The Division 3 women's college hockey season has just started.
For teams in the NESCAC, that meant play beginning this past weekend. Amherst opens as our No. 1 seed, and it went 1-0-1 against Williams. Middlebury, which begins at No. 2, also went 1-0-1, taking on Hamilton College.
These are our preseason rankings of D3 women's college hockey teams in New England. Our watchlist of players will come out later this week.
For the first time this season, let's dive in.
1. Amherst
2024-25 result: 23-6-1; NESCAC champions, lost to Wisconsin-River Falls in NCAA championship game
Coach: Jeff Matthews, 14th season
The Mammoths return plenty of familiar faces from their run to within a game of the program’s third-ever national title. Senior defender Gretchen Dann (Hanover, N.H.) and goaltender Natalie Stott (Franklin, Mass.) lead a stout back end that allowed just 28 goals in 30 games a season ago, while forwards Bea Flynn (Berlin, Conn.) and Ayla Abban (Duxbury, Mass.) look to build off netting a combined 29 goals as freshmen.
2. Middlebury
2024-25 result: 21-7-1; lost to Amherst in NCAA semifinals
Coach: Bill Mandigo, 38th season
Replacing four All-NESCAC players is never easy, but it’s hard to bet against the Panthers, who haven’t missed the national tournament in three years since an undefeated title-winning season. Mandigo has plenty of talent left for the program’s 50th campaign, including double-digit goal scorer Kate Flynn (Milton, Mass.) and fellow junior Olivia McManus (Winthrop, Mass.) anchoring the blue line. Senior Sophia Will is the top veteran in goal.
3. Colby
2024-25 result: 18-7-2; lost to Amherst in NCAA quarterfinals
Coach: Holley Tyng, 10th season
The Mules have followed the last two NESCAC champions in the regular-season standings in back-to-back seasons. Could the third time be the charm in Waterville? A new goaltender will have to carry the load if so, but All-American defender Breanna Studley (Berkley, Mass.) and All-NESCAC forward Courtney Schumacher are both back. Junior Molly Lefebvre (Grafton, Mass.) was the team’s top scorer last season. Lulu Gray looks to build off an impactful freshman year.
4. Endicott
2024-25 result: 22-5-1; CNE champions, lost to Nazareth in NCAA first round
Coach: Andrew McPhee, 12th season at Endicott
Graduating both CNE Player of the Year Samantha Fantasia (Billerica, Mass.) and Rivers Morris leaves firepower to replace, but the Gulls welcome back another elite forward in Teghan Hall (West Springfield, Mass.), who won the honor in 2023-24. Junior defender Lily Corso (Winchester, Mass.) and senior goaltender Casey Moritz provide McPhee with stability in the back as Endicott seeks a second straight league title.
5. Norwich
2024-25 result: 19-8-0; lost to Elmira in NEHC championship game
Coach: Justin Simpson, 1st season
The Little East era begins with the Cadets favored unanimously as they return reigning All-NEHC forward Livia Brooks (Walpole, Mass.) and NEHC Rookie of the Year Anna Lisac. Brooks has scored 36 career goals in Northfield. Olivia Boyer is the most experienced player, while Jordan Brady joins Lisac in coming off an all-conference freshman campaign. Madison Brunet takes over in net after pitching three shutouts in six games last year.
PREP PREVIEWS: Nobles | Exeter | Cushing | Tabor | Groton | New Hampton | Andover | Dexter Southfield | BB&N | Williston Northampton | Loomis Chaffee | Thayer
6. Bowdoin
2024-25 result: 16-8-0; lost to Hamilton in NESCAC quarterfinals
Coach: Marissa O’Neil, 16th season
Despite losing two of their top three scorers, the Polar Bears look to keep a NESCAC-best power play as part of their recipe for success. Junior Luna Lu leads the offense after co-leading the team in goals with the graduated Gia Massari. Forwards Ava Provenzo and Meghan Britt (Arlington, Mass.) were both stellar freshmen. You can’t forget about All-New England defender Emma Merrill (Portland, Maine) and junior classmate Sarah Peterson on defense and in goal, respectively.
7. Vermont State Castleton
2024-25 result: 11-14-1; lost to Elmira in NEHC quarterfinals
Coach: Tim McAuliffe, 6th season
Coming off back-to-back seasons with 11 wins, the Spartans look to climb in the inaugural season of the Little East as they were slotted second in the preseason poll. Though goaltender Victoria Bakopanos graduated and sophomore Gianna McCusker (Medford, Mass.) figures to take over, Castleton returns two-time All-NEHC forward Moa Carlsson for her senior season. Senior Ellie Schliebener, junior Taylor Adams and sophomore Brooke Noble are just part of a strong supporting cast.
8. Western New England
2024-25 result: 13-10-3; lost to Suffolk in CNE first round
Coach: Katie Zimmerman, 6th season
The Golden Bears graduated nine and boast just five upperclassmen, but two sophomores in forward Mabel Gerard — the defending CNE Rookie of the Year — and defender Michaela Birmingham (Enfield, Conn.) return as top scorers. Junior Jenna Lynch (Brookline, N.H.) and senior Maddie Pope are also leaders up front. It’s hard to imagine WNE not returning to form with CNE Goaltender of the Year Rachael Irving (Auburn, N.H.), who stopped pucks at a .962 clip as a freshman.
9. UMass Boston
2024-25 result: 10-14-2; lost to William Smith in NEHC quarterfinals
Coach: David Lun, 1st season
The Beacons finished fourth — right behind Lun’s former Salve Regina squad — in the final season of the NEHC in 2024-25, but the head coach has returned to his alma mater with the benefit of plenty of veteran talent. The team’s top four scorers are back, including junior Gianna Skrelja and sophomore Cassidy Morrison, which goes to show the youth of the past and a bright future ahead. Leah Boch and Veronika Hadamovsky provide a great punch in net.
GIRLS PREP RANKINGS: Our top 10 | Our next 15 teams
10. Trinity
2024-25 result: 10-13-1; lost to Colby in NESCAC quarterfinals
Coach: Keith Maurice, 11th season
Trinity started 6-1-0 last season before falling off and seeing the end in a playoff-opening loss. Junior Marta Mazzocchi is the top returning scorer for the Bantams, who lost 19 goals between Jenny Guider and Martina Exnerova, among other graduates. Could the start to last year mean more is on the table? With junior Kate French (Norwich, Vt.) looking to make a step and defender Jelani Adorno (Tariffville, Conn.) and goalie Madeline Carter returning, that will be the goal.
