In just 23 days, the brackets will be announced for the girls MIAA playoffs.
So far this season, the rankings have shaken out into three distinct tiers for me. That remains the case with under a month to go.
As we know, Hingham is the clear No. 1 in the state, while very little separates the next three teams. The same goes for No. 5 through No. 10. The margins of error are thin, and every game matters as all eyes look toward the all-important MIAA power rankings.
The last week featured more history being made in Hingham, while Duxbury saw a nice jump after strong showings. Elsewhere, Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading slid after dropping a much-anticipated rematch.
How's everything going to shake out in the final three-ish weeks? Your guess is as good as mine.
Let's dive in.
1. Hingham (14-0-0)
Previous rank: 1
Head coach: Courtney Turner
Next game: at Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake, Feb. 1, 5:50 p.m.
The Harborwomen continued their dominant season with two more wins in the past week. They took down Pembroke, 4-2, before rolling past Quincy/North Quincy on the road with an 8-0 shutout. Shea Richardson and Caroline Doherty were among four different goal-scorers versus Pembroke before each followed it up with two-goal games against Quincy/North Quincy. Doherty reached the 210-point plateau, taking hold of Hingham's all-time points record. She became their all-time leading goal-scorer earlier this season. The Harborwomen are still the clear No. 1 seed in the most recent MIAA power rankings in Division 1. Hingham visits Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake on Saturday before a big test at home against Duxbury on Wednesday.
2. Duxbury (11-3-1)
Previous rank: 4
Head coach: Dan Najarian
Next game: at Hingham, Feb. 5, 6 p.m.
The Dragons slid up two spots after picking up two more wins. They knocked off Quincy/North Quincy, 6-0, last Saturday before beating Norwell/Scituate/Abington, 6-3, on Wednesday. Maeve Gallagher scored a pair, while Zoey Madigan had a goal and an assist versus NSA. Duxbury stayed put at No. 2 in the MIAA's latest Division 2 power rankings. A pair of critical litmus tests lie ahead next week with visits to Hingham on Wednesday and NDA on Friday.
3. Notre Dame (Hingham) (7-3-2)
Previous rank: 2
Head coach: John Findley
Next game: vs. Arlington Catholic, Feb. 1, 3:50 p.m.
The Cougars dropped one spot after settling for a 1-1 tie versus Malden Catholic last week. It was their lone game in the past seven days, following a loss to Hingham last Monday. They remain No. 2 in the Division 1 power rankings. Over the next week, NDA will host Arlington Catholic on Saturday before hosting Duxbury in a key tilt on Friday.
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4. Malden Catholic (8-2-3)
Previous rank: 3
Head coach: Alexa Hingston
Next game: vs. Bishop Feehan, Feb. 5, 5 p.m.
The Lancers slid to No. 4 after going 1-0-1 over the past week. A pivotal tilt at NDA ended in a 1-1 draw, but they took home a dramatic, 4-3 win over Boston Latin last time out. MC trailed 3-0 in the game before putting up four unanswered to win. Avery White (Medford, Mass.) was the hero with the game-winner with less than a minute to go, while Brianna Dacey (Medford, Mass.) had a goal and an assist. Ava Baker (North Reading, Mass.) and Abbie Poole (Wakefield, Mass.) had two assists against Boston Latin, while Nevin Mustone (Medford, Mass.) was the goal-scorer against NDA. Poole and Dacey picked up helpers in that game, too. MC is currently No. 3 in the Division 1 power rankings. The Lancers have a challenge next Wednesday as they host Bishop Feehan before visiting Bishop Fenwick on Saturday.
5. Methuen/Tewksbury (12-0-2)
Previous rank: 5
Head coach: David O’Hearn
Next game: at Billerica/Chelmsford, Feb. 1, 7:40 p.m.
