Another New England girls prep hockey season is in the books.
Loomis Chaffee repeated as Elite 8 champs with a win over Deerfield. Phillips Exeter took home its first NEPSAC title since 2000 with a Large School final win over Choate. Meanwhile, Groton won its first NEPSAC title, taking the Small School title in a nail-biter over three-time defending champ New Hampton.
Several teams dominated in the regular season, whether it was Loomis, Nobles, Williston Northampton, Phillips Andover or Dexter Southfield. Each was a mainstay in the top five of our rankings throughout the season. Each had its usual suspects in our weekly top performers.
The playoffs were a lot less predictable. Seventh-seeded Tabor upended No. 2 Andover in the Elite 8 quarterfinals, as did No. 6 Deerfield against third-seeded Williston. Loomis, the fifth seed, completed a wild comeback over No. 1 Nobles in the semis, after the Bulldogs barely held off No. 8 St. Paul's in the quarterfinals.
In the Small School field, New Hampton reached the final on a magical run as the seventh seed. No. 5 St. Mark's made another strong postseason push as an underdog after beating No. 4 Governor's in the quarterfinals. In the Large School bracket, top-seeded Exeter's championship run almost never got off the ground in the first place. The Big Red had to erase a 3-0 hole in the third period of the quarterfinals before beating No. 8 Middlesex in overtime.
Each squad featured its share of 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: Francie Ames, Nobles
Surprise, surprise. Ames (Brookline, Mass.) led prep in scoring with 65 points and a NEPSAC-high 39 assists in 30 games. Her 26 goals finished in a three-way tie for second. What's even more impressive is that the sophomore found the scoresheet in every single game this season for Nobles. Ames posted 20 multi-point games, including 10 with three or more points. Ames earned co-MVP honors in the ISL, along with Groton's Tina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.)
Honorable mentions: Maddy Call, Thayer (24-19—43); Rachel Zhao, Nobles (22-20—42); Maddie Lahah, St. George's (19-18—37); Lydia Kealty, Thayer (18-19—37); Lily Bromley, Nobles (18-19—37); Anika Singh, BB&N (16-18—34); Ava Decourcey, Nobles (13-19—32); Brooke Carlson, Governor's (21-9—30); Nora Shea, Nobles (9-20—29); Allie Sauls, St. Mark's (15-13—28); Gretta Hulbig, Nobles (14-14—28); Catherine McCool, Nobles (12-16—28); Tina Scalese, Groton (12-16—28); Janie Martin, Middlesex (19-7—26); Simone Burns, Rivers (18-7—25); Mary Quatrale, Milton (12-11—23); Jen Birolini, Tabor (12-9—21); Mary Murray, BB&N (10-11—21); Ava Barbour (10-11—21); Jocelyn Gray, St. Mark's (10-11—21); Abby DeAnzeris, Thayer (6-15—21); Shelby Buckler, Brooks (12-8—20); Nora Swaim, Rivers (11-9—20); Lana Hardin, Governor's (8-12—20); Giuliana Polcari, Tabor (10-7—17); Sofia Nardelli, Tabor (10-7—17); Mirella Martinelli, Tabor (8-9—17); Natasha Godfrey, Brooks (6-13—19); Ariya Tice, Lawrence Academy (2-6—8)
‘FOR DAVE’: Methuen/Tewksbury honors late coach with MIAA title
Top goalie: Evelyn Lacey, Tabor
After starring at Tilton, Lacey (Braintree, Mass.) stepped right into her new digs at Tabor this season and was the backbone of the Seawolves' run to the Elite 8 semis. The Brown commit posted a .954 save percentage, and she was one of two goalies to earn an All-ISL First Team nod. Governor's Liz Luong (Framingham, Mass.) was the other. Lacey made 40 saves in Tabor's overtime upset of Andover in the Elite 8 quarterfinals. Some of her other highlights included 59 saves in an overtime loss to Andover in February and a 51-save shutout of Dexter Southfield.
