Last season, Loomis Chaffee emphatically stamped its name atop the NEPSAC.
The Pelicans were a deep, talented team that could defend as well as they could score. While they have their sights set on a repeat Elite 8 title, there is a slew of other contenders who will be gunning to knock off Loomis.
Whether it’s the usual suspects like Williston Northampton, Nobles, Phillips Andover, or others like Cushing, Deerfield, and Dexter Southfield, the competition level will be high throughout prep.
With the high-end talent that many contenders have either returned or added, it would hardly be a shock to see any of these teams make a deep run. Nor would it be surprising to see plenty of turnover throughout the rankings.
This is, as Evan Marinofsky wrote in his boys prep rankings, the hardest time of year to rank teams. There are so many unknowns. Right now, all we have to go off of is rosters on paper and previous performance. These rankings are sure to change quickly.
On Tuesday, we'll dive into the next 15 teams, ranked. For now, let's dive into our first girls prep top 10 of the season.
1. Loomis Chaffee
Head coach: Liz Leyden
2024-25 record: 25-2-1, beat Phillips Andover in championship of Elite 8 tournament
The Pelicans return a deep group, including the reigning Elite 8 MVP in Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.). Annie Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.) is coming off a big season, while others like Easton Pramuka will look to capitalize on a bigger role. On defense, mainstays like Megan Hosman, Carly Dann, Hattie Willard and Alexine Beaulieu (Hudson, N.H.) will make for a stout back end in front of Adeline Roper (Kennebunkport, Maine) in net. Roper is coming off an outstanding regular season and playoff run, her first campaign as the starter.
PREP PREVIEWS: Nobles | Exeter | Cushing | Tabor | Groton | New Hampton | Andover | Dexter Southfield | BB&N | Williston Northampton | Loomis Chaffee
2. Phillips Andover
Head coach: Martha Fenton
2024-25 record: 17-5-4, lost to Loomis Chaffee in championship of Elite 8 tournament
While the Big Blue graduated some big-time players after coming oh-so-close last postseason, they still return a high-end group. Up front, go-to options in Caroline Averill (Wayland, Mass.), Keira Bruen (West Roxbury, Mass.), Lilly McInerney (North Reading, Mass.) and Sarah Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.) are in line for one more run as seniors. On the blue line, juniors Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.), Kimee Duplessis (Framingham, Mass.) and Sienna Glass (Andover, Mass.) are set to take on even more responsibilities. Andover is eager to see what it has in net between strong options like Marie Lee (Southborough, Mass.), Lauren Kennedy (Sudbury, Mass.) and Codi Pickering (Falmouth, Mass.).
3. Williston Northampton
Head coach: Christa Talbot Syfu
2024-25 record: 22-3-1, lost to Phillips Andover in semifinals of Elite 8 tournament
The Wildcats might have graduated a handful of core pieces from previous championship teams, but there is still a plethora of high-end experience ready to take the reins. Up front, seniors Zola Piekarski (Concord, Mass.) and Brenna Ziter (Williston, Vt.) will help lead an exciting young group that includes Mia Daley (Lynnfield, Mass.), Brooke Schlutter, Quinn Toll, and Riley Stocker. On defense, Nina Coffee (Old Lyme, Conn.), Yasmine McKenzie (Holden, Mass.), Catie Putt (Norfolk, Mass.) and Keira Gould will be relied upon. Newcomer Caroline Doherty (Hingham, Mass.) will provide a boost offensively.
4. Nobles
Head coach: Tom Resor
2024-25 record: 23-6-1, lost to Phillips Andover in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
It’s time for a new core to take charge for Nobles. Gretta Hulbig (Foxboro, Mass.) is in line to headline the forwards alongside key youngsters like Lily Bromley (Carlisle, Mass.), Catherine McCool (West Roxbury, Mass.) and Francie Ames (Brookline, Mass.). At the same time, Addy Keaveney (Westwood, Mass.) and Rachel Zhao (Westwood, Mass.) provide important experience. A young defense group is ready for the next step, with sophomores like Reese Engel (Westwood, Mass.) and Nora Shea (Braintree, Mass.) supplanting upperclassmen in Ava Decourcey (Rockland, Mass.) and Maddie Jaeger (Westwood, Mass.). Annika Jonas (Weston, Mass.) provides excellent stability in the crease.