The Red Rangers stayed at the fifth spot after picking up two one-goal wins last week. Lyla Chapman (Tewksbury, Mass.) was the hero in a top-10 win over HPNA, assisting Bree Lawrence's (Methuen, Mass.) goal in the second period before scoring the winner with 31.5 seconds to go in regulation. Meanwhile, Sammy Ryan (Methuen, Mass.) scored her second of the game to lift Methuen/Tewksbury over Waltham, 3-2, in overtime. The Red Rangers sit No. 6 in the MIAA's latest D1 power rankings. They're back at it on Saturday in another top-10 clash with Billerica/Chelmsford before hosting Shrewsbury on Saturday.
6. Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover (10-2-4)
Previous rank: 7
Head coach: Gary Kane
Next game: vs. Shrewsbury, Feb. 1, 12 p.m.
HPNA slid up one spot after going 2-1-0 last week. Their loss came in a top-10 clash with Methuen/Tewksbury that could have gone either way, save for Chapman's late heroics. They rebounded from the loss with a 1-0 win over Reading and a 4-1 win over Lincoln-Sudbury. After scoring versus Methuen/Tewksbury, Mia Kmiec (North Andover, Mass.) scored the overtime winner versus Reading and added a goal and an assist against LS.  The Hillies are No. 5 in the Division 1 power rankings at the time of writing. HPNA will host Shrewsbury on Saturday before visiting a tough out in Andover next Thursday.
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7. Billerica/Chelmsford (13-2-0)
Previous rank: 7
Head coach: Ray Monroe
Next game: vs. Methuen/Tewksbury, Feb. 1, 7:40 p.m.
The Lindians remained in the seventh spot after winning their lone game last week, a 4-0 shutout of East/West Bridgewater. Gianna Cedrone (Billerica, Mass.) came through with the clean sheet in the crease to make it four straight wins for Billerica/Chelmsford, who is currently No. 7 in the MIAA D1 power rankings. A crucial top-10 matchup lies ahead on Saturday as the Lindian's host Methuen/Tewksbury before hosting Boston Latin next Wednesday.
8. Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading (10-2-1)
Previous rank: 6
Head coach: Michelle Roach
Next game: vs. Longmeadow, Feb. 2, 4 p.m.
PLNR dropped two spots after they split their games over the past week, shutting out Beverly/Danvers, 3-0, on Saturday before being shut out by Winthrop, 2-0, on Wednesday in a high-end rematch. Mia Lava (North Reading, Mass.) led the way against Beverly/Danvers with two goals. The Tanners are No. 11 in the MIAA's last round of D1 power rankings. They're back at it against on Saturday Londmeadow, who handed them their first loss of the season, before hosting Algonquin on Wednesday.
9. Westwood (13-0-1)
Previous rank: 10
Head coach: Lauren Hillberg
Next game: at Dedham, Feb. 1, 1:45 p.m.
The Wolverines' winning streak improved to 13 in a row after picking up a pair of wins last week. They shut out Mansfield/Oliver Ames/Foxboro, 4-0, on Saturday before rolling past King Philip in a 7-1 route on Wednesday. Kate Sullivan led the way on Wednesday with a hat trick for Westwood. The Wolverines remain No. 1 in the latest D2 power rankings. They'll visit Dedham on Saturday before traveling to Medfield next Wednesday.
ED BURNS FIRST ROUND: 16 standout forwards | 8 standout defenders, goalies
10. Archbishop Williams (8-4-2)
Previous rank: 9
Head coach: Doug Nolan
Next game: at Bishop Fenwick, Feb. 1, 6:50 p.m.
Archies dropped one spot after going 1-0-1 last week. They shut out Arlington Catholic, 2-0, at home before settling for a scoreless tie at Bishop Stang. Kate McLeish (Dedham, Mass.) was strong between the pipes, delivering a shutout in the draw at Stang. The Bishops sit No. 4 in the MIAA's Division 1 power rankings. Archies has a chance to build momentum over the next week as they visit Bishop Fenwick on Saturday before hosting Sandwich on Wednesday.
In the hunt:Â Bishop Feehan (10-3-2), Winthrop (9-2-1), Nauset/Monomoy (8-5-1), Natick (12-3-1), Bishop Stang (10-3-1), King Philip (9-4-0), Canton (7-4-2), Falmouth (8-5-0), Belmont (12-0-1)
