We’re in the heart of the Massachusetts girls high school hockey season, and we’re about to hit the stretch run as the postseason looms. The brackets will be announced Feb. 24.
So far this season, much like last year, St. Mary’s and Duxbury have been the two most dominant forces in the MIAA.
St. Mary’s is aiming to avenge last season’s loss in the Division 1 title game, even after losing all but nine players from last year’s team. Meanwhile, Duxbury is in search of back-to-back Division 2 championships.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far and what we’ll be looking for before champions are crowned on March 17.
As good as advertised
1. Duxbury: The Dragons have picked up right where they left off from last season. Coach Dan Najarian’s team sits at 10-1-0 with a 47-8 goal differential. Senior goaltender Anna McGinty was sensational in Duxbury’s title run in 2023, and such is the case this season as she’s already up to four shutouts. The Dragons were hoping for a big year for Maddie Greenwood after a 28-point season, and the junior forward has more than a goal per game so far. Most importantly, Duxbury has gotten significant depth contributions from the likes of Reese Porter, Shae Martin, Maeve Gallagher and others.
2. Caroline Doherty: Doherty was the headliner among our players to watch entering the season, already well over 100 career points, and safe to say, the hype is well-deserved. Hingham's junior captain burst out of the gates with 11 goals through her first 11 games. It’s easy to see why Doherty is so dominant. She is a powerful player with strong strides and a heavy, accurate shot, capable of beating goaltenders cleanly. Her smarts and strength make her a handful in 1-on-1 battles in the offensive zone, where she does an excellent job protecting the puck.
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3. Notre Dame (Hingham): The Cougars entered the season ranked third in our top 10 after falling in the semifinals to eventual Division 1 champion Shrewsbury. So far, NDA has lived up to its billing. Sarah White (Hanover, Mass.) remains the go-to option on the top line, while Devon Moore (Milton, Mass.), Caroline Hartnett (Hingham, Mass.) and Emily Coughlin (Marshfield, Mass.) have made for a strong supporting cast. The top defensive pair of Sarah Francis (Scituate, Mass.) and Lucy DelGallo (Braintree, Mass.), as well as goaltender Ava Larkin (Canton, Mass.), have helped the Cougars be one of the stingiest teams in the MIAA this season.
Three things that have surprised us so far
1. St. Mary’s youngsters: Any worries about the Spartans entering a retool after losing as much talent as they did have been squelched emphatically. St. Mary's has been fantastic to start, sitting at 8-1-1. Even with senior defender Kasey Litwin (Swampscott, Mass.) back to lead the way, a lot of the success is owed to some rising young stars. Bella Freitas (Everett, Mass.) has been a sensation as the Spartans’ top-line center, and while we highlighted Vanessa Hall (Saugus, Mass.) entering the season, the eighth-grade defender has found a new level. Both players drive offense and generate quality chances on nearly every shift. St. Mary’s is in good hands both now and in the future.
2. Malden Catholic: The Lancers have turned heads this season, quickly rising to a top-five spot in our power rankings. Alexa Hingston’s group boasts impressive wins over Division 1 contenders like Bishop Feehan, Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading and Pope Francis. Both goaltenders, senior Taylor Daley (Malden, Mass.) and junior Megan Mullarkey (Charlestown, Mass.), have been terrific in the early going, as MC is tied with NDA for the second-fewest goals allowed so far this season. Senior forward Antonia DiZoglio (Wilmington, Mass.) and junior defender Ava Baker (North Reading, Mass.) have been strong, too.
3. Falmouth’s youngsters: The Clippers’ roster consists of just 17 players, including 10 freshmen. While top scoring threat junior Casey Roth is still doing her thing, it’s the youngsters who have carried much of the load for Falmouth, sitting at 10-1-0. Freshman Aspen Devlin has suited up in every game as the only goaltender on the team. Fellow rookie Maeve Turner leads the team in goals to this point. Rylinn Briggs and Estelle Dufanny help hold things down on defense. The inexperience hasn’t mattered for the Clippers, who lead Division 2 in scoring and boast big wins over Sandwich and Nauset Monomoy.
Three questions for the stretch run
1. Who will emerge in Division 1? Despite St. Mary’s continued success, it’s a packed race in Division 1, as several teams have cases to make this season, whether it’s Notre Dame (Hingham), Malden Catholic or others. Harper Friedholm and Lauren Kennedy have Lincoln-Sudbury very much in the mix, as do Ava Buckley (Peabody, Mass.) and Alyse Mutti (North Reading, Mass.) with PLNR (the Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading team). Elsewhere, Hingham remains a factor with the likes of Doherty and Hannah Lasch, who is off to a terrific start as a freshman. It’s hard to count out Pope Francis or defending champion Shrewsbury, too.
2. Can Shrewsbury defend its title? Speaking of the Colonials, they haven’t had the start to the season they might have envisioned, sitting at 4-2-3. Offense has been tough to come by for Shrewsbury. Fortunately for the Colonials, a big league win over Methuen/Tewksbury could provide a spark. Senior goaltender Marissa Montoya is back to her dominant form that lifted her team to the title last season. Sophomore forward Lauren Albertson has had an encouraging start offensively. If a couple more bounces start going their way, the Colonials could find a groove again.
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3. Can anybody stop Duxbury? The Dragons have been dominant in every facet of the game. But in Division 2, there are plenty of teams vying to knock off the defending champion Dragons. Falmouth has been terrific, as has Pembroke, thanks in part to standout Jenn Birolini, who eclipsed the 100-goal and 150-point thresholds. Last year’s runner-up Canton remains a factor with its offensive output, thanks in part to sophomore Izzy Cusack. Burlington is firmly in the mix, too. The Dragons have a tough schedule down the stretch with Division 1 and 2 foes including Marshfield, Pembroke, Hingham, MC, Pope Francis, NDA and Canton all left on the docket.
