Arlington Catholic is right where it left off last season.
The defending Division 1 state champion is the team to beat this season. If AC hopes to repeat its success, the Cougars will have to regroup after the loss of four players (two forwards, two defensemen).
But All-Scholastic Michelle Conway is still at forward. The junior led last year's champs with 31 goals and 31 assists. Conway and fellow junior forward Lauren Lepore join freshman center Casey Stathopoulos on the first line.
Ashley Tolman, who recovered from an injury just in time to help lead the Cougars to the championship, will return in goal. "It will be nice to have her back there," said coach Ed McDonald. "She has to be very vocal."
Last season, despite winning the state tournament, the Cougars played second fiddle to St. Mary's in the Catholic Central League during the regular season. The Spartans went 19-1-1 before losing to Austin Prep in a shootout in the Division 1 semifinals.
St. Mary's lost four players, including starting goalie Aly Garnett, an All-Scholastic. But the team has a solid core of returning players, led by senior forward and Super Team selection Abby Gauthier, who highlights a strong front line. "We have a lot in terms of players up front," coach Frank Pagliuca said.
The battle to replace Garnett has been close, with three candidates. Kayla Shinnick, Michelle Sochat, and Marblehead transfer Kelsey Magrane have all made a strong case, but Pagliuca said Magrane, a junior, has claimed the starting role.
Boston Latin already has made a statement with its 2-0 defeat of Austin Prep. Latin is led by sisters Ann Marie Elvin, a senior, and Siobhan Elvin, a sophomore. The elder Elvin plays up front and scored the first goal in the win. Goalie Siobhan finished with 47 saves.
Returning Super Team center Kathleen Roche is the top player for Latin. The senior had 36 goals and 25 assists last season. Latin finished the regular season undefeated (15-0-3) before losing, 5-4, in overtime to Arlington Catholic in the tournament, and should contend again for the Division 1 crown.
Austin Prep coach Jim McGonagle returns his first two lines from last season's Division 1 runner-up and his goalie, All-Scholastic junior Meghan Grant, who posted a 1.47 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. After losing two defensemen, McGonagle is looking for junior Kerry Duran to lead a young unit that features two freshmen. Kaleigh Costello and Danielle DelDotto flank center Katharine Dagle on the team's top scoring line. "I hate being ranked," McGonagle said, "because then everyone comes after you."
Falmouth, last year's No. 1 seed in the Division 2 tournament, figures to be one of the strongest teams in the division. The Clippers went 17-1 in the regular season before falling in the semifinals to Milton, and Falmouth is well on its way to another impressive regular season after a 5-3 win over league rival and last season's state champ, Barnstable.
Barnstable, the second seed in the tournament last season, will have to deal with the departure of Super Team center Stephanie Scarpato. New goalkeeper Ali Talerman, a sophomore, will have to play well if Barnstable hopes to reach the final again.
Dominique Lozzi, a returning All-Scholastic center, heads a Reading team that will challenge opponents. After the loss of three forwards from last season, senior forward Jen Abrams moves up to join Lozzi and sophomore Rachael McCarthy on the top line, while junior Meaghan MacNichol will be in net for the third season.
Canton could also be a handful, particularly because of returning All-Scholastic center Brittany Lyons. The scoring machine had 43 goals last season.
