Last yr, all of the preseason title discuss in Div. 1 ladies hockey surrounded Austin Prep, with three eventual Dream-Teamers on an unbeatable squad that went on to a historic end. Now that the Cougars have fled the MIAA, although, the hole has closed considerably this yr and the dialog has modified. That path to TD Garden is now loads tighter, and much more fascinating.
St. Mary’s (L) and Notre Dame Academy are the consensus groups to beat early on. Two-time All-Scholastic senior ahead Jenna Chaplain and senior ahead Maggie Pierce pair with Kelly Lovett and Amanda Forziati to kind a vicious Spartans assault, whereas Haylie Grossman and Kasey Litwin stand out defensively in entrance of star goalie Ang Cantino. The Cougars misplaced their very own star goalie to switch, however Sarah Francis, Lucy DelGallo and Avery Engel are elite blue liners whereas any of premier forwards Sarah White, Morgan Brady, Lauren White, Maggie Donahue or Ava O’Donoghue may erupt offensively any given evening.
It’s hardly a drop-off from there to the cream of the MVC/DCL crop, which is a good stronger convention than it was final yr. HPNA is hungry, that includes forwards Kaitlyn Bush, Shelby Nassar and Gabby Harty inside a dominant assault, in addition to Cassy Doherty and sophomore phenom goalie Julianna Taylor on protection. Shrewsbury stays defensively sturdy itself via returning goalie Risa Montoya and blue liners Yasmine McKenzie, Maddie Mrva and Bridget McLaughlin. Forwards Taylor Ryder and Mia Ryder look to step up offensively for the contender.
Acton-Boxboro is brief on depth, however All-Scholastic defenseman Alli Correiri returns with Lily Vaughan to kind a premier blue line. Defensemen MJ Petisce, Emma Ryan and Lyla Chapman all return for a Methuen/Tewksbury group prepared for any opponent, whereas Billerica/Chelmsford challenges as effectively.
In the Catholic Central League, a deep Bishop Feehan assault is primed for an enormous leap via star forwards Caitlin Kelley, Grace Nelson and Chloe Bryda, balanced with goalie Avery Blanchard and senior defenseman Mary Lamoriello. Bishop Stang has loads of firepower between elite scorers Mikayla Brightman and Lexi Yost, and Bishop Fenwick additionally threatens.
State runner-up Arlington remains to be harmful regardless of key departures, boasting a strong defensive core and a gifted ahead tandem of sophomore Julia Krepelka and senior Molly Conneely. Reading challenges within the Middlesex League with senior management and star Alex Herbert between the pipes, whereas Stoneham/Wilmington returns key figures in any respect three phases.
Winthrop comes off an undefeated common season even stronger, returning elite scorers Emma Holmes, Julia Holmes, Talia Martucci and Mia Norris in entrance of prime blue liner Abby Holmes. Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading retains tempo, boasting Catie Kampersal and Jenna DiNapoli to guide a deep assault and defensive mainstay Penny Spack in entrance of goalie sensation Alyse Mutti. Caroline Doherty is a particular ahead to look at, pairing with Abby Garrity and defensive chief Erin Packard to assist Hingham contend. Cape Cod figures to be sturdy once more too.
The Div. 2 state event had one of many wildest finishes in all of highschool sports activities final yr with its bevy of untamed upsets, and this yr continues quite a lot of that parity.
Reigning champion Algonquin/Hudson is predicted to be very aggressive once more with All-Scholastic ahead Emily Johns and defenseman Olivia Bower returning in entrance of senior breakout goalie Kaitlin Mathews, however isn’t fairly the favourite to get again to TD Garden after shedding a few of its postseason heroes. Those chief contenders sports activities a number of the greatest goaltending within the state.
All-Scholastic senior Sophia Visceglio is the spine in web for a loaded Sandwich group that’s the early crew to beat, bolstered by Katie Barrett, Emma MacPherson and Adrianna Kelsch on the assault, in addition to Olivia O’Brien, Darby Rounseville and Meghan Barrett on protection. Fellow All-Scholastic senior goalie Carolyn Durand pairs with senior Maya Battista to anchor a formidable protection and Audrey Koen leads the assault for reigning finalist Canton beneath new head coach Nikki Petrich. Senior netminder Anna McGinnity and All-Scholastic blueliner McKenna Colella are two anchors to a charged Duxbury group in transition, however ahead Madeline ‘Mad-Dog’ Greenwood appears to assist avenge an early playoff exit.
