It's prediction time.
The NEPSAC girls Small School quarterfinals kick off on Wednesday. The bracket features plenty of upset potential, but it could just as easily go chalk.
You've got bubble Elite 8 teams like Groton and Rivers. Governor's was in the hunt at one point, too. Cushing is still dangerous after it was among the preseason favorites. Don't count out Portsmouth Abbey or St. Mark's, either. The latter caught fire as the sixth seed to reach the final last year. Frederick Gunn snuck in at the 11th hour, too. You certainly can't forget about three-time defending champ New Hampton, too.
The Small School bracket has always had my lowest hit rate. Last year's predictions didn't go so well, as I went 4-for-7. The year prior, I went 3-for-5. There's nowhere to go but up, right?
Let's dive into our girls Small School quarterfinals predictions.
No. 1 Groton vs. No. 8 Frederick Gunn
Groton has been consistent throughout the season, and the Zebras were right there in the Elite 8 hunt until the very end. They're unbeaten in four straight (3-0-1) and have gone 7-2-2 since Jan. 28.
Frederick Gunn, meanwhile, got hot down the stretch to sneak into the postseason. The Highlanders have won four of their last five and six of their last seven. It ended a three-game skid.
Gunn has the offensive firepower to beat anyone in the field, whether it's forwards like Maria Gilshannon (Woodbridge, Conn.), Izzy Blake (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.), Maddie Caramante (Greenville, R.I.) or Hobart & William Smith commit Brianna Boulanger (Danbury, Conn.). Defender Raven Bennett (Morris, Conn.) can drive offense from the back-end, too. The biggest X-factor may very well be UNH-committed goalie Moira Landsverk, who was fantastic this season with a .945 save percentage amid the highest shot volume of any playoff goalie.
GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
The edge for Groton comes down to their experience throughout the lineup. Many of the Zebras' upperclassmen have played a lot of playoff hockey over the last three seasons, whether in the Elite 8 last season or two Small School final runs before that. Nora Wilson (Weybridge, Vt.) has been just as strong on the crease for Groton, too. Princeton commit Tina Scalese (West Boyslton, Mass.) is perhaps the biggest X-factor of all up front, to go along with a solid supporting cast of Ava Barbour, Zoe Smith (Bolton, Mass.) and Charlotte Matusovich (New Gloucester, Maine). The latter three have had strong second halves.
Whether it's Scalese, Wilson or an experienced blue line, Groton has the pieces to make a run.
Prediction:Â Groton wins, 3-1
No. 2 Rivers vs. No. 7 New Hampton
Rivers enters the postseason with something to prove. The Red Wings were disappointed with last season's semifinal upset at the hands of St. Mark's, and they were in Elite 8 contention at different points this season. They expect to make a run.
SUNY Plattsburgh commit Ellie Beigel (Natick, Mass.) is as strong as they come in the crease. The offense and the blue line got a jolt when Mia MacDonald (Walpole, Mass.) returned to the lineup last week, too. Add in the likes of Simone Burns (Winchester, Mass.) up front, plus Nora Swaim (Concord, Mass.), Harvard commit Brooke Bartlett (Wayland, Mass.) and Nora McLean (Canton, Mass.), and things are coming together at the right time for Rivers, which went 6-1-1 since Jan. 31.
BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
The new-look Huskies still have plenty of experience from previous championship runs, though. The three-time defending champs know what it takes. Elizabeth Vincent proved herself in net last postseason. Meanwhile, Emma MacPherson (Sandwich, Mass.), Kiara Drake (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Colby commit Kelsey Baker (Concord, Mass.) lead the highest-scoring offense in the field (89 total goals). Vermont commit Addy Peel (Scarborough, Maine) is a legitimate offensive threat on the back end, while Roxie Merrick is a stout presence.
The Huskies also bounced back from a four-game skid with a 5-2-1 stretch in their last eight games.
Both teams are playing well, and both have strong cases to make. This is as close as it gets for a No. 2 against a No. 7.
Prediction:Â Rivers wins, 4-3
No. 3 Cushing vs. No. 6 Portsmouth Abbey
Both teams can score. Cushing's 82 total goals are the second-most in the field. The Penguins have something to prove, too, after entering the season ranked fifth in our top 10. Meanwhile, Portsmouth Abbey's 70 goals are the third-most in the field, tied with Gunn. The Ravens have allowed 36 goals to Cushing's 60 against.
GIRLS BRACKET BREAKDOWNS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Therein lies the blueprint for Abbey. The Ravens will need goalie Marguerite Cordahi to steal the game. She's been terrific throughout the season amid a heavy workload. If she can keep Cushing at bay, while scoring threats like Megan O'Connor (Greenville, R.I.), Brooke Marston (Portsmouth, R.I.), Kendra Michaels (Warwick, R.I.) and Brigid Dowd come through with timely offense, Abbey could pull off the upset.
Cushing, however, boasts one of the better goalies in the field in RPI commit Sadie Bellissimo, in addition to one of the deepest offenses. Bella Freitas (Everett, Mass.) is a game-breaker, and she's among the top goal-scorers in prep. That's not to mention Stonehill commit Brooke Harb (Atkinson, N.H.) and UNH commit Madi Soderquist (Woburn, Mass.), in addition to others like Lily Winckler and Lyla Rahn (Stratham, N.H.). The Penguins have more than enough firepower to get it done and help out their young blue line.
Prediction:Â Cushing wins, 5-2
No. 4 Governor's vs. No. 5 St. Mark's
Shocker, the fourth versus fifth seed was a tough one to pick. Both Gov's and St. Mark's match up fairly evenly in terms of total goals for and against.
St. Mark's has lost just twice since the calendar flipped to 2026. The Lions were 3-6-0 at the holiday break. Since, they've gone 8-2-4, including a 2-2 tie with Governor's on Jan. 10. Jocelyn Gray (Hanover, Mass.) had a goal and an assist for St. Mark's, while Sammi Ruzzo (North Smithfield, R.I.) also scored. Brooke and Megan Carlson (North Andover, Mass.) each scored for Gov's.
 BOYS BRACKET BREAKDOWNS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
SMS has the skill to keep up with Gov's top guns, too, with breakout youngsters like Gray, Ruzzo, Allie Sauls, and Caroline Kreuz (Worcester, Mass.) up front.
Meanwhile, Gov's has high-end threats with Brooke Carlson, Lana Hardin (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and Endicott commit Parker Roenick (Exeter, N.H.) up front, plus Megan Carlson on the back end. Most importantly, senior Liz Luong (Framingham, Mass.) likely gives Governor's the edge in the crease, compared to St. Mark's freshmen Melanie Allen (Norwood, Mass.) and Erin Drew (Methuen, Mass.).
Prediction:Â Governor's wins, 3-2
