It's been a while.
Aside from a handful of teams at the New Year's Prep Puck Drop, most girls prep teams didn't kick off their 2025 slates until last Wednesday, keeping our rankings on hold for another week after the holiday break.
Nevertheless, it's a perfect time to jump back in.
There's plenty to unpack as Williston continues its dominant season, adding another trophy to its collection, while Dexter Southfield made a massive statement in a recent win. Further down the rankings, one team tumbled out of the top five, one team moved into the top five for the first time and two new teams entered the top 10 for the first time this season.
One thing is for sure: we will learn a lot about each of the teams mentioned below over the next month-plus.
Let's dive into the latest girls prep hockey rankings as the stretch run looms.
1. Williston Northampton (10-0-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Christa Talbot Syfu
Next game: vs. Berkshire, Jan. 15, 2:30 p.m.
Since returning from the holiday break, the Wildcats have ripped off four more wins. All came decisively. They ran the table at the New Year's Prep Puck Drop, beating Canterbury, 8-1, Rivers, 5-1, and Cushing, 5-0. They followed it up with a 3-0 shutout of Tabor. Not only has Williston been dominating, but they've been getting it done against good teams over the last month. While Violet Carroll (Milton, Mass.), Mia Daley (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Nora Curtis are leading the way on the scoresheet, the Wildcats are still getting crucial contributions everywhere in the lineup. Even more importantly, Williston is not surrendering a high shot volume, and Olivia Ferebee has been nearly unbeatable when she's been tested. The Wildcats host Berkshire and Frederick Gunn this week.
2. Dexter Southfield (8-0-2)
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Maggie Taverna
Next game: at St. Paul's, Jan. 15, 4:45 p.m.
Dexter remains just one of three undefeated teams in prep, but it hasn't been for a lack of drama. They made a statement in their 4-3, overtime win over Nobles last week, erasing a 3-0 deficit. The Shields followed it up with a 3-2 overtime win over Milton Academy last time out. Of note: both wins came without top center Evelyn Doyle (Needham, Mass.) or shut-down blue-liner Alaina Dunn (Walpole Mass.), who were at the U18 Women's Worlds, as the rest of the lineup picked up the slack with seven different goal-scorers across the two wins. Maggie Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) was a major factor in the win over Nobles, along with Maddie Murphy (Dorchester, Mass.), who continued her stellar senior season. Maggie Lovering (Scituate, Mass.) was the hero in OT. The Shields will face St. Paul's on Wednesday and Governor's on Friday. Everyone should have next Wednesday, Jan. 22, circled when Dexter hosts Williston.
ANOTHER MEDAL: Strong showing for locals as Team USA earns silver at U18 Women's Worlds
3. Loomis Chaffee (8-1-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: Liz Leyden
Next game: at Kent, Jan. 15, 3:45 p.m.
The Pelicans stayed put at No. 3, winning their first two games of 2025 via shutout. They took down Milton Academy, 3-0, on the road and followed it up with a 3-0 triumph at home over Berkshire the next day. Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) continued her big season with a goal and an assist over Milton. Megan Hosman added a goal and a helper from the blue line against Berkshire. Adeline Roper (Kennebunkport, Maine) kept up her good form in net, combining with Emily Hosman for the shutout over Milton before turning aside everything Berkshire threw at her. Up next, Loomis visits Kent for a tough test before hosting Hotchkiss.
4. BB&N (7-1-1)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Ed Bourget
Next game: vs. New Hampton, Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m.
After falling to Williston in the Harrington Tournament championship, the Knights bounced back last week with a solid 4-2 win over Groton, getting it done without Emi Biotti (Cambridge, Mass.), who was with Team USA, along with Groton's Tina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.). Four different goal-scorers found the back of the net against the Zebras, including Hannah Weyerhaeuser (Cambridge, Mass.) and Savana Littlewood (Braintree, Mass.). Eva Mai Whyte (Natick, Mass.) and Barbara Ma (Cambridge, Mass.) combined for a solid outing in the crease, too. BB&N has a busy week coming up when they host New Hampton before heading up to Stanstead for a pair of games.
5. Cushing (12-2-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Valerie Bono-Bunker
Next game: vs. Austin Prep, Jan. 15, 4:15 p.m.
The Penguins cracked the top five for the first time this season, going 4-1-0 with some quality wins since our last top 10. At the New Year's Prep Puck Drop, they took down St. Georges and Hill School before falling to Williston in the final. Cushing got back on track in some high-scoring wins against Rivers and Exeter. In those four wins, the Penguins put up at least five goals, and they've scored five or more in seven of their last nine. The offense is humming as they lead the NEPSAC with 64 total goals, 14 clear of the next highest. Bella Freitas (Everett, Mass.) continues her torrid pace, sharing the NEPSAC scoring lead with 20 points in 12 games, while Julia Lambert (Wilmington, Mass.) and Madi Soderquist (Woburn, Mass.) have helped lead the way, too. The Penguins have a chance to keep the momentum going when they face Austin Prep, Hoosac and St. Mark's this week.
