We’re one month into the New England girls prep hockey season, and there’s plenty to take stock of.
Some teams have lived up to expectations, while others have exceeded them. It’s made for plenty of movement in our rankings so far.
Individually, many of prep's usual suspects have been key forces for their teams in the early going. There have also been plenty of players who exploded out of the gates, already matching or exceeding previous career highs.
Several of the players highlighted in this story have been regulars in our weekly top performers, too. It would hardly be a surprise if that remained the case throughout the rest of the season.
As always, if you have updated statistics or a nominee for a top performer in a given week, please email me at patrick.donnelly@hockeyjournal.com.
Let’s dive into the top performers from the first month of the girls prep season. All stats are up to Dec. 31.
ISL
Top skater:Â Rachel Zhao, Nobles
Prep's top scorer in December, Zhao has been a critical piece to a Nobles squad that is 9-0-0 and atop our rankings after winning the Harrington. Several Bulldogs skaters have been among the best in the region, so far, but few are on Zhao's level. The uncommitted senior is scoring over two points per game at the holiday break, totaling 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points in nine games.
Honorable mentions: Francie Ames, Nobles (6-10–16); Brooke Carlson, Governor's (9-3–12); Simone Burns, Rivers (8-3–11); Tina Scalese, Groton (5-6–11), Maddie Lahah, St. George's (4-7–11); Lydia Kealty, Thayer (8-2–10); Anika Singh, BB&N (3-6–9); Janie Martin, Middlesex (7-0–7); Lana Hardin, Governor's (4-5–9); Maddie Call, Thayer, 3-6–9); Nora Swaim, Rivers (3-5–8); Scarlett Gustafson, Middlesex (2-5–7); Lily Bromley, Nobles (6-8–14); Catherine McCool, Nobles (4-7–11); Ava Decourcey, Nobles (4-7–11); Allie Sauls, St. Mark's (4-2–6); Shelby Buckler, Brooks (5-0–5)
GIRLS PREP RANKINGS:Â Top 10 shakeup after holiday tournamentsÂ
Top goalie: Annika Jonas, Nobles
Nobles has dominated its schedule so far, and while Jonas hasn't been prep's busiest goalie, she's seen ample volume and made the saves she's needed to make en route to an 8-0-0 record in her appearances, including four shutouts. She has three 20-plus save outings, including a 21-save shutout over Williston for the Harrington title. Entering January's slate, Jonas sports a .971 save percentage and 132 total saves.
Honorable mentions: Niamh Tobin, Middlesex (.971 save percentage; 133 saves) Barbara Ma, BB&N (.914; 149); Ella Puleo, Brooks (.886; 178); Nora Wilson, Groton (.919; 102); Melanie Allen, St. Mark's (.924; 145); Evelyn Lacey, Tabor (0.875 GAA); Liz Luong, Governor's (.944; 153)
Eastern Independent League
Top skater:Â Megan O'Connor, Portsmouth Abbey
After a career season as a junior last winter, O'Connor is on pace for an even better year this winter. The uncommitted senior has nine points in seven games through the first month, including six goals. Some of her best outings came in a two-goal, four-point showing against Worcester Academy, as well as a two-goal, three-point game against Kimball Union.
Honorable mentions: Ava Souza, Berwick (Ella Souza, Berwick (3-5–8); Katherine Cedrone, Newton Country Day (2-5–7); Katie DeSisto, Newton Country Day (4-2–6); Olivia Polles, Pingree (4-5–9); Ryley Nugent (4-5–9); Kendra Michaels, Portsmouth Abbey (4-3–7); Brigid Dowd, Portsmouth Abbey (2-4–6); Sarah DiCenso, Pingree (4-3–7); Julia Ghergurovich, Pingree (3-4–7); Neely Payne, Pingree (3-3–6)
GIRLS PREP RANKINGS:Â Where the Next 15 stand at the break
Top goalie:Â Marguerite Cordahi, Portsmouth Abbey
Cordahi has been one of the best – and busiest – goaltenders in prep to begin the season. The junior faced 287 shots in a timeshare last season. So far this season, she's faced 275, the most in prep. Cordahi hasn't been fazed, though, posting a .971 save percentage. Some of her best showings came in 57-save efforts against Groton and Tabor. She also made 47 saves in a win over St. Mark's. Cordahi has allowed more than one goal just once (St. Mark's) in seven appearances, going 5-2-0.
