The girls prep hockey season is finally here. That means it's time for our preseason top 10 rankings.
These were challenging to nail down. I thought there were three clear groupings that emerged. Last season's top two, Nos. 3-6 and the next four. Where things shook out, especially in the latter two groups, was difficult. Everyone behind No. 1 had a case to make to be higher.
It also made for some tough calls on which teams didn't crack the initial top 10. Fortunately for those teams, there will surely be plenty of movement over the course of the season.
Let's dive in.
1. Williston Northampton
Last season: 27-0-1, beat Andover in championship of Elite 8 tournament
Coach: Christa Talbot Syfu
The defending champions enter the season with a target on their backs after winning back-to-back Elite 8 titles. Christa Talbot Syfu’s team will need to weather significant departures, like Emily Crovo (Melrose, Mass.), but she’s confident that returners like Monique Lyons (Bedford, Mass.), Nora Curtis and Violet Carroll (Milton, Mass.) will make up for the loss after combining for 132 points last season. Lyons set a program record last season with 50 points (26 goals). On defense, Caroline Aufiero (Belmont, Mass.), a Clarkson commit, will lead the way.
2. Phillips Andover
Last season: 24-3-1, lost to Williston Northampton in championship of Elite 8 tournament
Coach: Martha Fenton
The Big Blue were a force last season. They opened the year with a 16-game win streak before making it to the Elite 8 title game, where they fell to Williston Northampton. Martha Fenton’s team lost plenty of experience, graduating eight seniors. They’ll lean on returning senior Shea Freda (Lexington, Mass.) and junior captains Molly Boyle (Scituate, Mass.) and Peyton Kennedy (Sudbury, Mass.) for leadership. Playmaking forward Caroline Averill (Wayland, Mass.) could be one of the best players in the NEPSAC this season. Younger sister Maggie Averill (Wayland) is an exciting prospect to watch on the blue line, while Andover has high hopes for postgrad transfer Cat Buckley (Pembroke, Mass.) out of Milton Academy.
3. Tabor
Last season: 19-4-2, lost to Nobles in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
Coach: Eric Long
Tabor again was one of the most formidable teams on the prep scene, making another Elite 8. Tabor took down Nobles for the ISL title before falling to the Bulldogs in the tournament quarterfinals. Tabor lost six seniors but returns three of its top five scorers, including top goal scorer Lizzy Greeley (Hyde Park, Mass.), as well as top defenders Kaitlin Sullivan (Needham, Mass.) and Adeline Paskowski (Plymouth, Mass). Head coach Eric Long is eager to see Whitney Dacko (Walpole, Mass.) healthy for a full season as well as what step Juliana Goffredo can take. Newcomers Avery Olsen (Rockport, Mass.) out of Northfield Mount Hermon and Elizabeth Jacobsson out of Groton will have opportunities in the crease.
STATE TITLE GAMES: Assabet wins at 16U | Jr. Eagles win at 19U
4. Noble and Greenough
Last season: 23-6-0, lost to Williston in semifinals of Elite 8 tournament
Coach: Tom Resor
This season wil be Tom Resor’s final ride behind the bench for the Bulldogs. Junior forward Molly MacCurtain (16 points last season) is expected to help lead the way among the forwards after Nobles graduated Brooke Manning (Marshfield, Mass.) to Harvard. Calleigh Brown will be in that mix as well. On the blue line, leading scorer Olivia Maffeo, a Boston College commit, returns to her natural position after a 35-point season last year. Resor expects her to create offense from the back end, while Anya Zupkofska (Braintree, Mass.), a Brown commit, is back in goal.
5. St. Paul’s
Last season: 19-8-2, beat Taft in championship of Large School tournament
Coach: Kelli Mackey
After an up-and-down start to the season, St. Paul’s went on a 15-3-2 run in the second half en route to the Large School championship. This year, the Pelicans have their sights set on the Elite 8. A big part of that will be senior goaltender Ally Martiniello (Salem, N.H.), who had shutouts in the semifinals and championship before taking home tournament MVP. Up front, a “one-of-a-kind” athlete in Cami Bell (Barre, Vt.) will headline St. Paul’s experienced attack after winning back-to-back Loomis Medals as the school’s top female athlete. Kelli Mackey’s squad also adds some exciting newcomers, including Williston Northampton transfer Ava Hunter (Southampton, Mass.).
