The big dance is finally here.
The all-out sprint that is the NEPSAC playoffs is about to kick off with quarterfinal action on Wednesday, the semifinals on Saturday and championships at Dexter Southfield on Sunday.
One thing that's typically true in the tournaments: anything can happen.
This season's Elite 8 field is deep. The top five seeds are legitimate title threats, but Nos. 6-8 shouldn't be slept on by any means, either. There's plenty of upset potential.
You have Nobles, which has risen above the pack of late, searching for its second title in three seasons. Phillips Andover has proven itself among the favorites once again after coming oh-so-close in recent years. Williston Northampton was atop the pack for much of the season. The Wildcats went back-to-back in 2022 and 2023. Don't count out Dexter Southfield or reigning champ Loomis Chaffee, either. Deerfield, Tabor, and St. Paul's also have strong sleeper cases.
Here's what you need to know about all eight teams in the field.
1. Nobles (27-1-0)
Record against teams in the Elite 8 tournament: 5-1-0
Why they could win:Â High-end talent everywhere. The Bulldogs check every box. No team in prep has scored more goals (130), and only Williston has allowed fewer than Nobles' 21. The Bulldogs also boast wins over Andover, Loomis, Williston, St. Paul's and Tabor.
They boast the leading scorer in prep with Francie Ames (Brookline, Mass.). The sophomore finished the regular season with 61 points (25 goals). She became the first player since 2021-22 to hit 60 points, and her 36 assists are the most since at least 2019-20. Linemates Rachel Zhao (Westwood, Mass.) and Lily Bromley (Carlisle, Mass./Princeton) are just as dangerous with 40 points (21 goals) and 33 points (16 goals), respectively.
The forward group also boasts high-end skill in senior Yale commit Gretta Hulbig (Foxboro, Mass.) and sophomore Catherine McCool (West Roxbury, Mass.). On the back end, there are do-it-all defenders like junior Yale commit Ava Decourcey (Rockland, Mass.) and sophomores Nora Shea (Braintree, Mass.) and Reese Engel (Westwood, Mass). Decourcey put up 31 points, while Shea posted 29 and Engel had 18. In net, junior Yale commit Annika Jonas is one of the very best in New England. She holds a .961 save percentage.
GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
2. Phillips Andover (21-2-1)
Record against teams in the Elite 8 tournament: 6-2-1
Why they could win: Experienced, dominant skill up front and on the blue line. The Big Blue boast the second and third-leading scorers in prep in seniors Sarah Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Caroline Averill (Wayland, Mass.). Powers, a Boston College commit, had 52 points (18 goals), while Averill (Princeton) had 51 points (24 goals). They can completely take over games on the top line, flanked by freshman Liz Averill (Wayland, Mass.) on the right wing. Andover's second line is just as capable, including seniors Lilly McInerney (North Reading, Mass.) and Keira Bruen (West Roxbury, Mass.). Bruen, a Cornell commit, has 22 points, while McInerney (Northeastern) has 20. Vanessa Hall (Saugus, Mass.) has chipped in key production as well.
On the back end, junior Princeton commit Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.) is a dominant presence, headlining a deep blue line with 29 points. Junior Delaware commit Kimee Duplessis (Framingham, Mass.) and junior Sienna Glass (Andover, Mass.) have been terrific puck-movers, too, with 20 and 18 points, respectively. You've also got sophomore Maya Kou and junior Sienna DeAngelis. In net, sophomore Marie Lee (Southboro, Mass.) is capable of leading a run after backstopping last season's march to the final, plus coming up clutch for the 16U Boston Americans last fall.
Andover's resume includes wins over Loomis, Tabor (twice), Williston, St. Paul's and Deerfield, plus a tie with Dexter. Plenty of experience remains from last season's run to the final, too, plus 2023's runner-up finish. The Big Blue's veterans know what it takes at this time of year.
3. Williston Northampton (19-3-0)
Record against teams in the Elite 8 tournament: 6-3-0
Why they could win:Â The Wildcats play hard in all three zones, and when they're on their game, they can overwhelm opponents. The resume includes wins over St. Paul's (twice), Dexter, Tabor, Loomis Chaffee and Deerfield. Williston has also surrendered the fewest goals (17) of any team in prep.
