A lot has changed since the calendar flipped to 2026.
After triumphantly winning the Tenney Cup, Duxbury took over the top spot in our last top 10, only to lose twice since then. Meanwhile, Methuen/Tewksbury has only given up one goal in its last five games (and three in 10 games all season).
Milton, meanwhile, has roared back over the last two weeks, and St. Mary's and Pembroke continue to roll right along. The same goes for Bishop Stang, which entered the rankings for the first time this season, emerging from a packed crowd just outside the top 10.
Between all the fireworks and ranked matchups, it made for a fair amount of shuffling in this week's rankings. The margin for error only grows thinner, too, with a plethora of key games to look ahead to over the next week or so.
We've got a lot to unpack before any of that, though, so let's dive in.
Previous ranking: 2
Interim coach: Ryan Sheehy
Next game: at Boston Latin, Jan. 21, 5 p.m.
Everything is coming up Methuen/Tewksbury right now. The Red Rangers remain undefeated after ripping off five straight wins, including four shutouts, since our last top 10 with quality results over HPNA (1-0), Billerica/Chelmsford (2-0), Shawsheen/Bedford/Lowell (4-1) and Shrewsbury (3-0). Sammy Ryan and Ella Duffy have been scorching, as has goalie Lydia Barnes. Duffy (two goals) and Ryan (three assists) each had four points in an 8-0 win over Masconomet. Duffy assisted Annalise Blais' game-winner against HPNA before scoring again against B/C, along with Ryan. Ryan had a goal and an assist against Shawsheen, while Duffy also scored, and the former added two more in the win over Shrewsbury. The Red Rangers are about to embark on a challenging stretch, beginning next Wednesday with a trip to Boston Latin, whom they beat 3-0 on Dec. 17.
MIAA CLASH: 13 standouts from Methuen/Tewksbury’s win over Shawsheen/Bedford/Lowell
2. Milton (9-1-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: Matt Lodi
Next game: vs. South County Storm (R.I.), 5:30 p.m.Â
The Wildcats jumped one spot after a big bounce-back stretch after falling in the Tenney Cup final. Milton has won four in a row, including a 2-0 shutout of Natick, since the new year. Nayeli Thayer has been red-hot, scoring twice in the Natick win, as well as in a 4-2 win over Needham and a 5-0 win over Newton North. Sabrina Stone also reached the 50-goal mark for her career with a pair against Needham. She also had a pair against Braintree. The Wildcats will look to keep rolling this weekend at the Nan Rheault Tournament in Martha's Vineyard.
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Dan Najarian
Next game: at Malden Catholic, 6:40 p.m.
The Dragons fell out of the top spot after going 2-2-0 since our last rankings. They dropped a pair of one-goal games to Nauset/Monomoy and then-No. 9 Westwood before bouncing back with a pair of shutouts over Canton (1-0) in overtime and, most notably, No. 4 Hingham (2-0). Addy Harrington scored the overtime winner against Canton before she and Shae Martin cashed in against Hingham. Brooklyn Metzler made 16 saves in the shutout against Hingham. Duxbury isn't out of the woods yet with tough tests against Malden Catholic on Saturday and Marshfield on Monday.
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Courtney Turner
Next game: vs. Notre Dame (Hingham), Jan. 19, 3 p.m.
The Harborwomen stayed put at No. 4 after a 3-1-0 run since the last top 10. That run included a trio of high-scoring wins, including over then-No. 9 Westwood, and a 2-0 loss to former-No. 1 Dubxury. Callie Crean scored twice against Westwood before she was one of nine different skaters to score in a 9-1 rout of Plymouth, including Ella Norton with her first career goal. Crean had a hat trick, and Maggie Pollenz had two goals and two assists in a 6-0 win over Quincy/North Quincy, too. A challenging week is ahead for Hingham, as home tilts with NDA and Andover bookend a visit to Marshfield.
GIRLS PREP: 12 standouts, takeaways from No. 4 Dexter Southfield’s win over No. 6 St. Paul’s
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach:Â Gary Kane
Next game: at Andover, Jan. 15, 7:10 p.m.
The Lions stayed put at No. 5, after solid wins over Boston Latin and Shrewsbury bookended a tight, 1-0 loss to then-No. 2 Methuen/Tewksbury. Savannah Bissonnette was the hero with the lone goal against Latin, while Chris Hinchcliffe pitched the shutout in net. After giving up a third-period goal to Methuen/Tewksbury, HPNA roared back in a 7-2 win over Shrewsbury. Mia Kmiec had a hat trick, and Charlotte Woodford added two goals herself. A busy week is ahead as HPNA heads to Andover on Thursday before hosting Longmeadow, Malden Catholic and Billerica/Chelmsford.