PREP PREVIEWS: Belmont Hill |  Milton | Tilton | Berkshire | Deerfield | St. George’s | Brunswick | Winchendon | Salisbury | Choate | Nobles | Kent | Holderness | Dexter Southfield
5. Cushing
Head coach: Brandy Fisher-Bailey
2024-25 record: 24-8-1, lost to Loomis Chaffee in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
No team in prep scored more goals than Cushing last season, and the Penguins are primed for another high-flying season. Much of the same forward core is back with Bella Freitas (Everett, Mass.), Julia Lambert (Wilmington, Mass.), Brooke Harb (Atkinson, N.H.) and Madi Soderquist (Woburn, Mass.) expected to lead the way. A new-look defense group will look to several sophomores, be it Blake Metcalf (Scarborough, Maine), Caroline Harrington or Emersyn Fisher-Bailey (Duxbury, Mass.) to step up. Cushing will rely heavily on Sadie Bellissimo and Ines Khamis in net.
6. Dexter Southfield
Head coach: Maggie Taverna
2024-25 record: 18-3-4, lost to BB&N in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
Despite graduating three stalwarts on defense, Dexter has the chance to remain an Elite 8 contender with a strong returning group. Maggie Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) will lead a new-look blue line after flashing her potential as a freshman, while Mackenzie Sutherland (West Roxbury, Mass.) brings key experience. Dexter will lean on an experienced forward group that includes Sawyer Merrill (Hingham, Mass.) and Evelyn Doyle (Needham, Mass.), one of the region’s best two-way centers. Annabelle Aitken (Winchester, Mass.) and Addie Sutherland (West Roxbury, Mass.) make for two experienced, reliable options in net as well.
7. Deerfield
Head coach: Brooke Fernandez
2024-25 record: 20-6-2, beat Tabor in championship of Large School tournament
Deerfield has a chance to vault back into the Elite 8 after taking home the Large School title last winter. Much of the same forward group remains in place with upperclassmen like Ava Giroux (St. Albans, Vt.), Sophie Frost and Olivia Austen (Darien, Conn.), as well as Brady and Peyton Wierl, all looking to build on strong seasons. On the back end, Chloe Cleaves (Riverside, Conn.) will be a dynamic difference maker, along with Keira Austen (Darien, Conn.). That continuity will be key to the Big Green with a new look in the crease after Campbell Krotee (Darien, Conn.) graduated.
8. Tabor
Head coach: Eric Long
2024-25 record: 15-12-1, lost to Deerfield in championship of Large School tournament
The Seawolves made the most of a retooling season last winter, making a run to the Large School final. This season, Tabor is poised to return to the Elite 8. Jen Birolini (Pembroke, Mass.) and Lilly Shaughnessy (Medfield, Mass.) will lead a young forward core that expects Giuliana Polcari (Marshfield, Mass.), Sofia Nardelli (Cranston, R.I.) and Dawson Styles to take the next step. Meanwhile, defender Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.) and goalie Evelyn Lacey (Braintree, Mass.) will provide big boosts as newcomers. Tabor will also rely on Lucy Stearns (Carver, Mass.) and Lindsay Fox (Franklin, Mass.) on the blue line.
9. Phillips Exeter
Head coach: Sally Komarek
2024-25 record: 14-9-2, lost to Tabor in quarterfinals of Large School tournament
Exeter remains on the upswing after reaching the Large School tournament last season. The Big Red have the opportunity to make some noise with a group of high-flying returners, starting with the potent top line of Maria Gray, Paisley Meyer (Greenland, N.H.) and Erin Sears (Cornwall, Vt.). Youngsters in Dominique Reiher and Clara Cary (Danvers, Mass.) will be a valuable supporting cast up front as well. Grace Riley brings an elite skillset on defense as well. In net, Exeter is confident in returners Lily Sabol and Ellen Orr as well as postgrad Eva Mai Whyte (Natick, Mass.), who is coming off a strong season and playoff run with BB&N.
BOYS RANKINGS: Who leads the preseason top 10?
10. Rivers
Head coach: Keith McLean
2024-25 record: 18-10-1, lost to St. Mark’s in semifinals of Small School tournament
Everything began to come together last season for Rivers, which fell short of expectations in the Small School semis. The Red Wings return much of the same team with valuable experience to build upon. Skilled forwards like Brooke Bartlett (Wayland, Mass.), Simone Burns (Winchester, Mass.), Nora McLean (Canton, Mass.) and Nora Swaim (Concord, Mass.) headline an aggressive offense, while Mia MacDonald (Walpole, Mass.), Joelle Burns (Winchester, Mass.), Kyleigh Rabazzi (Burlington, Mass.) and Kathryn Butkus (Hopkinton, Mass.) can move the puck on defense. Rivers is confident in Ellie Beigel (Natick, Mass.) as she takes hold of the top job in net. This team has a chance to continue the upward trend.