Honorable mention: Ragan Schank, Berwick (.949 save percentage; 74 saves); Piper Davekos, Pingree (.895; 119)
Independents
Top skater:Â Erin Sears, Phillips Exeter
Exeter entered the holiday break undefeated and in the Elite 8 hunt. Sears, as well as the rest of the Big Red's top line, has been a big of a piece as any to her team's success. Sears has well over two points per game with 15 in six games, including 13 assists. The junior Northeastern commit has five multi-point outings, including a three-assist, four-point game against Governor's on Dec. 5.
Honorable mentions: Paisley Meyer, Phillips Exeter (7-6–13); Maria Gray, Phillips Exeter (7-4–11); Maggie Averill, Phillips Andover (6-5–11); Sarah Powers (5-6–11); Sage Joyce, Hebron (8-4–12); Jessica Barnes, Hebron (3-8–11); Edith Hayes, Hebron (6-4–10); Julia Lambert, Cushing (4-7–11); Caroline Averill, Phillips Andover (6-4–10); Evelyn Doyle, Dexter Southfield (4-5–9); Keira Bruen, Phillips Andover (4-5–9); Maggie Lovering, Dexter Southfield (2-7–9); Bella Freitas, Cushing (6-2–8); Devon Moore, Dexter Southfield (4-4–8); Madi Soderquist, Cushing (4-4–8); Sawyer Merrill, Dexter Southfield (2-5–7); Brooke Schlutter, Williston Northampton (4-2–6); Mia Daley, Williston Northampton (3-3–6); Caroline Doherty, Williston Northampton (3-2–5); Ava Carr, Williston Northampton (1-4–5); Meghan Grace, Hoosac (6-6–12); Sarah Lawson, Hoosac (6-5–11); Mackenzie Richardson, Hoosac (6-2–8); Raven Bennett, Frederick Gunn (5-5–10); Izzy Blake, Frederick Gunn (4-4–8); Maria Gilshannon, Frederick Gunn (3-5–8); Caroline Muzzi, Greenwich Country Day (4-3–7); Cora Davidson, Berkshire (4-1–5)
TOP PERFORMERS:Â The top girls prep performers from the 2025 holiday tournaments
Top goalie: Moira Landsverk, Frederick Gunn
A newcomer to prep, Landsverk has had a strong start for Frederick Gunn so far, even though the Highlanders have had some ups and downs at 5-3-2. Nevertheless, Landsverk has been busy, posting a .915 save percentage with one shutout in eight appearances. Some of the UNH commit's best outings were against Millbrook (28 saves) and Hill School (34 saves).
Honorable mentions: Annabelle Aitken, Dexter Southfield (.954 save percentage; 83 saves); River Grady, Williston Northampton (.921; 70) Gabriella Cohen, Hoosac (.972; 101); Kate Rubinstein, Millbrook (.937; 104); Estella Vazquez, Greenwich Country Day (.925; 111); Eva Mai Whyte, Phillips Exeter (.973; 73); Sadie Bellissimo, Cushing (.900; 144) Ana Makrogiannis, Deerfield (.881; 104)
Founders/Housatonic
Top skater:Â Lindsay Stepnowski, Loomis Chaffee
The reigning NEPSAC Player of the Year is making a strong case once again as Loomis defends its Elite 8 title. After being held off the board in the Pelicans' season-opening loss to Nobles, Stepnowski has seven straight multi-point games, sitting at 18 points with 10 goals. She has two three-point games under her belt with two goals and an assist against Deerfield and Hotchkiss. The Harvard commit also had a hat trick and four points against Canterbury. She was key to the Pelicans' Patsy K. Odden Invitational title with a goal and an assist against Phillips Andover in the championship.
Honorable mentions: Annie Schwarz, Loomis Chaffee (8-10–18); Easton Pramuka, Loomis Chaffee (4-5–9); Carly Dann, Loomis Chaffee (4-5–9); Chloe Cleaves, Deerfield (3-4–7); Olivia Austen, Deerfield (2-2–4); Olivia Machan, Kent (3-1–4); Kate Tortorella, Choate (3-1–4); Ella Bates, Taft (1-4–5); Allison Sha, Hotchkiss (3-1–4)
HARRINGTON:Â 15 standouts, takeaways from the 44th Harrington Invitational
Top goalie: Liesel Kocourek, Westminster
Kocourek has been busy so far this season, and the junior has been up to the challenge. She's been busy in nearly every outing, including a 37-save showing in a one-goal loss to BB&N and a 31-save performance in a loss to St. Mark's. Kocourek also made 58 saves in a loss to Hill School. She has a .933 save percentage.