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Bill Burke
Next game: vs. Canton, Jan. 16, 7:40 p.m.
The Cougars also stayed put, going 2-1-0 since the new year. NDA knocked off Sandwich, 4-1, on the road before taking care of former No. 7 Malden Catholic on the road, 2-1. They fell to Archbishop Williams, 2-1, last time out. Chase Harmon's strong season continued as she scored twice against Sandwich before adding another against MC. Sadie Brown also came through against the Lancers, while Emma MacKinnon notched her first career goal against Sandwich. A tough stretch is ahead as NDA looks to get back on track. They'll host Canton on Friday before heading to Hingham on Monday and hosting Natick on Wednesday.
7. St. Mary’s (7-0-1)
Previous ranking: 8
Head coach: Frank Pagliuca
Next game: vs. Bishop Stang, Jan. 17, 6:20 p.m.
The Spartans jumped a spot as they remain undefeated, going 3-0-1 since the last top 10 and picking up key wins over Bishop Feehan and then-No. 7 Malden Catholic. SMH also tied Arlington Catholic, 3-3. Emma Doucette's big seventh-grade season continued as she scored the late winner as part of a two-goal game in the 2-1 win over Feehan. Alyssa Norden had a pair in a 3-0 win over Fenwick before scoring the winner in the 3-2 win over MC. Avery Sico was lights out with 27 saves against MC. The Spartans will host a stingy Bishop Stang squad on Saturday before heading to Westford on Monday.
TOP PERFORMERS: The best of the best in girls prep from Jan. 3-13
8. Westwood (8-1-0)
Previous ranking: 9
Head coach: Lauren Lopez
Next game: at Mansfield/Oliver Ames/Foxboro, Jan. 16, 5:30 p.m.
Westwood is legit. They're 4-1-0 in their last five games since our previous top 10, with the lone loss coming to No. 4 Hingham. But the Wolverines roared back with four straight wins, scoring four or more goals in three of the four. The biggest win of the bunch was the lowest-scoring as Westwood ground out a 2-1 win over former No. 1 Duxbury, thanks to two goals from Livvy Hicks. Erin Gannon scored twice in a 5-1 win at Dedham, and Bridget Lewis and Justine Connelly each had a pair in a 4-1 win over a tough Medfield squad. The Wolverines took care of Franklin, 5-0, last time out, behind a pair of goals for Gannon and Maggie Ash. Westwood has a shot to keep rolling at Mansfield/OA/Foxboro on Friday before heading to Natick on Monday.
Previous ranking: 10
Head coach: Bill Flynn
Next game: at Hanover, Jan. 19, 11 a.m.
The Titans remained red-hot. They picked up their fifth, sixth and seventh wins in a row with a 16-1 scoring differential over the three games. Hannah D'Angelo scored a pair in a 7-0 win over Norwood before adding another in a 3-0 win over Quincy/North Quincy. Eighth-grader Quinn McCafferty had a pair against Quincy/North Quincy, and Addison Nee was among three different goal-scorers in a 3-1 win over Plymouth. Pembroke will look to keep the offense humming at Hanover on Monday.
10. Bishop Stang (8-1-1)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Bill Theodore
Next game: at St. Mary's, Jan. 17, 6:20 p.m.
Bishop Stang makes its debut in the top 10, riding an eight-game win streak, which includes five shutouts. Since Jan. 1, Stang has knocked off Arlington Catholic (2-0), Archies (1-0), Bishop Fenwick (1-0 and Ursuline (7-3). The Spartans' resume this season also includes a tie with NDA and a win over Marshfield. Goalies Vivienne Melo and Tenley Simmons have been terrific of late. Melo made 35 saves against Archies, and Simmons stopped 21 shots against AC. Olivia Medeiros was the hero against Fenwick (again), as was Kyra Brouillard against Archies, fresh off scoring her first career goal against AC. Madison Lewis had three points (one goal) against Ursuline. Stang faces a tall test at St. Mary's on Saturday before hosting Sandwich on Monday.
TENNEY CUP: 13 standout forwards from final day | 9 standout defenders, goalies from final day | 10 standouts from championship
Dropped out: Malden Catholic (5-4-0; 7)
In the hunt: Malden Catholic, Bishop Feehan (4-5-0), Archbishop Williams (5-5-0), King Philip (8-0-0), Natick (8-2-0), Shawsheen/Bedford/Lowell (6-2-0), Medfield (5-4-0), Billerica/Chelmsford (5-2-2), Norwell/Scituate/Abington (7-2-0), Reading (6-0-2)
