The Player of the Year race is always a fun storyline to track throughout the girls prep season.
Which players are lighting the scoresheet on fire? Who's helping propel their team into contention? Who's breaking out? There's never a shortage of exciting seasons to watch as the stats pile up.
Last year, Loomis Chaffee star Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) won Player of the Year. The Harvard commit posted 44 points, including a monster playoff run, as the Pelicans won the Elite 8. It was the first year the NEPSAC named an overall Player of the Year, previously splitting it between the Large and Small Schools.
The year before, Nobles defender Sophia Levering (Westwood, Mass.) was the Large School Player of the Year, and Williston Northampton forward Monique Lyons (Bedford, Mass.) and Groton goalie Veronika Hadamovsky (Groton, Mass.) were co-Players of the Year for the Small Schools. Levering had 38 points as Nobles won the Elite 8 over Williston. Lyons led prep with 59 points, and Hadamovsky posted a .953 save percentage.
So, what about this season?
It's impossible to pick the winner now. There's still a lot of runway between now and the end of the year. Candidates usually rise to the occasion down the stretch and in the postseason.
There are plenty of players with cases to be made, plus many others who may play their way into the hunt before the season ends.
Here are 26 to keep an eye on, listed alphabetically by last name. All stats are as of the morning of Feb. 12.
Francie Ames
Nobles, 5/25/2010, F, right shot, 5-7
Hometown: Brookline, Mass.
Asked to play defense as a freshman last season, Ames, a natural forward, has thrived back up front this season. She has found the scoresheet in all 21 of Nobles' games this season. She leads prep in points (43) and assists (26), thanks in part to 12 multi-point outings. Keep an eye on Ames in this summer's recruiting season, too.
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Madelyn Andrade
Tilton, 2008, G catches left, 5-5
Hometown: Plymouth, Mass.
No goalie in prep has faced more shots than Andrade (599). The junior also leads the NEPSAC with 556 saves. Despite the high volume, Andrade has been terrific in the crease, posting a .928 save percentage. Andrade has eight outings with 35 or more saves, including two 50-plus save showings.
Caroline Averill
Phillips Andover, 1/14/2007, F, right shot, 5-8
Hometown: Wayland, Mass.
NCAA: Princeton
Averill has been practically unstoppable this season in her final act. The Princeton commit is tied for the most goals in prep (19) and the second-most points (38). She's a massive reason why the Big Blue are among the Elite 8 favorites. She has 12 multi-point games this season. Averill had points in nine straight games from Dec. 19 through Jan. 28, posting 24 points (15 goals) in that span. Younger sister, Maggie, is among the blue-liners to watch down the stretch as well.
Simone Burns
Rivers, 05/2009, F, left shot, 5-4
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
Coming off a breakout freshman year, Burns has paced Rivers' attack throughout the season. The sophomore has 21 points in 21 games, and she's among the top goal-scorers in prep with 16, which is by far a career-high. Burns will be a recruit to watch and a big threat to account for in the postseason, whether Rivers sneaks into the Elite 8 or is a Small School favorite.
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Maddy Call
Thayer, 02/2009, F, left shot, 5-5
Hometown: Dedham, Mass.
A lot was going to be asked of Call this season after Thayer graduated several foundational pieces from its forward group. The sophomore assistant captain has taken a larger role and run with it. She leads the Tigers in goals, assists and points. Her 16 goals are tied for the fourth-highest in prep, and her 33 points are the seventh-highest total. Call is a recruit to watch this summer, too.
Brooke Carlson
Governor’s, 01/2009, F, left shot, 5-8
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.
Carlson was a standout as a freshman at Gov's last season, and she's been just as good, if not better, this time around. Her 18 goals are tied for the second-most in prep, while her 25 points in 22 games put her among the best as well. She's been a major reason that Gov's is in the Elite 8 hunt and will likely be a dangerous Small School seed. Carlson is also an exciting prospect to track in the recruiting cycle.
Chloe Cleaves
Deerfield, 11/27/2007, D, left shot, 5-10
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.