Honorable mentions:Â Adeline Roper, Loomis Chaffee (.929 save percentage; 92 saves); Ana Makrogiannis, Deerfield (.915; 54), Noel Schaab, Choate (.952; 60); Emily Hosman, Loomis Chaffee (1.00; 54)
Lakes Region
Top skater: Erin Flaherty, St. Paul's
After two productive seasons in prep, Flaherty's junior season looks no different. The junior is scoring over a point per game with 13 points in nine contests. She nearly has a goal per game with eight, too. The Boston University commit was key to SPS' third-place finish at the Harrington with three goals and an assist in four games. She also showed out with a two-goal, three-point outing for the Big Red against Lawrence Academy on Dec. 10, plus a three-goal, four-point showing against Brewster on Dec. 3.
Honorable mentions: Kelsey MacPherson, St. Paul's (3-7–10); Emma MacPherson, New Hampton (5-2–7); Caroline Schmidt, Tilton (3-4–7); Evelyn Heppler, Brewster (3-5–8); Chloe McLain (3-4–7); Madelyn Nichols, Brewster (1-6–7); Tess Mulkerron, St. Paul's (4-3–7); Roxie Merrick, New Hampton (1-6–7); Addy Peel, New Hampton (0-6–6); Julie-Catherine Bernard, Kimball Union (5-1–6); Kaida Okamura, Kimball Union (3-2–5); Bella Simeone, Proctor (2-3–5); Christina Fossum, Proctor (2-3–5); Shae Gould, Tilton (4-2–6); Ella McGarvey, Tilton (3-3–6); Talia Engel, Vermont Academy (3-2–5); Mia Ryder, Vermont Academy (2-3–5); Maddy Humber, St. Paul's (2-9–11)
HARRINGTON: 11 standouts, takeaways from Nobles’ Harrington win over Williston
Top goalie:Â Madelyn Andrade, Tilton
With less action last season, Andrade faced 250 shots and made 233 saves for a .932 save percentage in nine appearances. As the starter this season, the junior has already made 235 saves on 253 shots for a .933 save percentage and two shutouts in eight appearances. Andrade has faced 33 or more shots four times and 42 or more twice, including 60 shots in a loss to Groton on Dec. 10. Some of her highlights include a 31-save outing against Holderness, 38 saves against New Hampton and 27 for a shutout against Brewster.
Honorable mentions:Â Taylor Blaise, Vermont Academy (.946 save percentage; 194 saves); Elizabeth Vincent, New Hampton (.921; 163); Paige MacPhee, St. Paul's (.939; 123); Chloe LeMay, Tilton (.941; 95); Katie Grady, Proctor (.932; 68)
Vaillancourt
Top skater:Â Sarah Sampson, Austin Prep
Sampson has been a regular among our top performers so far this season. The senior is well on her way to a career season after putting up 13 goals and 27 points as a junior. In eight games in December, Sampson had 12 goals and 19 points. When Sampson finds the scoresheet, it usually comes in bunches as she has six multi-point showings, including three three-point games and two four-point games.
Honorable mentions: Adia Murphy, Austin Prep (6-10–16); Kayleigh Norton (4-9–13); Katie Berard, North Yarmouth Academy (3-5–8); Sadie Morgan, NYA (5-2–7); Camryn Casserly, NYA (4-2–6); Marissa Payne, Kents Hill (2-2–4); Colby D'Arcy, Pomfret (2-3–5); Angela Laroche, Pomfret (3-1–4); Elizabeth Rudge, Worcester Academy (3-3–6), Keileigh Donovan, Worcester Academy (1-5–6); Amaya Ayojiak, Worcester Academy (3-2–5)
HOLIDAY TOURNAMENTS:Â 17 standouts, takeaways from the Patsy K. Odden and Dexter Southfield tournaments
Top goalie:Â Sydney Kelm, Pomfret
After she faced over 900 shots as a freshman, Kelm has been busy once again, facing 274 shots in December, the second-most in the NEPSAC. She's been up to the test so far, making 256 saves for a .934 save percentage. The sophomore has made at least 31 saves in five of her seven appearances, including a 62-save effort in a loss to Dexter, a 47-save day in a loss to St. Mark's and a 47-save showing in a loss to St. George's. Kelm has given the Griffins a puncher's chance whenever she's in the crease.
Honorable mentions:Â Eve Marie-Leclerc, North Yarmouth Academy (.939 save percentage; 200 saves); Alex Herbert, Austin Prep (.965; 195); Helen Zeaske, Northfield Mount Hermon (.913; 126);
