The home stretch is here.
We're into the final week of the girls prep regular season. It's all come down to this. In a few days, the brackets will be out. A week later, champions will be crowned.
It's shaping up to be a photo finish this week, but the drama really ramped up last week. There were a ton of high-end matchups to track. With those came a ton of heroic performances under the bright lights.
As always, if you have updated statistics or a nominee for a top performer in a given week, please email me at patrick.donnelly@hockeyjournal.com.
Let’s dive into the top girls prep performers from Feb. 18-24.
ISL
Top skater: Francie Ames, Nobles
Ames (Brookline, Mass.) has been a regular as the ISL's top skater over the last month-plus. The sophomore put up seven points in three games last week. She had a pair of assists in Nobles' 3-2 win over then-No. 1 Phillips Andover before leading a 9-1 blowout of Thayer with a hat trick. She followed it up with a goal and an assist in a 5-0 win over then-No. 8 Tabor. Ames leads prep with 52 points in 26 games, finding the scoresheet in every game so far this season.
Honorable mentions: Maddy Call, Thayer (5-1—6); Ava Decourcey, Nobles (2-3—5); Catherine McCool, Nobles (2-3—5); Lily Bromley, Nobles (3-1—4); Mary Quatrale, Milton Academy (2-2—4); Nora Shea, Nobles (2-2—4); Rachel Zhao, Nobles (1-3—4); Lydia Kealty, Thayer (1-3—4); Abby DeAnzeris, Thayer (1-3—4); Brooke Carlson, Governor's (2-1—3); Jocelyn Gray, St. Mark's (2-1—3); Janie Martin, Middlesex (2-1—3); Brooke Bartlett, Rivers (1-2—3); Gretta Hulbig, Nobles (1-2—3); Lana Hardin, Governor's (1-2—3); Jenna Henley, Thayer (3-0—3); Megan Carlson, Governor's (0-3—3); Allie Sauls, St. Mark's (1-2—3); Tina Scalese, Groton (2-0—2)
DOMINANT WIN: 6 takeaways from Phillips Andover's win over Loomis Chaffee
Top goalie: Annika Jonas, Nobles
Jonas (Weston, Mass.) is back in the top performers after Nobles' big week. She and the Bulldogs have found another level down the stretch. The junior Yale commit was fantastic with a 33-save performance in Nobles' 3-2 win over Andover. She followed it up with 18 saves against Thayer before turning aside 28 shots for the shutout against Tabor. Jonas finished with a .963 save percentage across the three games.
Honorable mentions: Ava Scannell, Milton Academy (60 saves on 64 shots in two games); Nora Wilson, Groton (36 saves on 36 shots in two games); Maeve Phinney, Brooks (59 saves on 63 shots in two games); Taylor Tursi, Middlesex (42 saves on 44 shots in one game); Ella Puleo, Brooks (35 saves on 37 shots in one game); Liz Luong, Governor's (31 saves on 35 shots in two games); Niamh Tobin, Middlesex (26 saves on 27 shots in two games); Keagan Gray, Lawrence Academy (32 saves on 35 shots in one game)
Eastern Independent League
Top skater: Katie DeSisto, Newton Country Day
It was a big week for DeSisto (Needham, Mass.), who scored three goals in two games as Newton Country Day split its games. The junior scored in a 3-2 loss at Greenwich Academy, but she led NCD's bounce-back against Greenwich Country Day. DeSisto scored both goals in the 2-1 win. DeSisto broke her previous career-high in goals (seven), reaching 10 on the season.
Honorable mentions: Brooke Marston, Portsmouth Abbey (2-0—2); Maggie Fitzgerald, Berwick (2-0—2); Sophia Courchesne, Berwick (1-1—2); Emily Hester, Berwick (1-1—2); Maci Laurendeau, Portsmouth Abbey (1-1—2); Lila Hunter, Newton Country Day (0-2—2)
WHAT IF?:Â What would a New England girls prep Olympics look like?
Top goalie: Ragan Schank, Berwick
Berwick got it done on the scoreboard in their 5-1 win over Brewster Academy last week, but Schank (Wells, Maine) was still sharp. The senior Rivier commit posted 32 saves on 33 shots, doing her part in the win.
Honorable mentions: Caroline Mackey, Newton Country Day (26 saves on 27 shots in one game); Piper Davekos, Pingree (29 saves on 33 shots in one game)
Founders/Housatonic
Top skaters: Annie Schwarz, Lindsey Stepnowski and Carly Dann, Loomis Chafee
Loomis Chaffee's best players were just that this week in a pair of 3-0 wins. The Pelicans shut out then-No. 3 Williston Northampton, 3-0, on Saturday. Each of Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.), Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) and Dann (Hanover, N.H.) had a goal and an assist in the win. Schwarz and Dann also had a goal and an assist each in a 3-0 win over Lawrenceville, while Stepnowski also scored.
Honorable mentions: Annie Forker, Choate (4-0—4); Lindsay Kunzelmann, Taft (2-2—4); Kate McKiernan, Kent (3-1—4); Olivia Austen, Deerfield (2-1—3); Selkie Brown, Taft (1-2—3); Chloe Cleaves, Deerfield (1-2—3); Dakota Boyle, Kent (1-2—3); Gia Thompson, Deerfield (1-2—3); Maddie Leonard, Kent (1-1—2); Ella Bates, Taft (2-0—2)
GOLDEN GOAL: New England well-represented as Keller’s winner lifts Team USA to Olympic gold over Canada
Top goalie: Aspen Devlin, Kent
Kent gave then-No. 6 Deerfield a hell of a game last week, even if it didn't result in a win, as the Lions settled for a 3-3 draw. A lot of that is thanks to Devlin (Falmouth, Mass.). The sophomore was terrific, making 42 saves on 45 shots.
