That was fast, wasn't it?
We've hit the final week of the girls prep hockey regular season. On Sunday, the NEPSAC playoff brackets will be unveiled.
The last week saw some massive results, be it Andover tying Nobles or Loomis shutting out Williston, among others. This week is sure to be no different with several teams looking to make strong pushes to either hold their ground in the Elite 8 or sneak their way in.
Some of the biggest games to keep an eye on are Loomis Chaffee at Andover on Wednesday, Deerfield at Williston on Wednesday and Westminster at Kent on Saturday.
With all of that in mind, let's dive into the final top 10 of the season.
1. Nobles (22-0-4)
Previous rank: 1
Head coach: Tom Resor
Next game: at Governor's, Feb. 21, 5:15 p.m.
Reports of Nobles' demise were greatly exaggerated. After settling for their third tie in four games, a 1-1 draw with Andover, the Bulldogs ripped off two big wins. They rolled past a shorthanded Thayer group, 9-0, on Friday before edging out a surging Tabor team, 3-2, on Saturday. Molly MacCurtain (Reading, Mass.) had two goals and an assist against Thayer, and Sophia Levering (Westwood, Mass.) came through with the game-winner against Tabor. Nobles will wrap up the regular season with road tilts against Governor's and Milton as it looks to stay undefeated entering the Elite 8.
TAKEAWAYS: 12 observations and standouts from Nobles' 9-0 win over Thayer
2. Williston Northampton (17-3-1)
Previous rank: 2
Head coach: Christa Talbot Syfu
Next game: vs. Deerfield, Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m.
Williston had a big-time response to its 1-0 loss to Andover by rolling Worcester Academy, 12-0, with 14 different skaters finding the scoresheet. But the Wildcats fell short in a huge matchup with Loomis Chaffee, 3-0, on Saturday, making for two losses in their last three. Working through some adversity before the playoffs is never a bad thing. They have another tough game against Deerfield on Wednesday before finishing up with BB&N on Saturday.
3. Loomis Chaffee (18-4-1)
Previous rank: 4
Head coach: Liz Leyden
Next game: at Phillips Andover, Feb. 21, 3 p.m.
Loomis had a bounce-back week after its previous 2-1 loss to Choate. The Pelicans took down Lawrenceville, 3-2, before making a massive statement in their 3-0 shutout over Williston. All three goals came in the third period with Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) coming through with the eventual game-winner. The win bumped Loomis up to the projected third seed in the Elite 8, according to USHR. They have a massive tilt with Andover, currently projected fourth, on Wednesday before another challenge against Deerfield on Saturday.
4. Phillips Andover (16-3-2)
Previous rank: 3
Head coach: Martha Fenton
Next game: vs. Loomis Chaffee, Feb. 21, 3 p.m.
Andover remains unbeaten in 12 straight (11-0-1) and is 13-1-1 going back to Jan. 8. After a huge win against Williston, the Big Blue took Nobles to a 1-1 tie, nearly escaping with a 1-0 win before the Bulldogs tied it late. Andover followed it up by cruising to a 7-2 victory at Worcester. Sarah Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.) had a massive four-point week, too. The Big Blue will host Loomis in what in all likelihood could be a battle for the third seed on Wednesday. They'll wrap up with a home tilt against Exeter on Saturday.
5. Kent (10-3-2)
Previous rank: 6
Head coach: Sam Ftorek
Next game: vs. Frederick Gunn, Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m.
The Lions had a quiet week with just one game, but they took care of business in a 4-1 win over Hotchkiss. Kent's biggest players, including Mia Montanari (East Hampton, Conn.), have come on strong of late. Montanari is up to 15 goals in 15 games. The Lions have a chance to make it six straight wins when they host Frederick Gunn on Wednesday. They'll finish the regular season with a tough challenge against Westminster on Saturday.
ELITE 8 FORECAST:Â Which teams will make the top girls prep hockey tournament?
6. Deerfield (17-4-2)
Previous rank: 5
Head coach: Brooke Fernandez
Next game: at Williston, Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m.
Deerfield struggled in a 2-1 overtime loss to Cushing, making it three losses in five games (1-3-1), but they got back on track in a 5-0 win over Hotchkiss. Ava Giroux (St. Albans, Vt.) had a goal and two assists across the two games last week, while Annie Dinges (Woodstock, Conn.) scored a pair against Hotchkiss. She's up to 21 goals on the season. The Big Green have the toughest finish of anyone in the NEPSAC. They'll visit Williston before hosting Loomis as they look to shore up their spot in the Elite 8 after falling to the projected sixth seed. Like Williston and others, finding a way through some adversity at this time of year could go a long way.
7. Choate (16-6-0)
Previous rank: 7
Head coach: Laura DiCarlo
Next game: at Hotchkiss, Feb. 21, 5 p.m.
Make it three straight wins for the Wild Boars after they knocked off Berkshire, 2-1, and Taft, 3-0, following their win over Loomis in the week prior. Annie Forker (Stratford, Conn.) had a goal in each of last week's wins. Caroline Holm (Cheshire, Conn.) scored against Taft, and Norah Morris found the back of the net against Berkshire. Choate has a chance to make a late push for the Elite 8 if they can pick up wins against Hotchkiss and Cushing this week.
8. Tabor (14-7-3)
Previous rank: 9
Head coach: Eric Long
Next game: vs. St. George's, Feb. 21, 3 p.m.
Tabor came away with a 4-1 win over a pesky BB&N squad, but couldn't make it six straight when they fell to Nobles, 3-2, on Saturday. The Seawolves still have seven wins in their last nine (7-0-2), though, quickly working their way back into the Elite 8. Ayla Abban (Duxbury, Mass.), Lizzy Greeley (Hyde Park, Mass.) and Adeline Paskowski (Plymouth, Mass.) have continued their strong seasons. Tabor faces St. George's and Berkshire as they look to maintain their spot in the projected Elite 8 picture.
STRETCH RUN:Â 5 storylines to watch in final month of girls prep hockey
9. Groton (15-5-2)
Previous rank: 10
Head coach: Tim LeRoy
Next game: vs. Thayer, Feb. 21, 4 p.m.
The Zebras are unbeaten in five straight (4-0-1) after picking up dominant wins over Brooks, 6-1, and St. George's, 4-0, last week. Maddie Cronan (Ashland, Mass.) scored a pair against St. George's, and Veronika Hadamovsky (Groton, Mass.) picked up her third shutout in her last four games. Sophomore Tina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.) also picked up her 100th career point against Brooks. The Zebras will look to make a last-ditch push this week when they face Thayer and St. Mark's. Tim LeRoy's group sits 10th in the JSPR. A pair of wins, especially against Thayer, could be huge.
10. St. Paul's (14-8-1)
Previous rank: 9
Head coach: Kelli Mackey
Next game: at Proctor, Feb. 21, 4:45 p.m.
The Big Red are holding onto the projected eighth seed in the Elite 8 right now. They dropped their second straight in a 1-0 loss to Exeter last Wednesday. They bounced back with a 4-0 win over a tough Tilton team before settling for a 2-2 tie with Exeter over the weekend. Cami Bell (Barre, Vt.) eclipsed the 20-goal mark for the second year in a row as well. SPS has just one game left against Proctor. They'll need a win, and likely some help from others, to remain in the Elite 8.
In the hunt: Westminster (13-7-3), New Hampton (14-5-6), Thayer (15-7-2)
