We're past the midway point of the girls high school hockey season in Massachusetts.
So far, there's little doubt who the top team in the state is. At 12-0-0, Hingham continues to roll. After a big takedown of Notre Dame (Hingham) this week for the Hingham Cup, the Harborwomen showed no signs of loosening their grip on the top spot.
But what about the rest of the top 10?
Archbishop Williams continued to improve, while Duxbury has won three straight. Elsewhere, Westwood entered the rankings for the first time this season as they're still undefeated.
The next week will also feature some key matchups that will undoubtedly impact the next top 10.
There's lots to unpack, so let's dive in.
1. Hingham (12-0-0)
Previous rank: 1
Head coach: Courtney Turner
Next game: vs. Pembroke, Jan. 25, 6 p.m.
The Harborwomen, who are atop the MIAA's Division 1 power rankings, proved they are unquestionably the top team in the MIAA right now after taking down NDA for a second time this season via a 4-2 final. Their top guns got it done once again as Addy Garrity, Shea Richardson, Hannah Lasch and Caroline Doherty each scored in the win. Hingham never trailed and completed a sweep of their cross-town foe. That game followed a 5-0 shutout over Plymouth in which Doherty had two more goals. The Harborwomen have a chance to keep it up against Pembroke, Quincy/North Quincy and Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake before a tough matchup with Dubxury.
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2. Notre Dame (Hingham) (7-3-1)
Previous rank: 3
Head coach: John Findley
Next game: vs. Malden Catholic, Jan. 25, 1:50 p.m.
The Cougars jumped back to the No. 2 spot after going 2-1-0 since the last round of rankings. They're currently No. 2 in the MIAA D1 power rankings. They picked up two good wins over solid teams with a 4-2 final over Natick and a 7-0 shutout of Needham before the loss to Hingham. Jocelyn Gray's (Hanover, Mass.) strong freshman campaign continued with a pair of goals against Natick before adding another against Hingham. Caroline Hartnett (Norwell, Mass.) also had a pair versus Needham, while Erin Kral (Whitman, Mass.) picked up another shutout. NDA will host Malden Catholic in a key matchup on Saturday before a sparse schedule to close the season, which will include a rematch with Dubxury.
3. Malden Catholic (7-2-2)
Previous rank: 2
Head coach: Alexa Hingston
Next game: at Notre Dame (Hingham), Jan. 25, 1:50 p.m.
The Lancers slid a spot to No. 3 after settling for a pair of ties since the last top 10. They led Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover, 2-0, before surrendering two unanswered goals en route to a 2-2 draw. Nevin Mustone (Medford, Mass.) and Elle Ferguson (Natick, Mass.) found the back of the net for MC. Last time out, Abbie Poole (Wakefield, Mass.) scored in the third period to salvage a 1-1 tie against Archbishop Williams. It certainly won't be easy against NDA on Saturday as they look to return to the win column. They'll also host Latin Academy/Fontbonne next week ahead of the stretch run. MC ranks third in the D1 power rankings.
4. Duxbury (9-3-1)
Previous rank: 5
Head coach: Dan Najarian
Next game: at Quincy/North Quincy, Jan. 25, 6 p.m.
The Dragons moved back to the fourth spot after rebounding with three straight wins, following their loss to Hingham. They showed a lot of resolve in a 2-1 comeback at Archbishop Williams last Friday before picking up two more good wins over Hanover, 5-2, and Marshfield, 2-1. Addy Harrington scored against Archies and Hanover, while Maeve Murphy was the hero versus Marshfield, giving Duxbury the lead in the third. The Dragons have a busy two weeks on the horizon, beginning with Quincy/North Quincy and Norwell/Scituate/Abington before two key tests against Hingham and NDA. Duxbury is No. 2 in the MIAA's Division 2 power rankings.
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5. Methuen/Tewksbury (10-0-2)
Previous rank: 4
Head coach: David O’Hearn
Next game: vs. HPNA, Jan. 25, 2 p.m.
The Red Rangers remained unbeaten after going 2-0-1 over the last week, but slid to fifth. Currently, their sixth in the D1 power rankings. Their dropping one spot was less about their performance as much as it was Duxbury's three-win week. Methuen/Tewksbury tied Andover, 1-1, last Saturday before picking up a win over Winthrop, 2-1, and taking care of Westford, 3-0. Bree Lawrence scored in both wins, while Sammy Ryan had a pair versus Westford. Ella Duffy came through in the clutch with the winner in overtime against Winthrop. A big week ahead as key rematches with HPNA and Billerica/Chelmsford bookend a visit to Waltham.
6. Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading (9-1-1)
Previous rank: 6
Head coach: Michelle Roach
Next game: at Beverly/Danvers, Jan. 25, 5:30 p.m.
