The postseason is here.
The all-out sprint that is the NEPSAC playoffs is about to kick off with quarterfinal action on Wednesday, the semifinals on Saturday and championships at Dexter Southfield on Sunday.
One thing that's typically true in the tournaments: anything can happen.
Chaos is on the table in the girls Small School tournament this season, with several strong contenders toward the top of the bracket.
You have Groton and Rivers, who were in the Elite 8 hunt for most of the season, while Cushing and Governor's weren't terribly far off either. Meanwhile, St. Mark's previously proved that anything is possible after reaching the Small School final as the No. 6 seed last season. Elsewhere, New Hampton is looking to defend three-straight Small School titles.
Here's what you need to know about all eight teams in the field.
Let's dive in.
1. Groton (18-6-2)
Record against teams in the Small School tournament: 4-1-1
Why they could win: The Zebras made the Elite 8 last season, but reached the Small School title game in the previous two seasons, falling to New Hampton. Key experience from those squads remains among their six seniors. Senior Tina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass./Princeton) gives the Zebras a game-breaker up front as one of the most complete centers in prep. She has 25 points (11 goals) in 20 games for a fifth-straight point-per-game campaign. Freshman Ava Barbour and sophomores Charlotte Matusovich (New Gloucester, Maine) and Zoe Smith (Bolton, Mass.) have been key producers, too. Uncommitted junior Tatum Friedholm (Sudbury, Mass.) headlines an experienced blue line alongside seniors Oona Kathan (Arlington, Mass./Colby), Jamie Noonan (East Bridgewater, Mass./Stonehill), and Sydney Nelson (Lowell, Mass./Dartmouth rowing). Sophomore Caroline Matusovich (New Gloucester, Maine) has also been a strong addition. The Zebras will also rely on uncommitted junior goalie Nora Wilson (Weybridge, Vt.). She's coming off another strong season as the starter with a .941 save percentage.
GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
2. Rivers (14-7-4)
Record against teams in the Small School tournament: 3-0-1
Why they could win: The Red Wings were on the cusp of the Elite 8 once again, entering the Small School tournament as the No. 2 seed for the second straight season. They'll have something to prove after being upset by St. Mark's in last year's semifinals. Rivers is battle-tested, too, with big results like wins over Groton, Gov's and New Hampton, plus ties with Dexter Southfield, Thayer and St. Mark's. The Red Wings will need sophomore forwards Simone Burns (Winchester, Mass.) and Nora Swaim (Concord, Mass.) to be at their best alongside junior Harvard commit Brooke Barltett (Wayland, Mass.). Burns scored at nearly a point-per-game clip with 24 points, and her 18 goals put her among the best in prep. On the back end, it'll be up to Kyleigh Rabazzi (Burlington, Mass.), Kathryn Butkus (Hopkinton, Mass.) and Joelle Burns (Winchester, Mass.) to help lock things down. They'll know they can rely on senior SUNY Plattsburgh commit Ellie Beigel (Natick, Mass.) between the pipes.
3. Cushing (13-9-4)
Record against teams in the Small School tournament: 1-1-0
Why they could win: If Cushing is going to make a run at a title, they'll need their premier offensive talent and goaltending to get it done. The Penguins boast one of the best goal-scorers in prep with sophomore Bella Freitas (Everett, Mass.). She has 22 goals and 30 points. Brooke Harb (Atkinson, N.H./Stonehill) and Madi Soderquist (Woburn, Mass./UNH) are top threats as well with 28 and 26 points, respectively. Others, like Lily Winckler (Saint Anselm), Molly Bardol (Walpole, Mass.), Lyla Rahn (Stratham, N.H.) and Violet Dittman have each stepped up as well. It's that type of depth that can put Cushing over the top in this field. In net, the Penguins will need senior RPI commit Sadie Bellissimo to be at her best behind a young defensive core that includes six underclassmen. Caroline Harrington and Natalia Maserati have helped lead the way on the back end this season.
