There was more drama in girls prep hockey this week.
After another strong slate of intriguing matchups and eye-opening results, we've got a lot more turnover to unpack in our rankings.
You had Dexter Southfield marching into Phillips Andover and knocking off the Big Blue, 4-1. Elsewhere, Thayer defeated New Hampton, Cushing fell to Williston Northampton and Deerfield dropped a pair of key matchups.
It all makes for that much more intrigue entering the holiday tournaments as teams look to earn some hardware and enter 2025 on a high note. Winning one of these tournaments can help set the tone for the season. Just ask Nobles, who won the Harrington Invitational last winter en route to an undefeated season and an Elite 8 title. In 2022-23, Williston took home the Elite 8 crown after also taking the Harrington that season.
Before we get to the rankings, click or tap here to access the full schedule for all girls holiday tournaments. That page will have live results throughout the weekend.
Now, let's dive into this week's top 10.
1. Williston Northampton (2-0-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Christa Talbot Syfu
Next game: vs. Westminster, Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m. (Harrington Invitational)
The Wildcats stay put in the top spot after a big 5-2 win over Cushing that saw Williston come back from multiple deficits, including a 2-1 hole in the third period. Mia Daley (Lynnfield, Mass.) found the back of the net once again, while Malaya Anaba had a pair of assists. All five goals came at 5-on-5 as well. Williston also scrimmaged Northwood over the weekend, falling 4-3. However, they have a chance to keep things up at the Harrington Invitational. They'll open against Westminster on Friday. The Wildcats will then face Lawrence Academy and Nobles on Saturday.
TOP PERFORMERS:Â Girls prep standouts from the first week of the season
2. Nobles (3-1-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: Tom Resor
Next game: vs. Lawrence Academy, Dec. 20, 1:30 p.m. (Harrington Invitational)
Nobles slides up a spot after some quality wins over St. Mark's and Choate. The Bulldogs exploded for nine goals in a 9-1 triumph at St. Marks, and they followed it up with a 3-0 shutout of Choate. Alexa Georgantas (Foxboro, Mass.) continued her strong start with two goals and an assist against St. Mark's before another goal against Choate. Brown commit Rachel Zhao (Westwood, Mass.) and Yale commit Gretta Hulbig (Foxboro, Mass.) scored in each game as well. Annie Spring (Concord, Mass.) faired well in her first outing of the season, stopping 18 shots against St. Mark's. Nobles enters the Harrington with wins in three straight. They'll face Lawrence Academy first before Westminster and Williston.
3. Dexter Southfield (3-0-1)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Maggie Taverna
Next game: vs. Nichols School, Dec. 20, 12 p.m. (Dexter Southfield Holiday Tournament)
Dexter makes a big leap into the top three after making a statement on the road at Phillips Andover last Friday, knocking off the hosts, 4-1. The Shields also took care of Pomfret, 6-0, on Wednesday. Boston College commit Maddie Murphy (Dorchester, Mass.) continued her insane start to the season, sitting at 11 points (six goals) in four games after a goal and an assist against Pomfret and two goals and two assists against Andover. UNH commit Elizabeth Allen had a hat trick and an assist against Pomfret before adding another goal and an assist against Andover.
Simply, Dexter is rolling entering their holiday tournament. Five players have scored at least a point per game, and the Shields are averaging 4.5 goals per game so far. They'll open the tournament against Nichols on Friday before taking on Thayer and Brooks Saturday.
4. Loomis Chaffee (3-1-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Liz Leyden
Next game:Â vs. Kent, Dec. 19, 9:30 a.m. (Patsy K. Odden Invitational)
Loomis jumps up one spot. The Pelicans bounced back from their season-opening loss to Nobles with a pair of wins. They took down Deerfield, 3-2, in overtime before taking care of Canterbury, 4-0. Last time out, Loomis hung double digits on Westminster in a 12-1 win. Penn State commit Megan Hosman scored a pair against Canterbury, and Bella Zolezzi had two goals and a helper. Yale commit Annie Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.) had three assists against Deerfield as well. Goalie Adeline Roper (Kennebunkport, Maine) was strong again versus Deerfield and freshman Emily Hosman earned the shutout in her debut against Canterbury. Loomis has momentum entering the Odden tournament. They'll open against Kent before facing Taft and Choate.
PKO TOURNAMENT: Previewing each team in the 41st Patsy K. Odden Invitational
5. BB&N (3-0-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Ed Bourget
Next game: vs. St. Paul's, Dec. 20, 11:30 a.m. (Harrington Invitational)
The Knights crack the top five after a pair of wins, first taking down Brooks, 4-0, before a big 3-2 win over Deerfield. Providence commit Izzy King (Bedford, Mass.) is up to five goals in four games after scoring against Brooks and adding a pair versus Deerfield. Williams commit Savana Littlewood (Braintree, Mass.) also scored in both games, continuing her streak to start the season and upping her production to eight points (four goals) in four games. Three other skaters are also scoring a point per game or better, and both Eva Mai Whyte and Barbara Ma have looked good in net. BB&N enters the Harrington with a three-game win streak. They'll face St. Paul's on Friday before Milton Academy and St. Mark's on Saturday.