6. Kent
Last season: 19-4-0, lost to Andover in semifinals of Elite 8 tournament
Coach: Sam Ftorek
After reaching the Elite 8 semifinals last season, Kent brings in former Kimball Union coach Sam Ftorek. Ftorek has high expectations for his first season behind the bench for the Lions, as the team returns plenty of veterans, including nine seniors. Lauren Ferrari will be back in the crease as the security blanket for Kent. Up front, a pair of Division 1 commits headline the forward group in Mia Montanari (East Hampton, Conn.; RPI) and Megan Duplantie (Dartmouth). On the blue line, stout returners Sophie Rousseau (Kent, Conn.), Elizabeth Bonner and Caitlin Pierce, who can play both forward and defense, are expected to step into elevated roles.
7. Loomis Chaffee
Last season: 14-7-4, lost to Williston in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
Coach: Liz Leyden
The Pelicans made it to the Elite 8 quarterfinals last season, falling to eventual champion Williston. Liz Leyden’s squad brings back a heap of experience with five seniors and five juniors to go along with a group of sophomores who were impactful as freshmen. Loomis brings back its top two scorers in juniors Chloe Obser and Grace Morin, who make up four returning forwards in last season's top six. Forward Megan Hosman and defender Carly Dann (Hanover, N.H.) are among the key sophomores Leyden expects to see take additional steps. On defense, Loomis expects captain Emma Hannah (Newtown, Conn.) to be a leader on and off the ice. Both goaltenders, senior Leila Fournier (West Kingston, R.I.) and sophomore Adeline Roper (Kennebunkport, Maine), will see time in the crease.
ELSEWHERE IN PREP: Groton | Williston Northampton | Nobles | St. Paul’s | Kent | Loomis Chaffee | Milton Academy
8. Dexter Southfield
Last season: 17-5-3, lost to Kent in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
Coach: Maggie Taverna
Dexter reached the Elite 8 last season, falling to Kent in overtime of the first round, improving on the previous year’s Small School tournament semifinal appearance. The team will need to weather the departures of forward Amelia Lynch (Winchester, Mass.) and goaltender Ainsley Moulton (Somerville, Mass.), each off to the Division 1 ranks. But there are pieces in place for coach Maggie Taverna’s team, whether it be the returns of key scorers like Brennah Hynes (Boston, Mass.) or impact defenders in juniors Alaina Dunn (Walpole, Mass.) and Maddie Murphy (Dorchester, Mass.). Murphy recently committed to Boston College.
9. Groton
Last season: 18-4-4, lost to New Hampton in championship of Small School tournament
Coach: Tim LeRoy
Tim LeRoy’s team has high hopes this year. They turned heads last season before falling to New Hampton in the Small School title game. The Zebras reached new heights with a program-best 18 wins last season. Maddie Cronan (Ashland, Mass.) will help lead the attack after 34 points (10 goals) last season. Tina Scalese (Bedford, Mass.), who LeRoy calls a “program changer,” is back after a 43-point (23-goal) season as a freshman. Groton has high expectations for Harvard commit Keira Ley (Wayland, Mass.) on the back end and goaltender Veronika Hadamovsky (Groton, Mass.), whose .954 save percentage last year was the team’s bedrock.
10. Milton
Last season: 14-8-2, lost to Andover in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
Coach: Ryan Stone
The Mustangs continue to trend in the right direction, reaching the Elite 8 for the first time in program history and finishing as runner-up in the Harrington Holiday Tournament, their best finish. In what will be the 40th season of Milton girls hockey, head coach Ryan Stone has high expectations for the season, even with the departures of eight seniors. The Mustangs return leading scorer and top center Becca White (Orono, Maine) as well as forwards Christina Sweeney (Milton, Mass.) and Julia Guden (Waltham, Mass.). Susannah Ward (Dedham, Mass.) will lead a young defense core alongside junior transfer Ashley Clarkson out of NMH. Stone is confident in the returning goaltending tandem of Laurie Deguire and Ava Scannell (Arlington, Mass.).
