Another New England girls prep hockey season is in the books.
Loomis Chaffee took home the Elite 8 title. Meanwhile, Deerfield won the Large School championship, and New Hampton won its third straight Small School title.
It was an exciting season, packed with plenty of parity and lots of high-end prospects. Williston Northampton dominated in the regular season, but the top-seeded Wildcats fell to No. 5 Phillips Andover, who also upset No. 4 Nobles in its run to the Elite 8 final. Meanwhile, No. 6 BB&N upset No. 3 Dexter Southfield. The Large bracket also saw a fifth seed, Tabor, march to the finals, while sixth-seeded St. Mark's danced to the Small School championship.
That's only getting into the craziness of the playoffs, let alone the regular season.
There were also some dominant players. That’s what this story is all about.
This marks the end of our first season of Top Performers on the girls side. It was a lot of fun taking stock of the biggest performers around the region in a given week, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
A lot of the frequent flyers in our weekly Top Performers are prominent in this piece, naturally.
For the final time this season, let’s dive in.
ISL
Top skater: Morgan McGathey, Thayer
McGathey's 58 points this season led the NEPSAC by a considerable margin, 13 clear of the next-closest skater. The Harvard commit also led the NEPSAC in goals with 39, well ahead of the field. It's the highest single-season goal total in the NEPSAC since Colgate forward Kristýna Kaltoynková scored 45 at Vermont Academy in 2019-20. McGathey (Braintree, Mass.) had 13 multi-goal games, including six hat tricks, and went without a goal in more than one game just once this season. She had Thayer in the Elite 8 mix all season before slipping into the Large School bracket at the end of the regular season. She helped the Tigers win the Dexter Southfield Holiday Tournament in addition to big wins over Nobles and New Hampton. McGathey, Thayer's all-time leader in goals, finished her prep career with 116 goals and 169 points in 101 games.
ON THE RISE: 10 uncommitted players who boosted their stock in the NEPSAC girls playoffs
Honorable mentions: Kate Sullivan, Thayer (14-29—43); Alexa Georgantas, Nobles (21-20—41); Tina Scalese, Groton (25-13—38); Gretta Hulbig, Nobles (17-21—38); Molly MacCurtain, Nobles (12-26—38); Hannah Weyerhaeuser, BB&N (16-20—36); Maddie Cronan, Groton (15-20—35); Maddie Lahah, St. George's (17-17—34); Calleigh Brown, Nobles (12-26—34); Geena Cookinham, Lawrence Academy (18-15—33); Brooke Carlson, Governor's (14-16—30); Abby DeAnzeris, Thayer (5-25—30); Wren Abboud (13-13—26); Emi Biotti, BB&N (11-15—26); Lindsay Morin, Rivers (15-11—26); Janie Martin, Middlesex (18-6—24); Jen Birolini, Tabor (14-10—24)
Top goalie: Annika Jonas, Nobles
Jonas (Weston, Mass.) had big shoes to fill, stepping into the starting role this year. The sophomore exceeded expectations, posting a .950 save percentage and facing the ninth-highest shot volume in the NEPSAC (584 shots). Her 555 saves were the eighth-highest. Jonas also finished with eight shutouts on the season. Some of her best outings included a 32-save shutout over Loomis Chaffee, a 29-save shutout of Groton, 39 saves in a draw with Phillips Andover, 24 saves in a loss to Williston and 32 saves in a win over Tabor.
Honorable mentions: Kyleigh Matola, Brooks (.913 save percentage, 678 saves); Eva Mai Whyte, BB&N (.926 save percentage; 378 saves); Barbara Ma, BB&N (.941 save percentage; 240 saves); Nora Wilson, Groton (.935 save percentage; 445 saves); Liz Luong, Governor's (.931 save percentage; 270 saves); Olivia Doucette, Lawrence Academy (.916 save percentage; 468 saves), Madi Beyor, Lawrence Academy (.933 save percentage, 347 saves); Niamh Tobin, Middlesex (.923 save percentage, 349 saves); Jackie Wright, St. Mark's (.933 save percentage; 419 saves), Avery Olson, Tabor (.931 save percentage, 325 saves);Â Madison Hayes, Thayer (.928 save percentage; 269 saves); Coleen Wallace, Thayer (.965 save percentage; 219 saves)
Eastern Independent League
Top skater:Â Brooke Marston, Portsmouth Abbey
Marston (Portsmouth, R.I.) had a career season, leading Portsmouth Abbey to an EIL championship. She finished with 16 goals and 34 points, more than doubling her previous high for goals (six) and shattering the 18 points she scored last season. The sophomore had five games with four or more points, including a gaudy nine-point outing with two goals and seven assists in a win over Winsor. She also had two hat tricks this season, including a four-goal game against Hoosac.
