Here comes the fun part: predictions.
The NEPSAC girls Large School quarterfinals kick off on Wednesday. There's plenty of intrigue with each matchup.
There will be a new champion this season, with Deerfield off to the Elite 8, too.
Top-seeded Phillips Exeter has as good a case as any, but the Big Red are far from the only contender. BB&N is only a season removed from a Large School title. Choate and Taft were in the Elite 8 hunt at different points this season, and Thayer has high upside. Kent and Middlesex made late-season pushes to make the dance, too.
Two seasons ago, I went 4-for-5 with my Large School predictions. My only miss was the championship when Dexter Southfield lost to BB&N. Last year. I went 3-for-4 in the quarterfinals, but the semis were not kind to me. I finished 4-for-7.
Safe to say, it's time for a bounce-back.
Let's dive into our predictions for the Large School quarterfinals.
No. 1 Phillips Exeter vs. No. 8 Middlesex
Both sides are looking to put rocky Februarys behind them. Middlesex regained its footing from a four-game skid with a 2-1-1 finish to the regular season to make the playoffs. Exeter was in the Elite 8 hunt until losing four of their last six, settling for the top seed in the Large School bracket.
It's a clean slate now, though.
GIRLS BRACKET BREAKDOWNS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
This all comes down to whether Middlesex can hold off Exeter's offense. The Zebras will need junior goalie Niamh Tobin (Dorchester, Mass.) to be at her best, along with defenders like Lucy McGaraghan (Lexington, Mass.) and Marin Gustafson (Wellesley, Mass.). They'll also need timely offense from Assumption commit Janie Martin (Burlington, Mass.) on the top line, along with Cassidy Bruno (Andover, Mass.) and Libby Melly (Reading, Mass.).
But Exeter's top line is too explosive. Yale commit Paisley Meyer (Greenland, N.H.) and Vermont commit Maria Gray were top-five scorers in the regular season, while Northeastern commit Erin Sears (Cornwall, Vt.) wasn't far off. Depth scorers like Dominique Reiher and Rylie Choi have stepped up, too. UConn commit Grace Riley is a premier threat on the back end, while Connecticut College commit Eva Mai Whyte (Natick, Mass.) can match Tobin in net.
Prediction:Â Exeter wins, 4-1
No. 2 Choate vs. No. 7 Kent
Kent is red-hot right now. The Lions were all but out of contention until February, but they vaulted into the picture with a 5-1-1 run since Feb. 11. It ended an eight-game losing streak. Kent is also unbeaten in four straight (3-0-1).
So, what'll it take for the Lions to get it done? They'll need Aspen Devlin (Falmouth, Mass.) and an experienced blue line to stifle Choate. The spotlight will be on the likes of Kate McKiernan (Glastonbury, Conn.), Nazareth commit Maddie Leonard (Millbury, Mass.) and junior Penelope Davies. Kent will also need to rely on Endicott commit Chloe Pittinaro up front, along with Ainsley Moffitt, Dakota Boyle and Olivia Machan.
GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Will it be enough? It's tough to say. Choate shut out Kent, 3-0, on Jan. 28. The Wild Boars' best skaters led the way with Assumption commit Annie Forker (Stratford, Conn.), Hamilton commit Natalie Beach (Darien, Conn.) and Ohio State rowing commit Kate Tortorella (Westport, Conn.) each scoring. Hamilton commit Noel Schaab (Sherman, Conn.) pitched a 20-save shutout. Choate is well-rounded and structured. The Wild Boars look primed to shut the Lions down again.
Prediction:Â Choate wins, 3-0
No. 3 Taft vs. No. 6 Berkshire
Taft and Berkshire met just a couple of weeks ago in a 3-1 win for the Bears. It was a bright spot down the stretch for Berkshire, which lost six of seven to close the regular season. Taft, meanwhile, got the better of Berkshire in a 3-2 win on Feb. 25. The Rhinos went 4-2-1 down the stretch.
The Bears know they can rely on a top-flight goalie in St. Cloud State commit Katie Hurley in addition to top defender Gabby Ogunnupe, a Brown commit. Alex Gregorek (North Attleboro, Mass.) had a goal and an assist in Berkshire's win over Taft. Cora Davidson (Newmarket, N.H.) scored in both matchups. They'll need to set the pace again, along with Amherst commit Maddy McCready and Nadia Smith.
BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Taft has plenty of threats that can match up, whether it's Bowdoin commit Ella Bates (Weymouth, Mass.), Lindsey Kunzelmann (Avon, Conn.), Sophie Um, Brooke McLaughlin (Wilbraham, Mass.) or Selkie Brown. Brown scored twice in Taft's win over Berkshire, and Phoebe Weisman also scored. Um scored in the first matchup. Alex Tombaugh (New Haven, Conn.) is capable in the crease, too.
It's close, but I lean toward Taft's depth and recent form.
Prediction:Â Taft wins, 2-1
No. 4 BB&N vs. No 5 Thayer
This has the potential to be one of the best matchups of the quarterfinals with two ISL rivals squaring off.
Both teams have had some ups and downs down the stretch, but both showed plenty of upside at different points in the season. Thayer and BB&N skated to a 2-2 tie just last week. Brown commit Anika Singh (Lexington, Mass.) and Chloe Crabtree (Saugus, Mass.) each had a goal and an assist for the Knights. Mary Murray (Hingham, Mass.) had two helpers. For the Tigers, Maddy Call (Dedham, Mass.) and Lydia Kealty (Norfolk, Mass.) each scored.
BB&N is going to rely on its identity, taking Thayer to task with strength and relentless compete, especially on the forecheck. It'll be key that their experienced leaders set the tone, be it Singh, Murray, Brown commit Kate Glantz (Burlington, Mass.) or Molly Halloran (Belmont, Mass.).
 BOYS BRACKET BREAKDOWNS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
The Knights' young defenders will have their hands full with Call and Kealty, though. Call was top 10 in prep scoring and second in goals. Jenna Henley (Whitman, Mass.) and Abby Macauley (Avon, Mass.) are key offensive sparkplugs, while Abby DeAnzeris (Needham, Mass.) and Shea Richardson (Hingham, Mass.) can drive transition. The Tigers' 86 total goals this season are the most in the Large School field, 30 clear of BB&N.
I'd expect this to be back-and-forth, but I'm going with Thayer's offensive firepower.
Prediction:Â Thayer wins, 5-3