Up front, it'll be up to junior Yale commit Mia Daley (Lynnfield, Mass.), along with others like seniors Zola Piekarski (Concord, Mass.) and Brenna Ziter (Williston, Vt.). All three are reliable in all situations. Daley leads the Wildcats with 30 points (11 goals). Piekarski, a UPenn field hockey commit, leads the way with 15 goals (22 points), while Ziter, a Colby commit, has 16 points. That's not to mention breakout producers like junior Riley Stocker and sophomore Ava Carr (Medway, Mass.), plus experienced depth like senior UNH commut Catie Putt (Norfolk, Mass.). Putt can also play defense.
Speaking of the blue line, senior Holy Cross commit Nina Coffee (Old Lyme, Conn.) leads a stable of puck-movers that includes sophomore Keira Gould and senior Amherst commit Yasmine McKenzie (Holden, Mass.). Junior goalie River Grady (Bedford, N.H.) and freshman Olivia Arsenault have each given the Wildcats quality starts, splitting the net.
4. Dexter Southfield (20-2-2)
Record against teams in the Elite 8 tournament: 3-2-1
Why they could win:Â Dexter is balanced and structured. The Shields' forechecking pace, especially with their third line, creates issues for opposing defenders on exits. They've beaten the likes of Nobles, Deerfield and St. Paul's on top of tying Andover.
Up front, senior Yale commit Evelyn Doyle (Needham, Mass.) does it all for Dexter. The team's leading scorer with 28 points (15 goals), the two-way center is also tasked with taking on the top defensive matchups in a given game. Her linemates, senior Holy Cross commit Devon Moore (Milton, Mass.) and senior UNH commit Elizabeth Allen (Brookline, Mass.), each eclipsed 20 points. Senior Yale commit Sawyer Merrill (Hingham, Mass.) leads another strong unit alongside junior Maggie Lovering (Scituate, Mass.) and sophomore Leah Hafer (Winchester, Mass.). Merrill has 26 points, while Lovering and Hafer each eclipsed 20 points.
On the back end, sophomore Maggie Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) leads a young core alongside freshmen Chloe Rabazzi (Burlington, Mass.) and Teagan Beigel (Natick, Mass.). Senior Stonehill commit MacKenzie Sutherland (West Roxbury, Mass.) is key, too. Dexter also has two No. 1 options in the crease with junior Annabelle Aitken (Winchester, Mass.) and senior Assumption commit Addie Sutherland (West Roxbury, Mass.).
BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
5. Loomis Chaffee (21-4-0)
Record against teams in the Elite 8 tournament: 4-4-0
Why they could win:Â The reigning Elite 8 champs are more than capable of defending their title with elite experience throughout the lineup. The Pelicans' resume includes Andover, Deerfield, Tabor and Williston, too.
Loomis' first line can match up with any other in the tournament, led by three premier seniors in Harvard commit Lindsay Stepnowski, Yale commit Annie Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.) and Cornell commit Carly Dann (Hanover, N.H.). Stepnowski, the reigning Elite 8 MVP, has 31 points (15 goals), while Schwarz was top-10 in prep in goals (21) and points (42). Dann, a natural defender, has over a point per game with 29. Other forwards like Easton Pramuka, Lexi Buco (North Providence, R.I.) and Sophia DiGioia (Milford, Conn.) have stepped up, too.
On defense, senior Penn State commit Megan Hosman is an elite puck-mover with 25 points, while fellow senior Hattie Willard is a reliable presence in all three zones. Junior RPI commit Alexine Beaulieu (Hudson, N.H.), junior Lizzie Orszulak (Longmeadow, Mass.) and sophomore Amaya McNeil (Fairfield, Conn.) are also key. In the crease, senior Williams commit Adeline Roper (Kennebunkport, Maine) was terrific in last season's title run, and she's been just as good this season with a .941 save percentage.