Honorable mentions: Ava Scannell, Milton (.914 save percentage; 693 saves); Niamh Tobin, Middlesex (.938; 593); Liz Luong, Governor's (.930; 634); Barbara Ma, BB&N (.930; 572); Ella Puleo, Brooks (.911; 554); Annika Jonas, Nobles (.949; 527); Nora Wilson, Groton (.944; 527); Olivia Doucette, Lawrence Academy (.915; 399); Erin Drew, St. Mark's (.918; 258); Melanie Allen, St. Mark's (.918; 245); Madison Hayes, Thayer (.894; 502)
Eastern Independent League
Top skater: Megan O'Connor, Portsmouth Abbey
O'Connor led the Eastern Independent League with 34 points and 20 goals in 25 games, putting her in the top 20 for points and top 12 in goals in the NEPSAC. It was a career season for the senior and enough to earn MVP honors in the EIL as well. O'Connor led Abbey to the sixth seed in the Small School tournament and helped them reach overtime of the quarterfinals, scoring the Ravens' lone goal in a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Cushing. It was the second time in program history that Abbey reached the postseason.
Honorable mentions: Ava Souza, Berwick (11-14—25); Brooke Marston, Portsmouth Abbey (17-8—25); Ella Souza, Berwick (6-17—23); Kendra Michaels, Portsmouth Abbey (9-11—20); Brigid Dowd, Portsmouth Abbey (7-13—20); Katie DeSisto, Newton Country Day (12-5—17); Katherine Cedrone, Newton Country Day (8-9—17); Maggie Fitzgerald, Berwick (7-9—16); Olivia Polles, Pingree (10-6—16); Anna Hutton, Portsmouth Abbey (3-12—15)
MIAA CHAMPS: Methuen/Tewksbury shuts out Archbishop Williams in D1Â |Â Milton outlasts King Philip in D2
Top goalie: Marguerite Cordahi, Portsmouth Abbey
Cordahi was the backbone of the Ravens' run to the Small School tournament and four-peat as EIL champs. The uncommitted junior posted a .951 save percentage. Her best performances included 51 stops in the Small School quarterfinals against Cushing, 47 saves in a win over St. Mark's, 57 saves in a loss to Groton and 57 saves in a loss to Tabor.
Honorable mentions: Claire Griffis, Berwick (.918 save percentage; 337 saves); Ragan Schank, Berwick (.937; 239); Piper Davekos, Pingree (.889; 410); Murphy Holden, Pingree (.941; 303)
Founders/Housatonic
Top skater: Annie Schwarz, Loomis Chaffee
After breaking out as a junior, Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.) had an even better final act in her senior year. The Yale commit finished sixth in NEPSAC scoring with 47 points, and her 24 goals were tied for the third-highest total as she helped lead the Pelicans to a second straight Elite 8 title. Schwarz had five points (three goals) in the postseason. She also opened the season on a 10-game point streak.
Honorable mentions: Lindsay Stepnowski, Loomis Chaffee (21-20—41); Carly Dann, Loomis Chaffee (15-16—31); Chloe Cleaves, Deerfield (15-15—30); Annie Forker, Choate (19-10—29); Megan Hosman, Loomis Chaffee (7-22—29); Sophie Frost, Deerfield (17-10—27); Easton Pramuka, Loomis Chaffee (11-12—23); Ella Bates, Taft (5-17—22); Lindsay Kunzelmann, Taft (12-9—21); Gia Thompson, Deerfield (5-16—21); Alessandra Picard, Deerfield (10-10—20); Ava Giroux, Deerfield (5-15—20); Maggie Swanson, Choate (6-12—18); Chloe Pittinaro, Kent (6-8—14); Jaina Kronforst, Hotchkiss (8-5—13); Bella Zapata, Westminster (8-3—11)
CHAMPS: Loomis Chaffee beats Deerfield in Elite 8 | Phillips Exeter beats Choate in Large School | Groton beats New Hampton in Small School
Top goalie:Â Noel Schaab, Choate
Schaab (Sherman, Conn.) was outstanding throughout the season for Choate, helping the Wild Boars reach the Large School final. The senior Hamilton commit was the bedrock of a team that gave up more than two goals just four times all season. She finished with a .932 save percentage.
