It was a different year for Tabor last winter.
For the first time since 2016, the Elite 8 went on without the Seawolves, who reached the Large School tournament championship as the No. 5 seed. They fell to No. 2 Deerfield, 2-0, to finish 15-12-1.
"Last year was always going to be kind of a building year with the 2023 and 2024 classes graduating out," Tabor coach Eric Long said.
Despite the ups and downs, the Seawolves were a threat throughout the season. They played one of the most difficult regular-season schedules in prep – they faced the fourth-highest opponent winning percentage (0.5981) – and were tough outs against Elite 8 competition.
"The older kids did a nice job keeping us competitive throughout the year and making the year a solid year, but the younger kids, as they got better and better and more experienced, we kind of went on that run at the end," Long said. "That makes me excited for this year because they're just going to be a year older, a year more mature and a year more experienced."
Tabor also lost key players to graduation in 2025, including defender Adeline Paskowski (Plymouth, Mass.), starting goalie Avery Olson (Rockport, Mass.), and forward Julianna Goffredo. But with key producers returning, valuable additions, and some rising youngsters, the Seawolves have a chance to get back into the Elite 8.
"I feel like we're built for success this year," Long said. "I think we've got the depth, we've got the high-end talent, we've got the scoring and we've got a really solid defense. So my hope is to make a run at it this year."
What will it take?
Returning experience
Tabor brings back some seasoned producers up front, starting with seniors Lilly Shaughnessy (Medfield, Mass.) and Jen Birolini (Pembroke, Mass.).
Shaughnessy, a Colby commit, had 14 points (four goals) last season. She caught fire late in the season, scoring 11 points in 15 games to close the year. She scored clutch goals in Tabor's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Phillips Exeter and their 3-2 overtime win over Thayer in the semifinals.
"I don't know if there was a better player the last three weeks of the season than Lilly Shaughnessy," Long said. "It all came together for her, starting in early February and into the playoffs."
Birolini, meanwhile, didn't miss a beat in her first prep season after standing out for Pembroke in the MIAA. She led the Seawolves with 14 goals and 24 points last winter.
"Jen is a really good goal-scorer," Long said. He hopes both Birolini and Shaughnessy can pick up where they left off after strong summers.
PREP PREVIEWS: What to expect from Nobles | What to expect from Phillips Exeter | What to expect from Cushing
On defense, Tabor also returns seasoned veterans, starting with seniors Lucy Stearns (Carver, Mass.) and Grace Long (Marion, Mass.). The latter missed time last season with a hip injury. Juniors Adeline Wiesel (Needham, Mass.) and Lindsay Fox (Franklin, Mass.) are back in the fold, too.
Stearns had a pair of assists on the blue line last winter. She's someone Tabor knows it can rely on as captain.
"She's about as dependable a defender and a player as they come," Long said. "I don't think she's had a bad game in three years for us."
Wiesel, who came to Tabor from Thayer last year, will look to build on a solid debut season for the Seawolves.
"She had a great first season with us," Long said. "She got better and better every single game, and at the end of the year, she was really a go-to kid for us."
Rising young players
On top of Birolini and Shaughnessy's experience up front, Tabor also has an up-and-coming crop of youngsters who showed well last season.
Giuliana Polcari (Marshfield, Mass.) was one of the Seawolves' most impactful skaters as a freshman, posting 16 points (11 goals). The 2010 is a powerful player.
Others, like Dawson Styles (South Hamilton, Mass.), who had 13 points last season, and Sofia Nardelli (Cranston, R.I.), who had 10 points, will also be critical to Tabor once again.
"They were a really good freshman group last year that got better and better as the year went on," Long said. "They gained some confidence and some experience, and they won a few games for us, even. In my time at Tabor, it's rare that a freshman gets that time, never mind a handful of them. It was good to see. Now, it's time for them to start leading and pushing us over the finish line with some of those closer games."
The Seawolves are also eager to add Grace Hildebrandt (Norwell, Mass.)Â and repeat freshman Genevieve Smart into the forward group. Hildebrandt missed last season with a knee injury.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY: 12 takeaways from the last month in recruiting
"She would have helped us last year as a freshman," Long said. "We're really excited to add her to that group of skilled, young forwards."
On defense, sophomore Riley Pike (Topsfield, Mass.) gained important experience last season, playing heavy minutes as a freshman. The Seawolves will also add repeat freshman defender Layla Smart.
Key additions in net and on defense
Perhaps the biggest boosts Tabor will receive this season will come in the form of two experienced newcomers.
In net, the Seawolves bring in repeat junior goalie Evelyn Lacey (Braintree, Mass.). Lacey has been a standout at Tilton and with the Massachusetts Spitfires. The recent Brown commit shattered the Titlon's single-season saves record, finishing with 1,114 stops, the most among NEPSAC goaltenders. The 1,165 shots she faced were also the most among prep goalies as she finished with a .956 save percentage. She kept it going with an impressive showing with the Spitfires 19Us at USA Hockey Nationals.
"She's going to be a huge addition for us," Long said. "Her role changes a little bit here, compared to where she was. I hope we don't give up 1,100 shots this year, but I know she can stop most of them if we do. It'll be important for her – and I've seen her do it with the Spitfires – to make those one or two big saves that turn the game. If she only has to make 15 or 20 saves, but two or three of them are of the spectacular variety, that will be demoralizing for teams.
"It'll be good preparation for her moving to the college game. She's not going to see 40-50 shots a night at a program like Brown. She's going to have to stop 20 or 25 shots and make a few good ones every night. Hopefully, this full year of playing with that mindset is going to make her a better college goalie.
STREAMING WARS:Â Black Bear TV vs. LiveBarn has parents navigating an expensive landscape
The Seawolves anticipate Lacey stepping seamlessly into the starting gig. They'd be hard-pressed to find a better succession plan behind Olson.
"It was unbelievable what she did last year," Long said. "So, picking up where she left off last year, she's had a good fall and a great summer. She'll play a huge role for us, picking up where Avery left off, and maybe even do a little better, which would only help the team."
Meanwhile, on the back end, Tabor adds Providence College commit Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.), a former standout at Lovell Academy.
"She's obviously going to be a really strong player in our league and a huge addition coming in as an older player as a junior for us," Long said. "Our goals for her, she's going to lead our special teams without a doubt."
Martinelli, who skated at USA Hockey's Under-18 Women's National Team Festival this past summer, filled the scoresheet on Lovell's blue line last season. She finished with 95 points (34 goals) in 85 games.
Tabor has high expectations for the dynamic defender. She has the opportunity to be a true X-factor on the back end, going toe-to-toe with other "national-level" players in games against Nobles, Phillips Andover and Loomis Chaffee.
"She's in that variety," Long said. "Now we have someone to match up against those kids. Last year, it was by committee a little bit, and I think we did a really nice job last year of holding our own, but obviously, we didn't beat any of those teams. Hopefully, this year we have someone of that caliber and to play at that level. Hopefully, instead of holding her own, she can help us get over the hump there, and we start beating some of those teams this year like we have in the past.
"She's going to be one of the best defenders and one of the best power play kids in the league, for sure."
‘THE REAL WORK STARTS’: What comes next after committing to play college hockey?
Adding Lacey gives Tabor peace of mind in the crease. Meanwhile, inserting Martinelli into the mix on defense only bolsters the Seawolves' depth and gives them added flexibility throughout the lineup.
