interesting with some impressive results, including a recent tie with Shrewsbury and a win over Notre Dame (Hingham). The Cougars recovered to hand Malden Catholic its first loss of the season, though.
It's all led to some shakeup in the latest top 10 as NDA cracks the top three, while Falmouth enters the rankings.
Let's dive in.
1
. St. Mary's
Previous rank: 1
Head coach: Frank Pagliucia
Record: 7-0-1
Next game: vs. Algonquin, Jan. 13, TBD (Martha's Vineyard Tournament)
The Spartans are rolling right along, picking up a pair of wins over Arlington Catholic, 5-0, and Boston Latin, 2-0. Freshman forward Bella Freitas (Everett, Mass.) and eighth-grade defender Vanessa Hall (Saugus, Mass.) continue their strong seasons. Freitas had a pair of goals against AC, and she and Hall found the back of the net against Latin. SMH has a chance to make it three straight wins when they face Algonquin/Hudson in the Martha's Vineyard Tournament weekend.
2. Duxbury
Previous rank: 2
Head coach: Dan Najarian
Record: 8-1-0
Next game: vs. Plymouth, Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m.
The Dragons have ripped off three straight shutouts with a 15-0 differential to extend their winning streak to five. Maddie Greenwood is on a tear with four goals in her last three games, while Anna McGinty continues to dominate in goal. The Dragons had five different scorers in a 5-0 win over Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake last time out, too. A home tilt with Plymouth is up next.
3. Notre Dame (Hingham)
Previous rank: 4
Head coach: John Findley
Record: 6-2-1
Next game: at Hingham, Jan. 15, 3 p.m.
Boston Latin upset NDA in a tight, 2-1, result as the Cougars came off their Tenney Cup victory. But NDA bounced right back, shutting out Malden Catholic, 2-0, in the surging Lancers' first loss of the season. The Cougars gave Latin all they could handle, forcing Kelly McKenna to make 35 saves. Against MC, Ava Larkin's (Canton, Mass.) shutout as well as goals for Devon Moore (Milton, Mass.) and Ella Flaherty (Hanover, Mass.). Defense is the calling card for NDA, who has allowed more than two goals once with a 27-4 differential.
STANDOUTS: 6 standout defenders and goalies from the final day of the Tenney Cup
4. Malden Catholic
Previous rank: 3
Head coach: Alexa Hingston
Record: 7-1-1
Next game: vs. Winchester, Jan. 15, 2 p.m.
After shutting out Burlington, 2-0, the Lancers are winless in two straight battling to a 1-1 tie with Hingham before NDA dealt them their first blemish. Captain Antonia DiZoglio (Wilmington, Mass.) found the back of the net against Burlington, while Megan Mullarkey (Charlestown, Mass.) notched the shutout. Defender Avi Panacopoulos scored for MC against Hingham. The Lancers tried to make a push after giving up a pair early to NDA, but it was to no avail. They have a chance to bounce back at home against Winchester on Monday.
5. Lincoln-Sudbury
Previous rank: 7
Head coach: Paul Hardy
Record: 7-1-1
Next game: vs. Methuen/Tewksbury, Jan. 13, 6:20 p.m.
The Warriors have ripped off four straight wins, knocking off Boston Latin, Waltham, Stoneham/Wilmington and Westford Academy. LS scored five goals in three of the four games, boasting a 17-3 differential in that span. Scoring threat Harper Friedholm has continued what's been another dominant season for her, while Lauren Kennedy remains strong in net. A big tilt with Methuen/Tewksbury is up next.
RECRUITING:Â 13 sophomores who should hear from colleges in 2024
6. Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading
Previous rank: 8
Head coach: Michelle Roach
Record: 7-1-0
Next game: vs. Medford/Malden, Jan. 15, 10 a.m.
The Tanners are up to five straight wins after knocking off Newburyport, 8-2, Marblehead, 2-1, and Masconomet, 5-0. Ava Buckley (Peabody, Mass.) and Alexa Pepper had a pair of goals against Masco, to go along with two assists for Catie Kampersal (Peabody, Mass.). Alyse Mutti (North Reading, Mass.) picked up yet another shutout, her third of the season. PLNR has a chance to keep things rolling against Medford/Malden on Monday.
7. Burlington
Previous rank: 10
Head coach: Rick Sheehan
Record: 6-1-0
Next game: vs. Wakefield, Jan. 13, 4:15 p.m.
The Lady Devils bounced back from their loss to MC with a pair of wins. They first outlasted Stoneham/Wilmington, 2-1, before rolling past Melrose, 7-3. Chloe Rabazzi came through with the game-winner against Stoneham/Wilmington. Caitlyn Tremblay also scored. Burlington has Wakefield up next on Saturday.
8. Falmouth
Previous rank: NR
Head coach: Brian Ferreira
Record: 8-1-0
Next game: vs. Barnstable, Jan. 13, 5 p.m.
After falling to Burlington on Dec. 23, the Clippers have won five in a row. They've scored at least four goals in five straight, combining for 27 total goals in that span. The Clippers' 49 total goals this season lead MIAA girls Division 2 and sit second overall. Avery Johnson continues to produce, putting up a pair of goals in a 4-1 against Smithfield (R.I.) last time out. Barnstable awaits the Clippers on Saturday.
UP FRONT:Â 6 standout forwards from the final day of the Tenney Cup
9. Hingham
Previous rank: 5
Head coach: Courtney Turner
Record: 6-2-1
Next game: vs. Hanover, Jan. 13, 6 p.m.
The Harborwomen have gone 3-1-1 since our last set of rankings. They fell to Braintree, 5-3, in the Tenney Cup before bouncing back against Archbishop Williams. MC took Hingham to a 1-1 tie before the Harborwomen downed Winchester in an 8-1 drubbing and knocked off Archies, 1-0. Hannah Lasch had a hat trick while Caroline Doherty had two goals and an assist against Winchester. Doherty's five-game scoring streak ended in the second game against Archies, but Lasch, a freshman, stayed hot with the lone goal. Hingham faces Hanover on Saturday.
10. Methuen/Tewksbury
Previous rank: 9
Head coach: Dave O'Hearn
Record: 6-2-0
Next game: at Lincoln-Sudbury, Jan. 13, 6:20 p.m.
The Red Rangers' five-game winning streak came to an end as they fell to Shrewsbury in a tight 2-1 loss. The loss also ended a four-game shutout streak with wins over Beverly/Danvers/Ipswich, Framingham, Central Catholic and Billerica/Chelmsford. Like NDA, defense has been Methuen/Tewksbury's best trait so far this season. They have five total shutouts to go along with a 20-5 differential. They face LS in a big test and have a chance to get back on track this weekend.
Dropped out:Â Shrewsbury (3-1-3)
In the hunt:Â Shrewsbury, Falmouth (7-1-0), Canton (7-2-0), Pembroke (7-1-0), Pope Francis (6-3-1)
