Every year, there are always breakout stars and unsung heroes who emerge in the girls prep regular season, but what about those who continue it in the postseason?
There were plenty of players who stepped up for their teams in this season's NEPSAC girls tournaments.
While some of the region’s biggest producers and top commits, like Loomis Chaffee’s Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.; Harvard) and Phillips Exeter's Maria Gray (Vermont), had standout postseason performances, there were plenty of uncommitted players who had strong runs.
The playoffs give upperclassmen another opportunity to show what they’ve got, and it offers younger players a chance to put their names on the radar.
I did my best to keep tabs on everything going on throughout the playoffs, whether that was watching as many streams as I could during the quarterfinals and semis or spending Sunday at Dexter Southfield for all three championships.
With all of that in mind, let's dive into 14 uncommitted prospects who boosted their stock in the NEPSAC girls playoffs.
Nora Wilson
Groton, 7/21/2009, G, catches left, 5-9
Hometown: Weybridge, Vt.
Wilson was practically unbeatable in the postseason. After surrendering a goal on the first shot of the game, five seconds into the quarterfinals against Frederick Gunn, Wilson never allowed another goal. She posted a 19-save shutout against St. Mark's in the semis before a 20-save clean sheet against New Hampton in the finals. It was enough for well-deserved Small School MVP honors. Wilson was poised and read plays, making big saves amid New Hampton's surges in the first and third. One of her best was a lunging stop on Kelsey Baker's (Concord, Mass.) backdoor bid. Wilson, a rising senior, finished the postseason with a .982 save percentage. She had a .941 save percentage on the season overall, following a .935 last season.
GIRLS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: All-Elite 8 | All-Large School | All-Small School
Emma MacPherson
New Hampton, 06/2008, F, left shot, 5-5
Hometown: Sandwich, Mass.
New Hampton hoped MacPherson would thrive with a bigger role this season. It's safe to say she did. After 11 points as a freshman and nine as a sophomore, MacPherson exploded for 39 points and 22 goals in 31 games. Six of those points came in the playoffs, as she had two goals and an assist in a quarterfinal upset of Rivers before a goal and two assists in a semifinal upset of Cushing. MacPherson dominated in the semis. Her goal came on a breakaway after she blew by everyone, and one of her assists was a clever tap-pass for Katie Usilton in tight. The rising senior is a strong play-driver who never stops.
Easton Pramuka
Loomis Chaffee, 7/20/2008, F, left shot, 5-4
Hometown: Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.
I've never seen a Loomis game where Pramuka isn't flying with high energy and compete. That was the case once again in the Elite 8 championship. Her line with Brooke Murphy and Julia Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) was miserable to play against, and they were terrific on the forecheck and in the neutral zone. Pramuka got rewarded with a pair of third-period goals to put the game away. Both were emblematic of her line's effort. She buried her own rebound off the rush before winning a battle in tight to pot another rebound. Pramuka had her best season yet with 23 points (11 goals) in a bigger role. The rising senior will have even more opportunities next season. Murphy (rising senior) and Stepnowski (rising junior) were effective in all three zones, too.
Tatum Friedholm
Groton, 08/2009, D, left shot, 5-10
Hometown: Sudbury, Mass.
Friedholm was a force for the Zebras this season, and it continued into the Small School tournament. She impressed with her quick decision-making and ability to keep plays alive at the offensive blue line. She's effective pinching, which was on full display against New Hampton, and her vision helps her find passing lanes out high and in the neutral zone. Friedholm was strong in the defensive zone against New Hampton, too. She used her reach effectively, played hard and made an impact on the penalty kill. The rising senior finished with 13 points (two goals) in 27 games this season, following 12 points (two goals) in her debut prep season last winter. Friedholm was a lot more assertive this time around, too.
BOYS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: All-Elite 8 | All-Large School | All-Small School
Elizabeth Vincent
New Hampton, 2008, G, catches left
Hometown: Quebec City, QC
Vincent was excellent in the crease during the tournament. The junior denied 17 of 18 shots against Rivers before turning aside 27 of 29 against Cushing. She was just as strong as Wilson in the Small School final, too. She made a clutch breakaway save on Jaelyn Trudell (Andover, Mass.), and she later robbed Zoe Smith (Bolton, Mass.) on a follow-up to Tina Scalese's (West Boylston, Mass.) breakaway. Vincent's positioning and quick reactions helped her on redirects and chances in tight as well. The rising senior has proven capable of rising to the occasion in back-to-back postseasons.
Jocelyn Gray
St. Mark’s, 2009, F, right shot
Hometown: Hanover, Mass.
Gray made an immediate impact in her freshman season at St. Mark's, putting up 21 points (10 goals). Four of those points came in a Small School quarterfinal upset of Governor's when she posted a hat trick and an assist. Her speed helped her get to middle ice and create chances. Her first goal against Gov's was a snipe from the right dot, while her second was a slick tip-in. She completed the hat trick after getting behind the defense in the slot and dangling to her forehand in tight.