Honorable mentions: Anna Hutton, Portsmouth Abbey (9-16—25); Megan O'Connor, Portsmouth Abbey (10-14—24); Neely Payne (10-13—23); Aby Amigo, Pingree (11-8—19); Ella Souza, Berwick (7-12—19)
Top goalie:Â Jayden Elias, Portsmouth Abbey
Elias was one of the NEPSAC's top goaltenders last year, and that was once again the case this year. The junior put up a .942 save percentage with two shutouts, making the sixth-most saves in the region (696) and facing the seventh-most shots (739). She had 12 games with 40 or more saves. Some of her best showings included a 77-save performance in a season-opening loss to Groton, 58 saves against Lawrence Academy and a 47-save shutout in a 0-0 tie with Westminster.
Honorable mentions:Â Ragan Schank, Berwick (.915 save percentage, 536 saves); Piper Davekos, Pingree (.931 save percentage; 297 saves)
CHAMPS: Loomis survives Andover in Elite 8 | Deerfield blanks Tabor in Large School | New Hampton three-peats in Small School
Independents
Top skater:Â Violet Carroll, Williston Northampton
Carroll (Milton, Mass.) finished third in points in the NEPSAC with 45, and her 30 assists led the region. The Holy Cross commit centered one of the NEPSAC's best lines with Zola Piekarski (Concord, Mass.) and Brooke Schlutter as Williston laid waste to the NEPSAC in the regular season. Carroll was also dangerous quarterbacking the power play. She posted 13 multi-point efforts, including five four-point outings. Some of her top performances included three points (one goal) against Cushing, three assists against BB&N and four points (two goals) in the playoffs against Groton.
Honorable mentions: Bella Freitas, Cushing (25-18—43); Maria Gray; Phillips Exeter (18-22—40); Madi Soderquist, Cushing (20-18—38); Nora Curtis, Williston (18-17—35); Mia Daley, Williston (17-17—34); Kaylin O'Connor, Mount St. Charles (18-15—33); Alexa Buco, Mount (24-8—32); Piper Smith, Millbrook (20-12—32); Paisley Meyer, Phillips Exeter (12-19—31); Maddie Murphy, Dexter Southfield (10-21—31); Erin Sears, Phillips Exeter (13-16—29); Julia Lambert, Cushing (18-10—28); Zola Piekarski, Williston (14-14—28); Emily Mara, Phillips Andover (14-13—27); Madison Caramante, Mount (13-14—27); Brooke Schlutter, Williston (18-8—26); Sarah Powers, Phillips Andover (14-12—26; Brooke Fallon, Cushing (10-15—25); Sophia Busa, Berkshire (17-6—23); Evelyn Doyle, Dexter Southfield (11-10—21); Maria Gilshannon, Frederick Gunn (11-10—21); Sofia Cuozzo, Frederick Gunn (16-4—20); Parker Caldara, Canterbury (12-5—17)
Top goalie:Â Olivia Ferebee, Williston Northampton
Ferebee was borderline unbeatable for most of the season, posting a .964 save percentage and seven shutouts. The Cornell commit faced the highest shot volume of her career and came up big against strong teams. Ferebee's best outings included a 39-save shutout and overtime win over Andover, a 31-save shutout of Loomis Chaffee, 26 saves against Groton in the playoffs, a 20-save shutout in a scoreless draw with Dexter and a 22-save shutout over Nobles. Cushing's Sadie Bellissimo also had a fantastic case to make here.
Honorable mentions:Â Julia Echavarria, Berkshire (.936 save percentage, 277 saves); Sadie Bellissimo, Cushing (.933 save percentage; 866 saves); Annabelle Aitken, Dexter Southfield (.958 save percentage, 249 saves); Emily Krauss, Frederick Gunn (.933 save percentage; 322 saves); Gabriella Cohen, Hoosac (.933 save percentage; 430 shots); Allie Bell, Phillips Exeter (.941 save percentage, 479 saves)
Founders/Housatonic
Top skater:Â Lindsay Stepnowski, Loomis Chaffee
Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) had a massive breakout this season, putting up 44 points in 27 games and finishing in a four-way tie for second in goals (25) en route to the Elite 8 title. She more than tripled her previous career-best for goals (eight) and more than doubled her previous best for points (18). The Harvard commit was at her best in the postseason, scoring six goals and adding an assist as she took home Elite 8 MVP. She had 14 multi-point games, including a pair of five-point efforts, and never went more than a game without a point. Stepnowski's best performances included a goal and an assist against Andover in the Elite 8 championship, a hat trick against Cushing in the quarterfinals, two goals against BB&N in the semis and five points (two goals) against Kent.