COMEBACK WIN: 6 takeaways from Dexter’s dramatic overtime win over Nobles
6. Nobles (8-3-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Tom Resor
Next game: at Middlesex, Jan. 15, 4:45 p.m.
Nobles slid out of the top five after a 2-1-0 start to 2025. The lone loss, an overtime heartbreak against Dexter, featured the Bulldogs squandering a 3-0 lead in a game they had control of. They stormed back the following game in an explosive 10-1 win over Hotchkiss before taking down Kent, 3-1, the next day. Alexa Georgantas (Foxboro, Mass.) led the way with a hat trick against Hotchkiss, which followed a two-goal showing against Dexter. Ashley Loeber (Weston, Mass.) was one of three different goal-scorers versus Kent after finding the back of the net against Dexter and Hotchkiss. Nobles has a chance to keep it up this week when they visit Middlesex before hosting Mount Saint Charles.
7. Thayer (9-0-1)
Previous ranking: 8
Head coach: Michael Flynn
Next game: at Milton Academy, Jan. 15, 3:30 p.m.
Thayer continued its steady ascent up the rankings after beating Austin Prep, 2-1, to open their 2025 slate. The Tigers are just one of three undefeated teams remaining. Morgan McGathey (Braintree, Mass.) came through with both goals against AP, continuing to hold a share of the NEPSAC lead (16). Colleen Wallace came up big in net with 24 saves, too. Thayer has a trip to Milton up next before visiting Pingree over the weekend.
8. Phillips Andover (6-1-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Martha Fenton
Next game: at Kimball Union, Jan. 15, 4 p.m.
Andover slid for no reason other than giving Thayer its due. The Big Blue are finding a groove with three wins to open up 2025, including a pair of blowouts. They took down Governor's, 8-0, before outlasting Choate in a tight, 2-1 affair. They followed it up with an 8-0 triumph over Brooks. The offensive explosion came without Caroline and Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.), who were also with Team USA at the U18 Women's Worlds. Lilly McInerney (North Reading, Mass.) came through with the game-winner over Choate. Some of Andover's top guns showed out against Gov's as Peyton Kennedy (Sudbury, Mass.) had five points, including four helpers. Emily Mara (Winchester, Mass.) had a hat trick and an assist, and Sarah Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.) also had four points (two goals). The Big Blue visit Kimball Union and St. Paul's this week.
NEW YEAR’S PREP PUCK DROP: 9 standout forwards | 5 standout defenders
9. Phillips Exeter (7-1-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Sally Komarek
Next game: vs. Worcester Academy, Jan. 15, 4 p.m.
Exeter cracked the top 10 for the first time this season. The Big Red took their first loss of the season in a 5-2 defeat at Cushing last week but responded in a 4-0 win over Proctor. Some of their other highlights include a 5-4 win over Milton, a 2-0 win over Gov's and a 3-1 win over Lawrence. Paisley Meyer (Greenland, NH), Maria Gray, Erin Sears (Cornwall, Vt.), Grace Riley and Lauren Xu (Westport, Conn.) have been among their most consistent producers so far. It's still (very) early, I know, but if the Elite 8 were to start today, Exeter would be in, according to USHR's projection. They'll face Worcester Academy on Wednesday before visiting Deerfield on Saturday.
10. Rivers (8-3-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Keith McLean
Next game: vs. St. George's, Jan. 15, 4:45 p.m.
Rivers also entered the top 10 for the first time. The Red Wings deserve credit for a great start to the season, but Groton and New Hampton's ups and downs of late helped pave the way for them to slide up. Notably, Rivers' three losses this season have come against some of the contenders above in Williston, Thayer and Cushing. Nevertheless, in their wins, the Red Wings' offense can keep up with anyone. Lindsay Morin (Weston, Mass.) picked up where she left off from last season, while Simone Burns (Winchester, Mass.), Brooke Bartlett (Wayland, Mass.) and Kate Hayes (Burlington, Mass.) have been terrific as a line. Mia MacDonald has been strong on the blue line, too.
Like Exeter, Rivers would be in the Elite 8 if it started today. The Red Wings will hit a pivotal "prove it" stretch over the next six games with St. George's, Nobles, BB&N, Groton, Thayer and Exeter all on tap. Even though it's early, that run of games will go a long way in determining their postseason fate.
Dropped out: Groton (6-2-2) New Hampton (5-3-2)
In the hunt: Groton, New Hampton, St. George's (8-4-0), Kent (5-3-1), Deerfield (6-3-1), Frederick Gunn (8-3-0),