Junior goalie Eva Surette, in addition to defenders Molly Whitham and Kelsie Littlewood, determine to do the identical for defensive energy Braintree. Freshman Evelyn Lacey is already starring in web behind defender Abby Dunn for harmful Archbishop Williams, although its key energy comes via the scoring tandem of All-Scholastic switch Maggie Lynch and Grace Mottau. All-Scholastic senior goalie Danielle DeJon has quite a lot of youth round her, however Malden Catholic is a crew to look at. Matignon is skinny however ought to take groups to the brink all yr behind Mae Lafferty and Emma Pessia.
Medfield brings again loads from its Cinderella journey to the state semifinals, as Cassie McDonald and Kiki Matthews pose main scoring threats whereas Gabby Curl and Casey Donovan excel on the blue line. Forward Maddie McDonald, ahead Calli Pineau and goalie Nicole Prescott are primed for large seasons for Norwell.
King Philip searches to avenge its early exit, with signature scorer Kelly Holmes returning in entrance of a deep and skilled defensive group. Pembroke could be very younger however appears to star sophomore ahead Jen Birolini, Maria Cantino, Ava Dunphy and Alexa Lewis to spur a deep run. Falmouth appears to win the Cape and Islands League, led by goalie Lucy Armour, ahead Jane Hostetter and defenseman Chloe Champani.
Natick options phenom sophomore netminder Ellie Biegel behind offensive star Emma Tavilla. Needham could be very younger, however appears to piece sufficient collectively to make a run. Wellesley is predicted to make loads of noise.
Winchester options prime defenseman Annie Ettenhoffer in addition to premier forwards Irene Mandile and Georgia Costello. Burlington returns a dominant scoring trio in Shea McDonald, Lexi MacKinnon and Caitlyn Tremblay to pose a menace. Transfers hit Woburn onerous, however Steve Kennedy’s group is at all times aggressive.
Andover, Central Catholic, Westwood, Norwood and Barnstable are additionally anticipated to be among the many sturdy event combine.
DIV. 1 & 2 PLAYERS TO WATCH
FORWARDS
Tori Apostolakes (Billerica/Chelmsford), Katie Barrett (Sandwich), Jen Birolini (Pembroke), Mikayla Brightman (Bishop Stang), Kaitlyn Bush (HPNA), Jenna Chaplain (St. Mary’s), Georgia Costello (Winchester), Caroline Doherty (Hingham), Jenna Fitzsimons (Medway/Ashland), Madeline Greenwood (Duxbury), Emma Holmes (Winthrop), Julia Holmes (Winthrop), Kelly Holmes (King Philip), Emily Johns (Algonquin/Hudson), Catie Kampersal (Peabody/Lynnf./N.R.), Caitlyn Kelley (Bishop Feehan), Julia Krepelka (Arlington), Maggie Lynch (Archbishop Williams), Rose MacLean (Andover), Lexi MacKinnon (Burlington), Irene Mandile (Winchester), Ally McEneaney (Barnstable), Cassie McDonald (Medfield), Maddie McDonald (Norwell), Grace Mottau (Archbishop Williams), Maggie Pierce (St. Mary’s), Emma Tavilla (Natick), Lauren White (NDA), Sarah White (NDA), Lexi Yost (Bishop Stang)
DEFENSEMEN
Ava Baker (Malden Catholic), Maya Battista (Canton), Chloe Champani (Falmouth), McKenna Colello (Duxbury), Alli Correiri (Acton-Boxboro), Cassy Doherty (HPNA), Annie Ettenhoffer (Winchester), Sarah Francis (NDA), Yasmine McKenzie (Shrewsbury), Olivia O’Brien (Sandwich), Emma Pessia (Matignon), MJ Petisce (Methuen/Tewksbury), Sienna Reeves (Cape Cod), Charlotte Rossicone (Wakefield), Remoré Serra (Billerica/Chelmsford), Penny Spack (Peabody/Lynnfield/N.R.), Lily Vaughan (Acton-Boxboro), Molly Whitham (Braintree)
GOALIES
Olivia Avellar (Cape Cod), Ellie Biegel (Natick), Avery Blanchard (Bishop Feehan), Danielle DeJon (Malden Catholic), Carolyn Durand (Canton), Bridget Gray (Belmont), Alex Herbert (Reading), Evelyn Lacey (Archbishop Williams), Anna McGinnity (Duxbury), Risa Montoya (Shrewsbury), Alyse Mutti (Peabody/Lynnf./N.R.), Eva Surette (Braintree), Julianna Taylor (HPNA), Sophia Vesceglio (Sandwich)
Source: www.bostonherald.com