Honorable mentions: Adeline Roper, Loomis Chaffee (.931 save percentage; 323 saves); Emily Hosman, Loomis Chaffee (.982; 160); izzy Kirby, Deerfield (.938; 241); Liesel Kocourek, Westminster (.913; 313); Gabby Blier, Hotchkiss (.905; 249); Aspen Devlin, Kent (.929; 222); Anousheh Mohebbi, Taft (.941; 191); Alex Tombaugh, Taft (.914; 181)
Independents
Top skater: Paisley Meyer, Phillips Exeter
Meyer (Greenland, N.H.) formed one-third of perhaps the best line in prep hockey this season, dominating the scoresheet alongside senior Vermont commit Maria Gray and junior Northeastern commit Erin Sears (Cornwall, Vt.). Meyer led the NEPSAC with 28 goals and was second with 55 points in 27 games, leading Exeter to the Large School crown. It was a career season for the junior. The Yale commit posted nine points (four goals) in the playoffs and recorded 17 multi-point games, including nine with three or more points.
Honorable mentions: Maria Gray, Phillips Exeter (26-28—54); Caroline Averill, Phillips Andover (20-32—52); Sarah Powers, Phillips Andover (18-34—52); Erin Sears, Phillips Exeter (9-29—38); Bella Freitas, Cushing (23-8—31); Brooke Harb, Cushing (13-18—21); Grace Riley, Phillips Exeter (7-24—31); Maggie Averill, Phillips Andover (14-16—30); Mia Daley, Williston Northampton (11-19—30); Brooke Schlutter, Williston Northampton (14-15—29); Sarah Lawson, Hoosac (18-10—28); Evelyn Doyle, Dexter Southfield (15-13-28); Madelyn Soderquist, Cushing (15-13—28); Sawyer Merrill, Dexter Southfield (12-15—27); Jillian Smith, Hill School (12-15—27); Lily Kennedy, Millbrook (14-11—25); Raven Bennett, Frederick Gunn (13-11—24); Kimee Duplessis, Phillips Andover (8-16—24); Mackenzie Richardson, Hoosac (17-6—23); Maria Gilshannon, Frederick Gunn (14-9—23); Maggie Lovering, Dexter Southfield (7-16—23); Zola Piekarski, Williston Northampton (15-7—22); Keira Bruen, Phillips Andover (12-10—22); Leah Hafer, Dexter Southfield (10-12—22); Avery Cohen, Hill School (10-12—22), Izzy Blake, Frederick Gunn (9-13—22); Maggie Lyden, Greenwich Academy (16-5—21); Devon Moore, Dexter Southfield (8-13—21); Lily Winckler, Cushing (8-13—21); Olivia Labossiere, Mount Saint Charles (12-8—20); Lilly McInerney, Phillips Andover (10-10—20); Jessica Barnes, Hebron (10-10—20); Riley Stocker, Williston Northampton (9-11—20); Elizabeth Allen, Dexter Southfield (8-12—20); Addisyn Baird, Hill School (9-11—20); Alex Gregorek, Berkshire (10-5—15)
GIRLS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: All-Elite 8 | All-Large School | All-Small School
Top goalie: Moira Landsverk, Frederick Gunn
After standing out at Lovell Academy last season, Landsverk was excellent in her first prep season at Frederick Gunn. The UNH commit faced the third-highest shot total (766) and made the third-most saves (724) among prep goalies. The junior was still stellar, posting a .945 save percentage with five shutouts. She helped lead Gunn to the Small School tournament, where the No. 8 Highlanders took Groton to overtime in the quarterfinals. Landsverk made 42 saves in that game.
Honorable mentions: Gabby Cohen, Hoosac (.962 save percentage; 377 saves); Kate Rubinstein, Millbrook (.933; 443); Estella Vazquez, Greenwich Country Day (.895; 556); Isa Fischer, Hebron (.908; 492); Eva Mai Whyte, Phillips Exeter (.897; 306); Bryanna Ortiz Sacco, Mount Saint Charles (.904; 303); Marie Lee, Phillips Andover (.921; 267); Annabelle Aitken, Dexter Southfield (.955; 234); Katie Hurley, Berkshire (.926; 212); Olivia Arsenault, Williston Northampton (.967; 205); Addie Sutherland, Dexter Southfield (.947; 197); River Grady, Williston Northampton (.933; 181); Sadie Bellissimo, Cushing (.903; 365)
Lakes Region
Top skaters: Erin Flaherty, St. Paul's; Emma MacPherson, New Hampton
Flaherty (Boston, Mass.) and MacPherson (Sandwich, Mass.) each posted career highs this season, finishing atop the Lakes Region with 39 points, which put them in the top 12 amongst prep skaters.