NCAA: Yale
Cleaves has been a model of consistency all season for Deerfield. She's tied for the team lead in scoring, and she's one of the top-scoring defenders in prep with 22 points (12 goals). She impacts every situation for the Big Green.
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Mia Daley
Williston Northampton, 01/2009, F, right shot, 5-6
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.
NCAA: Yale
Williston has been a juggernaut once again this season, and while plenty have contributed to the Wildcats' success, Daley is near the top of the list. She leads her team with 17 assists, and her 27 points are second. Those numbers put her in the upper echelon of prep skaters, and she's come through against quality opponents all season. The junior hasn't gone more than two consecutive games without a point, which has happened just once.
Evelyn Doyle
Dexter Southfield, 8/14/2007, F, left shot, 5-6
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
NCAA: Yale
Doyle is as complete a forward as you'll see in New England, and she's been massively important to Dexter's Elite 8 contention this season. She leads the Shields with 20 points (11 goals) in 18 games. Her impact extends beyond the scoresheet with her 200-foot game as well.
Erin Flaherty
St. Paul’s, 06/2008, F, right shot, 5-5

Hometown: Boston, Mass.
NCAA: Boston University
Flaherty's 16 goals and 24 points have her among prep's best this season as the Big Red push for a spot in the Elite 8. She leads SPS in both categories. The junior has five multi-goal games. Her relentless motor helps her impact every shift. Goalie Paige MacPhee has been vital to SPS' success, too.
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Annie Forker
Choate, 7/23/2007, F, right shot, 5-5
Hometown: Stratford, Conn.
NCAA: Assumption
Choate has been on the fringes of the Elite 8 hunt this season, thanks in no small part to Forker. The senior has been on a tear in the second half. She has a career-high 11 goals to go along with 20 points in 17 games, leading the Wild Boars. Of those points, 18 have come in 11 games since Jan. 10.
Bella Freitas
Cushing, 8/12/2009, F, right shot, 5-7
Hometown: Everett, Mass.
A year removed from instantly stepping in as a top goal-scorer in prep, Freitas remains one of the premier threats. She's dangerous every time she steps on the ice, leading Cushing with 22 points in 19 games. Her 19 goals share the NEPSAC lead. Keep an eye on Cushing captain Brooke Harb (Atkinson, N.H.) in the POY conversation as well. Freitas will be a name to watch in recruiting this offseason, too.
Sophie Frost
Deerfield, 2008, F, left shot, 5-5
Hometown: Orleans, Ontario
NCAA: Yale
Frost has been as consistent as they come, leading a balanced group of forwards with Deerfield. Her career-best 15 goals and her 22 points in 19 games are tied for the team lead.
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Maria Gray
Phillips Exeter, 8/7/2007, F left shot, 5-6
Hometown: Monona, Wis.
NCAA: Vermont
Already one of the region's top producers over the last few seasons, Gray is enjoying a terrific final act as the Big Red push to lock up an Elite 8 spot. She has the third-highest point total with 37 in 19 games, to go along with 18 goals, tied for second. Gray is a major piece of the three-headed monster that is Exeter's top line.
Evelyn Lacey
Tabor, 10/22/2007, G, catches left, 5-8

Hometown: Braintree, Mass.
NCAA: Brown
After missing the Elite 8 last season, Tabor is on track to return to the top tournament. A lot of thanks go to Lacey in the crease. The junior has seen one of the highest shot volumes in prep (479), and she's been terrific with a .958 save percentage. She's posted stellar outings like a 40-save night against Rivers, 33- and 59-save games against Andover and a 51-save shutout over Dexter.
Maddie Lahah
St. George’s, 2008, F, right shot, 5-6
Hometown: North Attleboro, Mass.
NCAA: Yale
Lahah drives the bus for St. George's in all situations. She's in the top 15 in prep with 30 points and 15 goals in 20 games. She hasn't gone consecutive games without a point all season.
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Barbara Ma
BB&N, 2009, G, catches left, 5-5
Hometown: Cambridge, Mass.
BB&N has exceeded expectations after graduating a massive senior class last season. The Knights were in the Elite 8 picture at one point and should be a strong seed in the Large School tournament. Ma has been at the forefront of that success, locking things down in the crease. She's been busy, facing 433 shots and posting a .928 save percentage.