ALL-TOURNAMENT: All-Elite 8 team | All-Large School team | All-Small School team
Honorable mentions: Annie Schwarz, Loomis Chaffee (11-26—37); Chloe Obser, Loomis Chaffee (15-19—34); Ellie Lachance, Loomis Chaffee (11-19—30); Chloe Cleaves, Deerfield (16-12—28); Megan Hosman, Loomis Chaffee (8-20—28); Renee Bishop, Kent (12-15—27); Rachel Bishop (6-20—26); Allie Corrieri, Deerfield (9-14—23); Sophie Frost, Deerfield (11-11—22)
Top goalie: Campbell Krotee, Deerfield
Loomis' Adeline Roper (Kennebunk, Maine) had just as strong of a case to make, but Krotee (Darien, Conn.) had the edge for me. Krotee saved her best for last for Deerfield, posting a career-high .942 save percentage and three shutouts with less offensive support and a higher shot volume against (445). Both came through when the lights were brightest, too. Krotee pitched a 29-save shutout in the Large School championship against Tabor. She also had strong outings that included 33 saves in a 2-1 upset of Williston, 32 saves in an overtime loss to Loomis, a 35-save shutout of Andover and 35 saves in a tie with Exeter. The Holy Cross commit will do a postgrad season at Williston in 2025-26.
Honorable mentions:Â Adeline Roper, Loomis Chaffee (.943 save percentage; 398 saves); Maddy Pope, Taft (.932 save percentage; 316 saves); Kate Epke, Westminster (.902 save percentage; 509 saves)
Lakes Region
Top skater:Â Kennedy Walker, New Hampton
A strong postseason vaulted Walker (Middleton, Mass.) to 46 points in 32 games, good enough for second in the NEPSAC. She had 24 goals and 22 assists, including five assists in three playoff games. The Yale commit shattered her previous career-highs of 16 goals and 33 points. She also had one of the best stretches of anyone in the region when she put up 21 points (12 goals) in a 10-game point streak from Dec. 21 through Feb. 5. Walker had 13 multi-point games, including five with three or more points.
Honorable mentions: True Thompson, New Hampton (11-31—42); Katie Collins, Brewster (8-27—35); Megan Tremblay, Brewster (25-9—34); Trinity Walsh, New Hampton (12-20—32); Kelsey Baker, New Hampton (11-21—32); Julia Loughlin (13-19—32); Stella Regan, Holderness (12-8—20); Lexi Davies, Brewster (15-14—29); Erin Flaherty, St. Paul's (11-14—25), Charlotte Voge, St. Paul's (15-6—21); Summer Combe, Kimball Union (17-7—24); McKenna Dockery, Kimball Union (12-12—24); Mary Kelley, Tilton (5-14—19)
Top goalie:Â Evelyn Lacey, Tilton
No one in the NEPSAC faced more pucks than Lacey (Braintree, Mass.). The uncommitted junior saw 1,165 shots and made 1,114 saves, making for a .956 save percentage and setting Tilton's single-season record for saves. She posted 16 games with at least 40 saves, including four with at least 60 and averaged 46 saves per game across her 24 appearances. She had a 65-save performance in a 3-2 win over KUA, 68 saves in a loss to Groton, 64 saves in a one-goal loss to Exeter and 66 saves in a loss to Thayer.
Honorable mentions:Â Belle Desrosiers, Brewster (.930 save percentage, 476 saves); Mia Gonsalves, Holderness (.943 save percentage, 197 saves); Songdy Assoume, Holderness (.965 save percentage; 192 saves); Elizabeth Vincent, New Hampton (.922 save percentage; 415 saves); Paige McPhee, St. Paul's (.919 save percentage, 361 saves)
PREP RESULTS: Girls Elite 8 | Girls Large School | Girls Small School | Boys Elite 8 | Boys Large School | Boys Small School
Vaillancourt
Top skater:Â Faith Steiner, Austin Prep
Steiner (Burlington, Mass.) led the way for AP as they finished runners-up in the Vaillancourt Conference. She finished with 16 goals and a career-high 36 points in 31 games. The SUNY Plattsburgh commit had 13 multi-point games, including five three-point games. Steiner was one of the most productive players in the NEPSAC early on, posting 10 points (four goals) in her first five games.
Honorable mentions: Kayleigh Norton, Austin Prep (18-16—34); Adia Murphy, Austin Prep (13-19—32); Maeve Molloy, Pomfret (18-4—22)
Top goalie: Alex Herbert, Austin Prep
Herbert (Reading, Mass.) faced the second-most shots in the region (1,017) and made the second-most saves (945). The junior finished the season, her first as the starter, with a .929 save percentage and five shutouts. Herbert had nine appearances in which she made at least 40 saves and three more with at least 50 saves. Those three came against Nobles (56), Williston (53) and Andover (53). Some of Herbert's best appearances included a 39-save shutout of Governor's, 42 saves in a one-goal loss to Thayer and 48 saves in a loss to NYA in the Vaillancourt championship.
Honorable mentions: Eline Gillodes, Kents Hill (.939 save percentage, 217 saves); Sydney Kelm, Pomfret (.942 save percentage; 862 saves); Eve-Marie Leclerc, North Yarmouth Academy (.955 save percentage, 296 saves)