Flaherty, a Boston University commit, finished with 26 goals in 30 games, leading the second-most productive offense in prep (126 goals) as St. Paul's reached the Elite 8 for the second time in three seasons. The junior had a hat trick in a quarterfinal loss to Nobles, too. The Lakes Region champ, SPS tied its program's single-season wins record (21), too.
MacPherson put up 22 goals in 31 games. She led New Hampton as the Huskies reached the Lakes Region final and made a Cinderella run to the Small School final, reaching the title game for the fifth consecutive season. The uncommitted junior had six points (three goals) in the postseason.
Honorable mentions: Chelsea Bell, St. Paul's (14-19—33); Addy Peel, New Hampton (7-24—31); Kiara Drake, New Hampton (12-17—29); Kelsey Baker, New Hampton (8-19—27); Kelsey MacPherson, St. Paul's (11-15—26); Bella Simeone, Proctor (13-12—25); Maddy Allen, St. Paul's (17-7—24); Tess Mulkerron, St. Paul's (12-12—24); Maddy Humber, St. Paul's (5-19—24); Christina Fossum, Proctor (13-7—20); Katharine Moseley, Kimball Union (13-7—20); Madelyn Nichols, Brewster (5-15—20); Kaida Okamura, Kimball Union (12-7—19); Lexi Morris, Holderness (10-9—19); Gabby Cerqua, Tilton (12-7—19); Talia Engel, Vermont Academy (10-9—19); Carley Guarino, Vermont Academy (7-12—19); Stella Regan, Holderness (9-9—18); Anna Davidson (10-6—16)
BOYS CHAMPS: Avon Old Farms upsets St. Mark’s in Elite 8 | Cushing beats Brunswick in Large School | Winchendon beats Holderness in Small School
Top goalie: Madelyn Andrade, Tilton
Andrade (Plymouth, Mass.) faced a gaudy shot volume in her first season as Tilton's starter. She made the second-most saves (744) on the second-most shots against (794) in the NEPSAC, posting a .937 save percentage. Some of the junior's top outings included 55 saves in a draw with Cushing, 56 saves in a loss to St. Paul's, 52 saves in a loss to Exeter and 44 saves in a win over Kimball Union.
Honorable mentions: Paige MacPhee, St. Paul's (.925 save percentage; 445 saves); Elizabeth Vincent, New Hampton (.900; 499); Katie Grady, Proctor (.930; 213); Chloe LeMay, Tilton (.926; 176); Taylor Blaise, Vermont Academy (.943; 447);Â Julia Alessandro, St. Paul's (.947; 160)
Vallaincourt
Top skater: Sarah Sampson, Austin Prep
Sampson (Wilmington, Mass.) was part of a three-headed monster for AP this season along with Kayeligh Norton (Pelham, N.H.) and Adia Murphy (Dedham, Mass.). Sampson finished in the top eight in NEPSAC scoring with 43 points (20 goals). The senior Salve Regina commit posted career highs across the board as she helped the Cougars reach the Vaillancourt Conference championship game.
Honorable mentions: Kayleigh Norton, Austin Prep (18-22—40); Adia Murphy (19-17—36); Katie Berard, North Yarmouth Academy (11-13—24); Sadie Morgan, North Yarmouth Academy (12-8—20); Camryn Casserly, North Yarmouth Academy (9-8—17); Maeve Molloy, Pomfret (8-8—16); Brooklyn Romaniello (5-10—15); Lauren Moran, Worcester Academy (4-11—15); Remy Lebel, Kents Hill (6-3—9); Niamh Cummings, Northfield Mount Hermon (4-4—8)
BOYS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: All-Elite 8 | All-Large School | All-Small School
Top goalie: Helen Zeaske, Northfield Mount Hermon
No one in prep saw more shots (964) and made more saves (882) this season than Zeaske (Lexington, Mass.). She faced nearly 200 more shots than the next closest goalie (Andrade). Despite the heavy workload, Zeaske still excelled, posting a .915 save percentage. The uncommitted senior also surpassed 2,000 career saves in February.
Honorable mentions: Eve-Marie Leclerc, North Yarmouth Academy (.946 save percentage; 539); Alex Herbert, Austin Prep (.937; 653); Sydney Kelm, Pomfret (.938; 603); Natalie Spaeth, Worcester Academy (.902; 314)