6. New Hampton (3-1-1)
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Craig Churchill
Next game: vs. Groton, Dec. 19, 6:10 p.m. (Edward G. Watkins Invitational)
New Hampton slides a little bit after a 1-1-1 week. The Huskies tied Governor's, 2-2, before bouncing back with a 4-2 win at St. Paul's. They faltered at Thayer, though, falling 2-1. UNH commit Julia Loughlin (Scituate, Mass.) is up to eight points (six goals) in five games, continuing her scoring streak with goals in each game last week. Meanwhile, UConn commit True Thompson had two assists against Gov's and SPS. Sophomore goalie Elizabeth Vincent was strong against SPS and Thayer, turning aside 45 of 49 shots over the weekend. It won't get easier for New Hampton when they open the Watkins tourney against Groton. They'll also face Berkshire and Deerfield.
7. Phillips Andover (0-1-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Martha Fenton
Next game: vs. Tabor, Dec. 19, 11:15 a.m. (Patsy K. Odden Invitational)
Andover slides out of the top five after dropping its lone game of the season, a 4-1 decision at home against Dexter. A bright spot for the Big Blue: sophomore defender Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.) got on the board against the Shields as she aims to build on a great freshman season. It won't get easier for Andover at the Odden tournament. They'll open with Tabor before facing Hotchkiss and Lawrenceville.
There's no reason to worry right now, though. Andover will be just fine. It's tough to make a sweeping judgment based on just one game. What we do know: Martha Fenton's roster is too talented and too deep to be kept at bay. There's a reason they were one of our favorites entering the season.
HOLIDAY TOURNAMENTS:Â Full schedules, results for 2024 girls prep hockey holiday tournaments
8. Groton (4-0-0)
Previous ranking: 10
Head coach: Tim LeRoy
Next game: vs. New Hampton, Dec. 19, 6:10 p.m. (Edward G. Watkins Invitational)
The Zebras move up two spots after picking up two more wins. They took care of Tilton, 3-1, before beating Tabor, 5-2. Princeton commit Tina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.) is on an absolute tear to start her junior season. She scored her second hat trick in three games against Tabor after adding another goal against Tilton. She has goals in every game thus far, sitting at nine points (eight goals) in four games. Groton faces a couple of big tests at the Watkins tournament, though, starting with New Hampton before Berkshire and Deerfield.
9. Cushing (4-1-0)
Previous ranking: 9
Head coach: Valerie Bono-Bunker
Next game: vs. Proctor, Dec. 19, 2:30 p.m. (Edward G. Watkins Invitational)
Cushing stays put at No. 9 after a 1-1-0 week. The Penguins had a chance to make a statement at Williston, holding a pair of leads, but couldn't build on them in an eventual 5-2 loss. They bounced back against Governor's in a 2-0 win. Freshman Bella Freitas (Everett, Mass.) scored against Williston, continuing a strong start that's seen her put up seven points (four goals) in five games. Madi Soderquist (Woburn, Mass.) was among the goal-scorers against Gov's. Cushing has a chance to keep building momentum when they host the Watkins tournament. They'll kick things off against Proctor before facing Worcester Academy and Millbrook.
10. Thayer (5-0-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Michael Flynn
Next game: vs. Brooks, Dec. 20, 4 p.m. (Dexter Southfield Holiday Tournament)
Thayer debuts in the rankings after winning five straight to kick off their season under new coach Michael Flynn. The Tigers have surrendered just three goals across five games and scored three or more in four games. They beat St. George's, 3-1, last time out, following a statement 2-1 win against New Hampton. They also hung 11 goals on the board in a shutout of Millbrook. Thayer will look to keep it going against Brooks, Dexter and Nichols at Dexter's holiday tournament this weekend.
Harvard commit Morgan McGathey (Braintree, Mass.) is up to her usual tricks with 10 goals in five games. She has goals in each game this season, including back-to-back hat tricks against Portsmouth Abbey and Millbrook. Four other skaters are at a point-per-game or better pace as well. Both sophomore Madison Hayes (Foxboro, Mass.) and freshman Coleen Wallace (Duxbury, Mass.) have been stout in net, too.
Dropped out: Deerfield (3-2-0; 8)
In the hunt: Deerfield, Phillips Exeter (5-0-0), Lawrence Academy (3-1-0), Rivers (1-0-0), Kent (2-0-0)