4. Governor's (14-8-5)
Record against teams in the Small School tournament: 1-2-1
Why they could win: Gov's has premier threats at every position, whether it's Megan Carlson (North Andover, Mass.) as a puck-mover on defense or Brooke Carlson (North Andover, Mass.), Lana Hardin (Tyngsboro, Mass.) or Parker Roenick (Exeter, N.H./Endicott) on the top line. Brooke Carlson is one of the top goal-scorers in prep with 21 (30 points), while Megan has put up 15 points on the back end. Hardin reached the 20-point mark, too. Liz Luong (Framingham, Mass.) is the X-factor in the crease. The senior Colby commit (field hockey) has been a consistent standout for Gov's, and she's shone in key spots for Assabet Valley. She holds a .935 save percentage this season. Others, like forward Caroline Justicz (Harvard, Mass./Wilkes), make life difficult for opponents. On defense, Joey Calderara (Windham, N.H.) and Lauren Dockray (North Andover, Mass.) are key, too.
BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
5. St. Mark's (11-8-4)
Record against teams in the Small School tournament: 1-1-3
Why they could win: If anyone knows what it's like to make a run, it's St. Mark's. The Lions upended the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds before falling to then-No. 1 New Hampton in last season's tournament. This season's squad boasts a plethora of young skill between underclassmen Allie Sauls, Jocelyn Gray (Hanover, Mass.), Sammi Ruzzo (North Smithfield, R.I.) and Caroline Kreuz (Worcester, Mass.) up front. On defense, junior Kayleigh Koen (Canton, Mass.) and sophomore Abbey Deroeve (Charlestown, Mass.) are reliable. It'll be especially key that seniors like forwards Hannah Macron and Maribeth Fitzgerald (Boylston, Mass./Wesleyan) step up, as well as defender Bridget Fitzgerald (Boylston, Mass./Wesleyan). In the crease, freshmen Melanie Allen (Norwood, Mass.) and Erin Drew (Methuen, Mass.) have each had solid seasons splitting the net.
6. Portsmouth Abbey (15-5-4)
Record against teams in the Small School tournament: 2-1-0
Why they could win: The Ravens are playing at a high level right now, going 10-1-3 since Jan. 14. They also boast wins over the likes of St. Mark's, Hoosac and Frederick Gunn. PA has four legitimate offensive threats: senior Megan O'Connor (Greenville, R.I.), junior Brooke Marston (Portsmouth, R.I.), sophomore Kendra Michaels (Warwick, R.I.), and senior Brigid Dowd. O'Connor has 33 points in 24 games, while Marston, Michaels and Dowd each have at least 20 points. Junior defender Anna Hutton and freshman forward Alison La Buono have chipped in nicely, too. They must continue to step up for Portsmouth Abbey. The key to their success will be junior goalie Marguerite Cordahi, who has faced one of the heavier workloads in prep.
7. New Hampton (13-15-2)
Record against teams in the Small School tournament: 0-5-0
Why they could win: These Huskies are a lot different than previous iterations. But they play hard under Craig Churchill, and they have one of the most important boxes checked: goaltending. Junior Elizabeth Vincent is coming off another solid season between the pipes and was stout in last year's title run. Other key experience in the lineup includes forwards junior Emma MacPherson (Sandwich, Mass.), senior Kelsey Baker (Concord, Mass./Colby), senior Lily Thomas (Connecticut College) and junior Ella Fischetti. Newcomers like junior Kiara Drake (Ridgefield, Conn.), sophomore Merritt Fitch (Winchester, Mass.) and freshman Avery Lucier (Manchester, N.H.) have been key, too. MacPherson and Drake are having career seasons with 33 and 28 points, respectively. On defense, New Hampton will need senior Addy Peel (Scarborough, Maine) to control the ice in all three zones, while sophomore Roxie Merrick will be relied upon as well. Peel, a Vermont commit, has a career-high 27 points on the back end. Those players being their best will be critical to the Huskies bucking their regular-season struggles against playoff opponents.
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8. Frederick Gunn (14-11-2)
Record against teams in the Small School tournament: 0-1-1
Why they could win: The Highlanders have upside at every position. On the back end, Gunn boasts one of prep's highest-scoring defenders in sophomore Raven Bennett (Morris, Conn.), who has 24 points (13 goals) in 27 games. Up front, Gunn has a three-headed monster of junior Maria Gilshannon (Woodbridge, Conn.), senior Izzy Blake (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) and Brianna Boulanger (Danbury, Conn.). Gilshannon and Blake each have over 20 points this season, while Boulanger, a Hobart & William Smith commit, has 18. Freshman Maddie Caramante (Greenville, R.I.) has been strong as well. In the crease, Moira Landsverk will be the bedrock of any potential run for the Highlanders. The junior UNH commit has a .945 save percentage in her first season at Gunn, facing the highest shot volume of any playoff goalie (722 shots).
