Expectations are high at Groton this year.
The Zebras are coming off their best season under Tim LeRoy since he took the helm in 2020, going 18-4-4 as they marched to the Dorothy Howard Small School Tournament title game before falling to New Hampton.
Despite the disappointing end, Groton checked many of the boxes on their to-do list last season, beating the program's previous best of 15 wins.
"For us to get to that point, given where this program was like four years ago, it was a huge accomplishment," LeRoy said.
Last season's results marked uncharted territory for Groton. But the Zebras know with high expectations comes a target on their backs. A big part of the increased challenge will be to not get ahead of themselves.
"I think this year, every team is going to be ready for us," LeRoy said. "It is cliche to say day-by-day, but I think if anything our motto this year is just going to be focusing on the next game as the most important one and making sure that no matter who we're playing or how we did against that team last year, every team is different. We're going to be different."
Plenty of depth, especially up front
One of the biggest reasons for Groton's high expectations is the strong nucleus in the forward group. LeRoy's top line will feature a junior and two sophomores, while the second line boasts two juniors and a sophomore. With plenty of returners, the hope is it all makes for a recipe for sustained success.
Helping lead the way will be junior Maddie Cronan (Ashland, Mass.), who had 10 goals and 34 points in 26 games last season. LeRoy sees Cronan as one of the toughest players he's coached, and her connection with Tina Scalese (Bedford, Mass.) could spell problems for opponents.
"It's gonna be hard to kind of play with our top group, and our top line is probably going to be one of the best lines in the league," he said. "They're going to push kids to kind of keep up with them."
Elsewhere, LeRoy is confident his team will be able to roll out and trust all four lines. The forward group will be where the bulk of Groton's depth lies.
"I think one of the things about prep leagues is sometimes you have programs that have two really good lines, but it may drop off from there with a third line or fourth line. But I think for us, this is the first time in the Groton girls program where we have four lines that can compete," LeRoy said.
Locking it down on the back end will be the captains in senior defender Keira Ley (Wayland, Mass.) and senior goaltender Veronika Hadamovsky (Groton, Mass.).
Ley, who had nine goals and 17 points in 26 games last year, has been the focal point of the blue line for the Zebras, doing it all as a big, strong defender who can also run the power play. She is committed to Harvard.
"She's just a kid who sets the tone on the back end, and she's just so hard to play against," LeRoy said. "She's the leader of other kids."
Sydney Nelson (Lowell, Mass.), entering her sophomore year, is someone who has grown alongside Ley and could take a step on the blue line this season.
In the crease, Hadamovsky has been the bedrock of Groton's success, and the Zebras expect that to continue as she vies for a college commitment for next season. Her consistency and competitiveness in the crease set her apart as she put up a .954 save percentage, a 1.21 goals-against average and seven shutouts in 2022-23.
"She's one of the best goalies in our league," he said. "She got us to where we were last year because she put up some phenomenal numbers. She's just hard to play against. ... She will be the rock for us."
Promising newcomers
Alongside the bevy of returners are a crop of transfers and youngsters that LeRoy feels can impact his team both right now and down the line.
Hazel Hughes (Lancaster, Mass.) enters the fold as a transfer from Worcester Academy, bringing experience and toughness.
"She's another hard, physical player, but she's going to contribute a bunch on our special teams as well with her skill set, which is a huge thing," LeRoy said.
A pair of eighth graders, Zoe Smith (Westford, Mass.) and Rose Fischer are expected to help build the next wave and challenge for ice time this season.
Smith plays varsity field hockey at Groton, and LeRoy has already noticed her work ethic.
"She just kind of goes and goes," he said. "Even though she's gonna be a young kid for us, she's gonna be battling for some top nine spots, some penalty kill or whatever it may be. She's one that will raise the bar for our other forwards who are newcomers, for sure."
The Zebras added Fischer, a defenseman, late in the process and feel she has plenty of room to grow.
"She's a Wade Warriors kid during the summer, so she plays high-level club," LeRoy said. "She's only a 2028, which is scary to think about, but she's going to take some time to get better."
A 'program-changer' in Tina Scalese
Scalese is the headliner for the Zebras.
The sophomore has led Groton in scoring the last two seasons, highlighted by her 23 goals and 43 points in 25 games as a freshman last season. She's already earned plenty of individual accolades, including All-ISL and All-NEPSAC honors last season.
"She is a talented player, like a real program-changer for us," LeRoy said.
Scalese is already earning attention from colleges. LeRoy feels she is the total package as a player with her skill, physicality and mindset.
"Doing everything she can to make her teammates better, to make herself better and to try to win games, for her to be only 15 years old and have that mindset – and she's had it for two years even as a 13-year-old – it's only going to help her continue to develop even more," he said.
LeRoy has coached on the boys side and seen players move on to Division 1 and the NHL. Few skaters have compared to Scalese.
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"I've been doing this for a long time now," LeRoy said. "Tina is one of the top three of the best kids I've ever coached because of how she approaches the game and how she approaches developing herself and others around her.
"She's a once-in-a-lifetime type of player that I get to coach."
