Just over a week into the high school hockey season in Massachusetts, there's already plenty to take stock of.
Some teams are still just getting started, while others already have a handful of games under their belts.
Among the notable matchups, you had Falmouth's comeback win over Nauset/Monomoy, while Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading opened with a convincing win over the former. Elsewhere, St. Mary's fell to Bishop Feehan but responded in a heavyweight tilt with Archbishop Williams.
It all led to quite a bit of movement in the rankings.
Let's dive into our first in-season girls MIAA hockey top 10.
1. Duxbury (1-0-0)
Previous rank: 1
Head coach: Dan Najarian
Next game: vs. Plymouth, Dec. 22, 5:20 p.m.
The Dragons stayed put in the top spot after they didn't miss a beat in their first game of the season, taking care of Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake, 3-1. Addy Harrington, Maeve Gallagher and Nora McDavitt each scored in the league win. They get Plymouth next before opening the Tenney Cup against Milton on Dec. 27.
2. Notre Dame (Hingham) (1-0-0)
Previous rank: 2
Head coach: John Findley
Next game: Dec. 27 vs. TBD (Tenney Cup)
NDA also took care of business in their opener, taking down La Salle (R.I.), 5-1. The Cougars have a layoff before their next test at the Tenney Cup, a top MIAA holiday tournament, which also features Duxbury, Milton, Malden Catholic, Hingham, Bishop Feehan, Archbishop Williams and Sandwich.
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3. Malden Catholic (2-0-0)
Previous rank: 7
Head coach: Alexa Hingston
Next game: vs. Burlington, Dec. 23, 12 p.m.
The Lancers made a big jump into the top three after coming out firing to begin the new season. MC took care of Newburyport, 8-1, in their season opener before shutting out Arlington, 3-0. Alyssa Jankowski (Medford, Mass.) scored twice against Newburyport before adding another goal against Arlington. The Lancers will host Burlington on Monday before competing in the Tenney Cup.
4. Hingham (1-0-0)
Previous rank: 6
Head coach: Courtney Turner
Next game: at Hanover, Dec. 21, 5:50 p.m.
The Harborwomen lept, cracking the top five after opening their season with a resounding 6-0 win over Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake. Senior Holy Cross commit Caroline Doherty scored 10 seconds into the game en route to a hat trick, while sophomore Hannah Lasch scored a pair as she looks to build on a strong freshman season. Hingham visits Hanover on Saturday before hosting Weymouth on Christmas Eve. They'll open the Tenney Cup against Archbishop Williams.
5. Archbishop Williams (1-1-0)
Previous rank: 3
Head coach: Doug Nolan
Next game: at Hingham, Dec. 27, 8 p.m. (Tenney Cup)
Archies slid to No. 5. The Bishops opened the year with a 2-1 win over Bishop Fenwick but fell at home to St. Mary's, 3-1. Catherine Lacey and Alexis Galvin tallied third-period goals to power the win over Fenwick. Archies is off until they open the Tenney Cup against Hingham.
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6. PLNR (2-0-0)
Previous rank: 8
Head coach: Michelle Roach
Next game: vs. St. Mary's, Dec. 21, 4 p.m.
The Tanners jumped a few spots after a pair of strong wins to kick off the year. They took down Falmouth, 4-0, on the road before a 6-1 win over Medford. Alyse Mutti was up to her usual tricks with a shutout in the opener, while Ava Buckley and Chloe Gromko scored. Sydney Zizza and Ava Louanis picked up their first varsity goals against Medford. PLNR is back at it against St. Mary's on Saturday, and they'll face Woburn and Beverly/Danvers before the calendar flips to 2025.
7. Falmouth (1-1-0)
Previous rank: 4
Head coach: Brain Ferreira
Next game: vs. La Salle (R.I.), Dec. 21, 6 p.m.
Falmouth dropped outside the top five after splitting their first two games of the season. They struggled for offense against PLNR in a 4-0 shutout, but the Clippers bounced back in a 4-2 win over Nauset/Monomoy last time out. It was the usual suspects getting it done on offense against Nauset. Casey Roth scored a pair, including the equalizer late in regulation, and Riley Devlin came through with the winner moments later. Maeve Turner also scored.
8. St. Mary’s (1-1-0)
Previous rank: 5
Head coach: Frank Pagliuca
Next game: at PLNR, Dec. 21, 4 p.m.
The Spartans also had some ups and downs, sliding out of the top five. They fell to Bishop Feehan, 5-1, in the opener before taking down Archies, 3-1. Sixth-grader Emma Doucette scored a highlight-reel goal for SMH in the win, while sophomore Alyssa Norden (Peabody, Mass.) picked up right where she left off, scoring twice. The Spartans have four games before the new year, visiting Peabody and Boston Latin before hosting Pope Francis and traveling to Arlington.
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9. Methuen/Tewksbury (2-0-0)
Previous rank: NR
Head coach: David O'Hearn
Next game: at Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover, Dec. 21, 2 p.m.
The Red Rangers make their debut in the top 10 after a pair of wins to start the season. They took down Andover, 2-1, before another 2-1 win over Westford. Senior Breena Lawrence scored the game-winner in the third against Andover, while senior MJ Petisce scored as well. Freshman Sara Marano's first career goal was the difference against Westford. Methuen/Tewksbury visits HPNA on Saturday before hosting Central Catholic on Monday. They'll host Winchester ahead of the new year.
10. Nauset/Monomoy (1-1-0)
Previous rank: 10
Head coach: Zach Wells
Next game: at Barnstable, Dec. 21, 5:30 p.m.
The Warriors stayed put at No. 10 after splitting their first two games. They kicked things off with a 3-1 win over Pope Francis but squandered a late lead in a 4-2 loss to Falmouth. Julia Kipperman scored a pair against Pope Francis, and Carly Brand had a goal and an assist. Nauset/Monomoy has plenty of chances to bounce back before the calendar flips. They'll visit Barnstable on Saturday and Needham on Monday before hosting Walpole and HPNA.
Dropped out: Burlington (1-1-0)
In the hunt: Burlington, Bishop Feehan (2-0-0), HPNA (2-0-1), Sandwich (2-0-0), Lincoln-Sudbury (1-1-0), Winthrop (1-0-0), Billerica/Chelmsford (3-0-0), Milton (2-0-0)
