Below are the round one matchups for NE Prep. Our New England scouts have shared their opinions on each game and predictions on who will win. The higher seed will host each game. Goodluck to all teams.
Elite 8
#8 St. Paul’s at #1 Nobles. 3:30 pm. Nobles has one of the top scorers in all of prep hockey in Francie Ames and one of the best goalies in Annika Jonas. St. Paul’s is a talented eight-seed led by Erin Flaherty and goalie Paige MacPhee. NZ Predicts: Nobles
#7 Tabor at #2 Phillips Andover. 3:30 pm. Andover has two of the top forwards in prep, Caroline Averill and Sarah Powers, and one of the best defenders, Maggie Averill. Tabor will have their hands full and will need goal-scoring from Jen Birolini and Sofia Nardelli. NZ Predicts: Andover
#6 Deerfield at #3 Williston. 4:15 pm. Williston has had recent success in the elite 8 and will look to lean on Mia Daley and Brooke Schlutter. Deerfield is deep and has players like Sophie Frost and Gia Thompson playing well this year. NZ Predicts: Split
#5 Loomis at #4 Dexter. 3 pm. Defending champs look to go back-to-back, and Lindsey Stepnowski is a great player to have on your side. Dexter is deep and led by Evelyn Doyle. NZ Predicts: Split
Large School
#8 Middlesex at #1 Phillips Exeter. Phillips Exeter has two players with over forty-five points in Maria Gray and Paisley Meyer. The best chance for Middlesex is Janie Martin finding the back of the net. NZ Predicts: Exeter
#7 Kent at #2 Choate. Annie Forker and the rest of the Choate team will be too much for Kent in this one. NZ Predicts: Choate
#6 Berkshire at #3 Taft. Taft has good depth in goal with Anousheh Mohebbi and Alex Tombaugh, and a good point scorer in Ella Bates. Bershire has good depth and does not rely on one person to create offense. NZ Predicts: Split
#5 Thayer at #4 BB&N. This will be a great game, and both teams have standout forwards in Madeline Call and Anika Singh. NZ Predicts: BB&N
Small School
#8 Frederick Gunn at #1 Groton. 3 pm. Groton has former MVP Christina Scalese, and even though Frederick Gunn has a small roster, they have good talent in Raven Bennett, Maria Gilshannon, and Moira Landsverk in net. NZ Predicts: Groton
#7 New Hampton at #2 Rivers. 5:30 pm. This is poised to be a close game and one of the better matchups of round 1. Emma Macpherson and Simone Burns will look to be X factors. NZ Predicts: Rivers
#6 Portsmouth Abbey at #3 Cushing. 5:15 pm. Cushing had a strong schedule to close out the year and will look towards goal scorer Isabella Freitas to help them offensively, and Megan O’Connor for Portsmouth Abbey. NZ Predicts: Cushing
#5 St. Mark’s at #4 Governor’s. 4 pm. St. Mark’s creates offensive will with multiple players like Jocelyn Gray and Samantha Ruzzo. Governors has stand out defender Megan Carlson, who will look to command the game off her stick. NZ Predicts: Split