Paisley Meyer
Phillips Exeter, 8/3/2009, F, left shot, 5-6

Hometown: Greenland, N.H.
NCAA: Yale
Speaking of Exeter's top line, count Meyer among its biggest threats. The junior is tied for the most goals in prep with 19 in 19 games, and her 35 points are in the top 10. She can score in any situation, too, with three shorthanded tallies on the year. The Yale commit has 11 multi-point games, including four four-point outings. Don't forget about linemate Erin Sears (Cornwall, Vt.), either.
Sarah Powers
Phillips Andover, 8/30/2007, F, left shot, 5-7
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.
NCAA: Boston College
Powers, like Averill, couldn't ask for a better senior season with the Big Blue. She's tied for second in prep with 38 points, and her 24 assists are tied for second, too. Powers went off in January: A nine-game point streak with 23 points (seven goals) in that span.
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Sarah Sampson
Austin Prep, 11/2/2007, F, right shot, 5-3
Hometown: Wilmington, Mass.
NCAA: Salve Regina
Sampson is a big part of a three-headed monster at Austin Prep alongside Kayleigh Norton (Pelham, N.H.) and Adia Murphy (Dedham, Mass.). Sampson shares the team lead in goals (18) and is tied for second in prep, too. Her 38 points are also tied for the team lead and second in prep. She's a big reason why the Cougars are tracking toward a potential Large School berth.
Annie Schwarz
Loomis Chaffee, 2/5/08, F, left shot, 5-5
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
NCAA: Yale
Schwarz opened the season on a heater that few have rivaled, finding the scoresheet in 10 straight to begin her senior year. The Yale commit leads the defending Elite 8 champs with 19 goals and 36 points. She shares the NEPSAC lead in goals and has the fourth-highest point total. She is at the center of Loomis' bid for a repeat.
Brooke Schlutter
Williston Northampton, 04/2009, F, right shot, 5-5
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, Calif.
NCAA: Cornell
Like Daley, Schlutter is a huge reason why the Wildcats have been our top-ranked team for most of the season. She leads Williston with 28 points in 18 games, and her 13 goals are tied for the team lead. The Cornell commit has a dynamic skillset and a lethal release. She has 22 points in 12 games since the calendar flipped to 2026.
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Anika Singh
BB&N, 11/10/2007, F, right shot, 5-4
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.
NCAA: Brown
Like Ma, Singh has been one of the heartbeats of BB&N's surge. The senior leads the Knights with 22 points and 10 goals in 18 games. Singh has done most of her scoring at even-strength, and she has been a consistent producer throughout the season. She has seven multi-point games.
Lindsay Stepnowski
Loomis Chaffee, 1/28/2008, F, left shot, 5-5
Hometown: South Glastonbury, Conn.
NCAA: Harvard
The reigning Elite 8 MVP and Player of the Year has a strong case once again. Despite missing several prep games as she won gold with Team USA at the IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship, Stepnowski is still among the top scorers in the region with 24 points (12 goals) in just 13 games. The senior had a 10-game point streak from Dec. 10 through Jan. 31, in which she posted 22 of her points.
Tina Scalese
Groton, 1/17/2008, F, right shot, 5-3
Hometown: West Boylston, Mass.
NCAA: Princeton
Few are as vital to their team's success as Scalese, who stands out in every situation for the Zebras. Although she also missed several games due to the U18 Women's Worlds, Scalese still leads Groton with nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points. Regardless of whether Groton sneaks into the Elite 8 or is a Small School favorite, Scalese will be at the center of it. Goalie Nora Wilson (Weybridge, Vt.) will be, too.
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Rachel Zhao
Nobles, Class of 2026, F, right shot
Hometown: Westwood, Mass.
Zhao has been on a tear in her final season at Nobles. The uncommitted senior has been near the top in goals and points all year. She's tied for the lead in goals (19), and her 34 points are the sixth-highest total. Each is by far a new career-high. Zhao's versatility and scoring punch will be key for Nobles down the stretch.