After falling flat in their first loss of the season, PLNR rebounded with three wins to stay put at No. 6. The Tanners took care of Newburyport in a 7-0 shutout, outlasted Falmouth in a tight, 2-1 affair and shut out Medford, 6-0. Chloe Gromko led the way with goals in all three wins. She had a four-point (two-goal) game against Newburyport, a goal against Falmouth and a goal and an assist versus Medford. Meanwhile Ava Louanis, Ava Buckley and Shirley Witmore each had multi-point outings versus Newburyport. Whitmore had three points (two goals) versus Medford, and Alexa Pepper had a goal versus Falmouth and a goal and an assist against Medford. The Tanners will look to keep it up this week when they visit Beverly/Danvers on Saturday. They'll also visit Winthrop and host Longmeadow in two important rematches. PLNR is No. 11 in the Division 1 power rankings as of Friday.
7. Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover (8-1-4)
Previous rank: 7
Head coach: Gary Kane
Next game: at Methuen/Tewksbury, Jan. 25, 2 p.m.
HPNA remained at No. 7 after going 1-0-2 in the last week. Still, they rank No. 4 in the D1 power rankings. They picked up a 3-2 win over Lincoln-Sudbury, erased a 2-0 deficit against MC for a big tie and settled for a 3-3 draw against Boston Latin. HPNA's top guns continued to get it done offensively. Mia Kmiec had a pair against LS, while Paige Nottingham authored the comeback versus MC with both goals. Quinn Bennett stayed hot with a pair versus Boston Latin. Julianna Taylor also had a big game in net versus MC with 28 saves. A pivotal rematch at Methuen/Tewksbury is on tap for Saturday. HPNA will also host Reading, LS and Shrewsbury over the next week before the stretch run.
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8. Billerica/Chelmsford (11-2-0)
Previous rank: 8
Head coach: Ray Monroe
Next game: vs. Westford, Jan. 27, 5 p.m.
The Lindians stayed at eighth after a 2-1-0 week that saw all three games decided by razor-thin margins. After falling to Shrewsbury, 2-1, in overtime, Billerica/Chelmsford responded with a 2-1 win over Wayland/Weston and a 3-2 overtime win over LS. Giovanna Gulinello was the hero versus LS, scoring the game-winner as part of a two-goal showing. The Lindians have a chance to regain momentum when they face Westford and East/West Bridgewater before a critical rematch with Methuen/Tewksbury next Saturday. Billerica/Chelmsford is also No. 7 in the D1 power rankings as of Friday.
9. Archbishop Williams (7-4-1)
Previous rank: 10
Head coach: Doug Nolan
Next game: vs. Arlington Catholic, Jan. 25, 7:40 p.m.
Archies moved up one spot to No. 9 after a 1-1-1 week. They're currently No. 5 in the D1 power rankings. The Bishops had a shot at a key win over Duxbury, but couldn't build on their 1-0 lead before falling, 2-1. They bounced right back with quality 3-1 win over Bishop Feehan before settling for a 1-1 tie versus MC. Izzy O'Brien (Holbrook, Mass.) scored two of the three games for Archies, giving them early leads versus Duxbury and MC. Meanwhile, Caroline Batchelder had a pair against Feehan, and Julie Murphy (Canton, Mass.) had the deciding goal in the win. The Bishops are 6-1-1 since Jan. 1 as they continue to build a strong resume amid one of the toughest schedules in the state. They're back at it against Arlington Catholic on Saturday before facing Bishop Stang and Bishop Fenwick next week.
10. Westwood (11-0-1)
Previous rank: NR
Head coach: Lauren Hillberg
Next game: at Mansfield/Oliver Ames/Foxboro, Jan. 25, 5:30 p.m.
Westwood cracked the top 10 for the first time this season, upping their winning streak to 11 straight after a pair of wins last week. They took down Franklin, 7-2, before throttling a tough opponent in Canton, 6-0. Kate Sullivan has been getting it done all season long, and that continued with a goal and two assists versus Canton. Julia Marino and Bridget Lewis have also been among Wolverines with strong offensive outputs this season. Perhaps what was most impressive: Marino even suited up in net and pitched a shutout in a 5-0 win over Norwood on Jan. 11 with both goalies out. The Wolverines will be back at it against Mansfield/OA/Foxboro on Saturday before matchups with King Philip and Dedham next week.
Westwood, who sits atop the D2 power rankings, boasts one of the most potent offenses in the state. They've scored four or more goals in very game so far this season, and they've given up more than one goal just twice (the win over Franklin and a 5-5 draw with Medfield in the opener). The Wolverines have put up five or more goals in three straight and in nine of 12 games this season. Their 66 goals-for are the most in all of MIAA girls hockey and the second-most of any team in the state, including boys.
LATEST MAGAZINE: Check out the Jan/Feb. 2025 edition of New England Hockey Journal
Dropped out: Bishop Feehan (8-3-2)
In the hunt:Â Winthrop (7-2-1), Nauset/Monomoy (7-5-1), Billerica/Chelmsford (11-2-0), Natick (10-3-1), Bishop Stang (9-3-0), King Philip (8-3-0), Canton (7-3-1), Falmouth (7-4-0)