Amaya McNeil
Loomis Chaffee, 6/15/2010, D, right shot, 5-5
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
McNeil and fellow sophomore Mia Lynch were terrific down the stretch, offering a glimpse at the next wave on Loomis Chaffee's blue line. McNeil moved pucks quickly on breakouts and regroups, and she was strong at identifying passing lanes. She set up Lexi Buco's (North Providence, R.I.) power-play goal against Dexter in the Elite 8 quarterfinals, taking advantage of an open lane with a quality shot off a give-and-go out high with Lynch. McNeil also set up Pramuka's second goal in the finals with a shot from the point.
NEPSAC GIRLS CHAMPIONS: Loomis Chaffee beats Deerfield in Elite 8 | Phillips Exeter beats Choate in Large School | Groton beats New Hampton in Small School
Alessandra Picard
Deerfield, 01/2010, F, right shot, 5-8
Hometown: Madison, Conn.
Picard made an immediate impact for Deerfield as a freshman, and it continued in the postseason as she scored twice in a quarterfinal upset of Williston in the Elite 8. The rising sophomore got to the net on both goals, putting home a loose puck in the slot for her first of the game. The second came as she won a battle in front of the net, getting her stick free and burying a rebound. Picard finished with 10 goals and 20 points. She'll be a key player to watch with the Big Green next winter.
Jaelyn Trudell
Groton, Class of 2026, F, right shot
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
Trudell has had more productive seasons in the past, but the senior forward was a heart-and-soul player for the Zebras. She came through in key spots in the postseason, including scoring twice in the semis against St. Mark's. Trudell's relentless motor makes her a difficult matchup on the forecheck and in transition. She plays well above her size and is constantly driving to middle ice, which helped her make a difference against New Hampton. It paid off on her first goal against St. Mark's, too. Her hustle opened a lane to the net on a 2-on-1 before she put a quick shot off the post and in. Trudell capped her prep career with 59 points (22 goals) in 99 games.
Victoire Devillers
Choate, 05/2010, F, left shot, 5-6
Hometown: Darien, Conn.
Devillers' line with Natalie Beach (Darien, Conn.) and Adele Ding was effective in the Large School final, winning its matchups when Exeter's first line wasn't on the ice. Devillers was key to her line generating attacking zone time and chances, especially in the second period as Choate trailed, 2-1. In the semis against Taft, she scored a beauty. She picked up the puck on a regroup and flew through the neutral zone with speed before cutting to the middle and scoring. Devillers is a rising sophomore.
NEPSAC BOYS CHAMPIONS: Avon Old Farms upsets St. Mark's in Elite 8 | Cushing beats Brunswick in Large School | Winchendon beats Holderness in Small School
Allie Sauls
St. Mark’s, 2009, F, right shot, 5-5
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Sauls had a massive breakout for St. Mark's this winter. After posting six points (five goals) in 26 games as a freshman, Sauls led the Lions with 28 points (15 goals) in 25 games this season. She had four points (three assists) against Governor's in the Small School quarterfinals. She showcased strong vision and hands on two of Gray's goals. The first was a smart shot-pass to the bottom of the right circle for a redirect. The second came when she slipped a slick pass through a seam to Gray in alone. Sauls, a rising junior, will be eligible to commit this summer.
Giuliana Polcari
Tabor, 7/7/2010, F, left shot, 5-7
Hometown: Marshfield, Mass.
Polcari was a force in Tabor's upset of Andover in the Elite 8 quarterfinals. She made a great heads-up pass to find Grace Hildebrandt (Norwell, Mass.) flying into the zone for a breakaway and the opening goal. It came off a good job by Polcari to use her frame to shield the puck from a defender. Polcari also scored the game-winning goal on the power play in overtime, battling in front of the net and potting the rebound. The rising junior will be eligible to commit this offseason. Her size, compete and skillset are all projectable.
Juliana Iannace
Choate, 11/10/2007, D, left shot, 5-9
Hometown: Holly Springs, N.C.
Iannace was aggressive and made strong reads in the Large School final against Exeter, especially early on. She was quick to pinch at the blue line and cut off puck carriers in the neutral zone. She was also effective in getting pucks up ice quickly on regroups and breakouts. It went a long way in putting Exeter on its heels through the opening half of the first period. Iannace, a rising senior, also set up Annie Forker's (Stratford, Conn.) in the semis when she found her for a quick outlet pass. Iannace finished with a career-best eight points (six assists).
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Full schedule for 2026 MIAA championship day at TD Garden
Phoebe Weisman
Taft, 08/2008, D, right shot, 5-7
Hometown: Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Weisman's offensive instincts from the blue line powered Taft to a strong quarterfinal win over Berkshire in the Large School field. The rising senior posted a hat trick. The first came on a drive to the slot off a turnover out high, and the second was a wrister from the right circle before she added an empty-netter. Weisman is effective jumping into the offense, and her size makes her an imposing presence as a puck-carrier. She had a big breakout this season, posting 11 goals and 14 points after finishing with one goal and three points as a sophomore.