6. Deerfield (19-4-2)
Record against teams in the Elite 8 tournament: 1-4-1
Why they could win: The Big Green are not short on capable producers throughout the lineup, both at forward and on defense. Plenty of experience remains from last season's Large School champion squad.
Senior Yale commit Sophie Frost leads the way up front with 25 points (16 goals), while senior Gia Thompson also hit the 20-point mark. Senior Dartmouth commit Ava Giroux (St. Albans, Vt.), freshman Alessandra Picard (Madison, Conn.), junior Brown commit Olivia Austen (Darien, Conn.) and senior Middlebury commits Peyton and Brady Wierl have each shored up Deerfield’s strong depth, too.
On defense, leading scorer Chloe Cleaves (Riverside, Conn.), a senior Yale commit, leads the way with 26 points (14 goals). Senior Brown commit Keira Austen (Darien, Conn.) is a key puck-mover as well, along with sophomore Nicole Sciarretta. Senior Bowdoin commit Charlotte McFadzean is a dependable presence, too. The question lies in net with junior Ana Makrogiannis and senior Hobart & William Smith commit Izzy Kirby, who have split the crease this season. Kirby has come on strong of late, finishing with a .939 save percentage.
7. Tabor (17-6-4)
Record against teams in the Elite 8 tournament: 1-5-0
Why they could win: Tabor can stifle teams with its structure in the neutral zone and especially its goaltending. Junior Brown commit Evelyn Lacey (Braintree, Mass.) is the X-factor in the crease. One of the NEPSAC’s best, she’s more than capable of stealing a game. Lacey holds a .956 save percentage entering the postseason. Tabor knows what it’s like to catch fire as an underdog, too, reaching the Large School title game as the fifth seed last season.
The Seawolves can roll out two formidable lines up front, too. You’ve got senior St. Michael’s commit Jen Birolini (Pembroke, Mass.) setting the pace alongside sophomore Giuliana Polcari (Marshfield, Mass.) and sophomore Grace Hildebrandt (Norwell, Mass.). Senior Colby commit Lilly Shaughnessy leads another strong trio with sophomores Sofia Nardelli (Cranston, R.I.) and Dawson Styles (South Hamilton, Mass.). Shaugnessy was a monster in Tabor’s run to the Large School final last winter.
Junior Providence commit Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.) can control the ice in all three zones, too. She leads an experienced blue line alongside reliable senior Lucy Stearns (Carver, Mass.). Juniors Adeline Wiesel (Needham, Mass.) and Lindsay Fox (Franklin, Mass.), plus sophomore Riley Pike (Topsfield, Mass.), are key as well.
WHAT IF?:Â What would a New England girls prep Olympics look like?
8. St. Paul's (21-5-3)
Record against teams in the Elite 8 tournament: 1-5-1
Why they could win: St. Paul’s can score with the best of them, and the Big Red are rolling after winning the Lakes Region title. They’ve won nine in a row and are unbeaten in 10 straight. SPS’ 124 total goals are second only to Nobles.
The Big Red boast six skaters with 20 or more points. Junior Boston University commit Erin Flaherty (Boston, Mass.) leads the way with 36 points (23 goals), while senior Middlebury commit Chelsea Bell (Barre, Vt.) has 32 points (14 goals). Whether it’s those two, freshman Kelsey MacPherson (Hopkinton, Mass.), senior SUNY Plattsburgh commit Tess Mulkerron (Concord, Mass.) or sophomore Maddy Allen, there’s no shortage of high-end producers up front. That’s not to mention key depth like sophomores Maealie Glanzer, Cadence Crowley (North Reading, Mass.) or Liza Demain (Wolfeboro, N.H.).
On defense, productive sophomore Maddy Humber (Concord, Mass.) paces a young blue line with 23 points. Meanwhile, senior Brown commit Maggie Berleth (Manchester, N.H.) is a critical do-it-all presence. Freshmen Malin Wilde (Shelburne, Vt.) and Emma Burke (Braintree, Mass.), as well as sophomore Gabby Smith (Newburyport, Mass.), have each given SPS quality minutes, too. In net, junior Paige MacPhee has been terrific. She had a .930 save percentage in the regular season.
