There is a new No. 1 team in our latest Maine girls high school rankings, which means someone finally beat Yarmouth/Freeport.
Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland/Oxford Hills did that on Jan. 3, posting a 4-1 victory over a Yarmouth/Freeport team that emerged as the team to beat.
It’s no surprise the Red Hornets zoomed to the top of the rankings with Leksi Langevin, who leads the league in points (19-13-32).
Elsewhere, some squads in the bottom half of the top 10 have undergone some shuffling as competition heats up with the postseason on the horizon. And a trio of 6-6-0 teams are looking to separate themselves over the coming weeks.
As we enter the homestretch of the season, here is where things currently stand in our latest girls top 10.
1. Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland/Oxford Hills (10-1-0)
Previous rank: 2
North
Coach: Dana Berube
Next: vs Penobscot, Jan. 14, 6:40 p.m.
The Red Hornets left no doubt. Skating to a 4-1 win over Yarmouth/Freeport on Jan. 3, Edward Little Co-op has solidified itself as a serious contender and proven its mettle as the team to beat moving forward. Berube’s team was climbing the ladder in the early goings of the season with a four-game winning streak to open the winter, but no win stands taller than this one. The Red Hornets overcame an early 1-0 deficit by rallying to four unanswered goals by four different scorers. Khloe Nadeau, Leksi Langevin, Kylie Dulac and Myah Cyr all lit the lamp in the statement victory. Edward Little Co-op followed up the win with another 4-1 victory, this time over Brunswick.
2. Yarmouth/Freeport (11-1-1)
Previous rank: 1
North
Coach: David Intraversato
Next: vs Gorham, Jan. 17, 7:50 p.m.
It’s not time to panic for Yarmouth/Freeport. Intraversato’s team is still a top threat in the landscape, and its 4-1 defeat at the hands of a red-hot Edward Little Co-op team doesn’t change that. Yarmouth/Freeport responded to the hiccup in a big way, blowing out Winslow Co-op, 6-0. And it still boasts one of the league’s most prolific goal scorers in Maya Nasveschuk (17-11-28), who recorded a hat trick in the 6-0 thumping. Look for Yarmouth/Freeport to have a very short memory in its looming rematch with the Red Hornets on Jan. 19.
3. Cheverus/Old Orchard Beach/Windham (8-2-2)
Previous rank: 3
South
Coach: Scott Rousseau
Next: vs Portland Co-op, Jan. 12, 4:10 p.m.
Cheverus Co-op has won three consecutive games since our last rankings to sit firmly at No. 3. This stretch includes a 10-0 romp over Lewiston, along with victories over Falmouth/Scarborough (2-0) and Gorham (4-1). Cheverus has a big opportunity to enter the postseason with a bevy of momentum on Jan. 28, where the Red Hornets await in the penultimate game of the season. Until then, Rousseau and his team will focus on handling business. Cheverus Co-op’s only two losses this season came at the hands of Yarmouth/Freeport and Edward Little Co-op, and their tie with Yarmouth/Freeport still stands out on their resume.
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4. Biddeford/Thornton/Kennebunk/Wells (8-4-0)
Previous rank: 4
South
Coach: Joshua Williams
Next: at Portland Co-op, Jan. 17, 8:30 p.m.
The Tigers are also winners in their last three games, which included an 8-7 slugfest over Gorham on Jan. 2. Biddeford Co-op also bested York Co-op (6-1) and Brunswick (3-2). Williams’ team has proven it can skate with anyone, with close losses to Cheverus Co-op (3-0) and the Red Hornets (4-2) in the rearview mirror. In fact, Biddeford Co-op is the only team in the field to have beaten Edward Little Co-op this winter, a 2-0 victory on Dec. 11. Look for Corinne Ramunno (12-13-25) and the Tigers to keep up their winning ways in the homestretch of the season.
5. Brunswick (6-6-0)
Previous rank: 5
North
Coach: Chris Ledwick
Next: vs Falmouth/Scarborough, Jan. 12, 6 p.m.
Brunswick has dropped four of its last five games but has been hanging tough with formidable competition. In its recent three games since our last rankings, Ledwick’s team played to a 1-0 win over Penobscot before dropping decisions to talented teams in Biddeford Co-op (3-2) and the Edward Little Co-op (4-1). But Brunswick eyes a favorable schedule on the docket in the coming weeks before entering a gauntlet in the final two games of the season against the Red Hornets (Jan. 26) and Yarmouth/Freeport (Jan. 31). Look for Brunswick to lean on Solveig Ledwick (19-4-23) the rest of the way.
6. Penobscot (6-6-0)
Previous rank: 7
North
Coach: Meghan MacDonald
Next: at Edward Little Co-op, Jan. 14, 6:40 p.m.
Penobscot has won three of its last four contests, most recently playing to big wins over Greely (6-0), Lewiston (4-1) and Gorham (4-3). Its only loss in that stretch was a 1-0 defensive duel with Brunswick. The upcoming schedule for MacDonald’s team is far from ideal, however, with games against the Red Hornets and Cheverus Co-op on the slate this week. To stay afloat, Isabelle Brideau will look to continue her scoring ways. She scored three goals in the team’s recent win over Greely.
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7. Gorham (6-6-0)
Previous rank: 6
South
Coach: Dave Grant
Next: at Portland Co-op, Jan. 15, 4 p.m.
Gorham is also riding through a skid as of late, dropping three of its last four. Its lone win in the stretch was a 9-0 blanking of Greely, but losses to Penobscot (4-3), Biddeford Co-op (8-7) and Cheverus Co-op (4-1) have set the table for an important upcoming schedule. The good news for Grant is that his team can put the puck in the net. Gorham boasts three of the top eight scorers in the league in Carlin Galligan (14-14-28), Azalea Grant (7-18-25) and Lia Collins (14-8-22).
8. Portland/Deering/So. Portland/Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete (5-5-0)
Previous rank: 10
South
Coach: Bob Mills
Next: at Cheverus Co-op, Jan. 12, 4:10 p.m.
Portland Co-op responded to a 7-0 loss to Yarmouth/Freeport on Jan. 1 with a 6-1 decision over Falmouth/Scarborough on Jan. 3. The Beacons are still in search of a signature victory this winter, and they have ample opportunity to find one in the coming weeks with strong opponents like Cheverus Co-op and Biddeford Co-op looming on the horizon. Mikaela Furt (12-7-19) has impressed this winter and will lead that charge.
9. Falmouth/Scarborough (4-6-2)
Previous rank: NR
South
Coach: Rob Carrier
Next: at Brunswick, Jan. 12, 6 p.m.
Falmouth/Scarborough has won two of its last three games and is making a late-season push. Responding to a 6-1 loss to Portland Co-op on Jan. 3, Falmouth/Scarborough posted a strong 3-0 win over York Co-op to slide back into the win column. Carrier and his team also pulled out a 2-0 win over Greely on Jan. 1. Brunswick and Lewiston await on the schedule this week in what are two pivotal games at this important juncture of the season. Maya Fongemie (6-2-8) and Hope Melevsky (6-2-8) have taken on scoring roles.
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10. York Co-op (4-7-0)
Previous rank: 8
South
Coach: Kevin Aceto
Next: at Greely, Jan. 14, 6:50 p.m.
York Co-op played to a solid 1-0 win over Winslow Co-op on Saturday to bounce back after consecutive losses to Falmouth/Scarborough (3-0) and Biddeford Co-op (6-1). York Co-op downed Brunswick 3-2 in December — its best win of the winter — and will look to channel that performance down the homestretch. Ella Creamer (6-7-13) and Marlo Elwell (9-3-12) have starred so far.