Honorable mentions: Adeline Roper, Loomis Chaffee (24 saves on 24 shots in one game); Emily Hosman, Loomis Chaffee (19 saves on 19 shots in one game); Izzy Kirby, Deerfield (18 saves on 19 shots in one game);
Independents
Top skater: Sawyer Merrill, Dexter Southfield
Merrill (Hingham, Mass.) led Dexter to two key wins last week with three points in both games. The senior Yale commit had a goal and two assists in a 5-0 win over New Hampton. She followed it up with two goals and an assist in a 4-1 win against Cushing. Merrill has shattered her previous career-highs, sitting at 11 goals and 23 points on the season.
Honorable mentions: Raven Bennett, Frederick Gunn (3-3—6); Maria Gray, Phillips Exeter (2-3—5); Grace Riley, Phillips Exeter (3-1—4); Brianna Boulanger, Frederick Gunn (3-1—4); Paisley Meyer, Phillips Exeter (2-2—4); Leah Hafer, Dexter Southfield (1-2—3); Izzy Blake, Frederick Gunn (1-2—3); Sarah Lawson, Hoosac (1-2—3); Sophia Dadd, Frederick Gunn (1-2—3); Georgia MacInnis, Millbrook (2-1—3); Alex Gregorek, Berkshire (2-1—3); Maggie Lovering, Dexter Southfield (1-1—2); Kimee Duplessis, Phillips Andover (1-1—2); Tayla Geekie, Hoosac (1-1—2); Andrea Sassatelli, Millbrook (2-0—2); Eileen Callahan, Millbrook (1-1—2); Jaicee Downs Millbrook (1-1—2)
MIAA BRACKETS: Div. 1 girls | Div. 2 girls | Div. 1 boys | Div. 2 boys | Div. 3 boys | Div. 4 boys
Top goalie: Gabby Cohen, Hoosac
Cohen started two of Hoosac's three games at the Hill School Invitational, and she was sharp in both. The uncommitted senior gave the Owls every chance to win in a 3-1 loss to The Hill School, stopping 59 of 61 shots before Hill added an empty-netter. Cohen and Hoosac bounced back as she posted a 14-save shutout in a 2-0 win over Mount Saint Charles.
Honorable mentions: River Grady, Williston Northampton (29 saves on 33 shots in one game); Annabelle Aitken, Dexter Southfield (13 saves on 13 shots in one game); Addie Sutherland, Dexter Southfield (17 saves on 18 shots in one game); Estella Vazquez, Greenwich Country Day (18 saves on 20 shots in one game);Â Isa Fischer, Hebron (22 saves on 23 shots in one game)
Lakes Region
Top skater: Erin Flaherty, St. Paul's
St. Paul's had a monster week last week, and so did Flaherty (Boston, Mass.). The junior had seven points in three games as SPS swept then-No. 10 Phillips Exeter before beating Tilton, 3-1. The Boston University commit had a goal and two assists in the Big Red's 9-1 win over Exeter before adding a goal and an assist in a 3-2 comeback the following game. Flaherty capped it off with a pair of goals in the win at Tilton. She's enjoying a career season with 20 goals and 31 points.
Honorable mentions: Tess Mulkerron, St. Paul's (2-2—4); Kelsey MacPherson, St. Paul's (1-3—4); Maddy Allen, St. Paul's (2-2—4); Stella Regan, Holderness (1-3—4); Lexi Morris, Holderness (0-4—4); Anna Davidson, Tilton (3-0—3); Chelsea Bell, St. Paul's (2-1—3); Julia Lemire, Holderness (2-1—3); Talia Engel, Vermont Academy (2-1—3); Gabi Young, Kimball Union (1-2—3); Carley Guarino, Vermont Academy (1-2—3); Ali Sprissler, Kimball Union (3-0—3); Ella McGarvey, Tilton (2-0—2); Christina Fossum, Proctor (2-0—2); Emily Gosselin, Kimball Union (2-0—2)
GIRLS PREP RANKINGS: Major changes in the final regular-season top 10
Top goalie: Madeline Andrade, Tilton
Andrade (Plymouth, Mass.) got the start in two of the Rams' three games over the last week, facing 94 shots total and finishing with a .968 save percentage. Andrade made 35 saves in a 4-1 win over Lakes Region rival Kimball Union before keeping Tilton in it in a loss to St. Paul's. The junior made 56 saves on 58 shots.
Honorable mentions: Paige MacPhee, St. Paul's (44 saves on 47 shots in two games); Elizabeth Vincent, New Hampton (41 saves on 47 shots in two games); Carina Eshbaugh, Proctor (32 saves on 32 shots in one game); Payton Adams, Holderness (38 saves on 40 shots in one game); Julia Alessandro, St. Paul's (14 saves on 15 shots in one game)
Vallaincourt
Top skater: Sadie Morgan, North Yarmouth Academy
The Panthers had a huge day in a 7-0 win at Kents Hill. Morgan (Lewiston, Maine) was at the forefront of the effort with a three-point night. The senior finished with two goals and an assist.
Honorable mentions: Lily Fortin, North Yarmouth Academy (2-0—2); Jordan Nash, North Yarmouth Academy (1-1—2)
MIAA TOURNAMENT: Div. 1 predictions | Div. 2 predictions | 8 sleepers to watch
Top goalie: Eve-Marie Leclerc, North Yarmouth Academy
It wasn't all about offense in NYA's blowout of Kents Hill last week. Leclerc was still plenty busy in the crease. The senior Southern Maine commit turned aside all 29 shots she faced for the shutout. It was her second straight shutout and ninth of the season.
