Heavyweights come out swinging: Girls hockey Top 10 ranking

Right now, the road to a girls high school hockey state championship runs through either Hingham or Duxbury, at least according to the MIAA power rankings.

When the first batch was released Tuesday morning, Notre Dame Academy was atop Division 1 and defending state champ Duxbury was atop Div. 2.

No surprise that those two powerhouses are 1-2 in our second Patriot Ledger/Enterprise Top 10 ranking of the season.

Our first ranking, back on Dec. 22, can be found here.

More: Clutch goals and career milestones: Vote for the H.S. Girls Hockey Player of the Week

We have included each team's MIAA power ranking. Keep in mind, though, that some teams have played a game since those were announced.

Here's our latest Top 10 for 2023-24. Current record, through Wednesday, and previous ranking in parentheses.

1. Duxbury (10-1, 1)

The Dragons are in full machine mode right now, winners of seven straight since a 4-3 loss to Bishop Feehan on Dec. 29. Duxbury avenged that loss already, winning the rematch 4-0 on New Year's Day, and has outscored opponents 47-9 this season, including high-profile wins over Hingham and Marshfield. Goalie Anna McGinty has been superb (1.09 goals-against average, .933 save percentage), and Maddie Greenwood leads the offense with 12 goals. Big games loom against Pembroke (Jan. 24) and Hingham (Jan. 27). MIAA power ranking: No. 1 in Div. 2

2. Notre Dame Academy (7-2-2, 2)

The Cougars have a valid claim for the top spot, considering they are 5-0-1 against the other teams on our list − wins over Canton, Pembroke, Milton, Braintree and Hingham (in Monday's Hingham Cup) and a tie with Braintree. In their only losses − 2-0 to St. Mary's (Lynn) and 2-1 to Boston Latin − they were done in by goalies who combined for 80 saves. NDA's defense (just 9 goals allowed) has been terrific, led by goalies Ava Larkin (0.55 GAA, .970 save percentage) and Erin Kral (1.00, .901). The Feb. 14 matchup with Duxbury at The Bog is shaping up as the Game of the Year. MIAA power ranking: No. 1 in Div. 1

3. Pembroke (11-1, 9)

Stick tap for junior center Jen Birolini, who on Wednesday became the program's all-time leading goal-scorer with her 104th career strike. On Jan. 10 she hit two milestones − her 100th career goal and 150th career point. Birolini's excellence is mirrored in her team's fast start as the Titans have won nine straight since a heavy loss (7-1) to NDA. Sophomore Hannah D'Angelo (9 goals, 3 assists, 12 points) and senior Maria Cantino (3-9−12) form the top line with Birolini, and eighth-grader Ella Skieber (11-10−21) provides punch on the second line. MIAA power ranking: No. 4 in Div. 2

4. Hingham (8-3-1, 4)

Junior forward Caroline Doherty (11 goals) and freshman forward Hannah Lasch (9 goals) have provided the scoring punch for the Harborwomen, whose only losses have come against Duxbury, Braintree and NDA. Addy Garrity (5-7−12) and Reese Pompeo (5-6−11) have been playmakers, while defensemen CC Flynn (3-6−9) and Shea Richardson (3-4−7) have chipped in offensively. The defense (led by goalies Izzy McGarr and Izzi Puleo) has been sharp lately, allowing 7 goals, including an empty netter by NDA, over the past six games. MIAA power ranking: No. 5 in Div. 1

5. Canton (10-2, 3)

The Bulldogs will take a five-game winning streak into Saturday's game vs. Medway/Ashland. Canton won the Martha's Vineyard Tournament last weekend, handing St. Mary's (Lynn) its first loss of the season in the final. Coach Nikki Petrich called that result "something we will be able to look back on and utilize for future confidence." The Bulldogs' losses have come against NDA (7-2-2 record) and Dedham (8-2). Canton's young blue line has been anchored by seniors Devan Spinale and Tori Carr. MIAA power ranking: No. 5 in Div. 2

6. Milton (8-3, 5)

Goalie Lila Chamoun continues to be a brick wall with a 1.45 GAA, a .944 save percentage and 5 shutouts. She led the Wildcats to an 18-win season a year ago and could do the same this winter. Junior Molly Murphy (8 goals), sophomore Sabrina Stone (5 goals) and junior Maggie Mullen (4 goals) pace the offense, although Milton has scored only 23 times all season. The Wildcats have shaken off a three-game slide (including losses to NDA and Canton) to win four in a row, including an OT conquest of Braintree. MIAA power ranking: No. 7 in Div. 2

7. Braintree (4-5-1, 6)

Four of the Wamps' five losses have been by a goal, including two in overtime. They skated to a 0-0 tie with NDA (also lost 3-0 to the Cougars) and beat Hingham, 5-3. Goalie Eva Surette (2.00 GAA, .900 save percentage) has been sharp, and Nora Shea (9-2−11) is a legit scoring threat, but Braintree is 2-5-1 over its last eight games. Monday's 4-0 win over Norwood snapped a three-game losing streak, though, and coach Kevin Burchill believes his team has potential, noting, "I think we will surprise a lot of teams in the second half (of the season)." MIAA power ranking: No. 13 in Div. 1

8. Marshfield (4-6, NR)

The Rams' best games this season might be a pair of 3-1 losses to Duxbury; both were tied late before the Dragons found a way. Marshfield also was competitive in losses to Milton (3-2) and Hingham (3-1 and 3-2 in OT). Junior Kayla Leonard (5-4−9) and freshman Julie Lemire (4-4−8) have provided scoring punch, and goalie Morgan Murphy has a fine 2.00 GAA. Said coach Tom Greland: "There are times when it clicks, when they come together, and it's poetry in motion. Our record does not indicate how good this team is." MIAA power ranking: No. 13 in Div. 2

9. Norwell/Scituate/Abington (4-6-1, NR)

After an 0-2 start, coach Victoria Dinger's team is trending in the right direction at 4-4-1 with wins over Quincy/North Quincy, Martha's Vineyard, Hanover and Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake. NSA was competitive in losses to heavyweights Canton (5-4) and Pembroke (5-3) and fell in OT to Barnstable. The other loss was to Duxbury. NSA has a healthy goal total of 34, powered by senior captain Calli Pineau (15-7−22); Pineau started her varsity career playing on the Abington boys team. Freshman Maddie Cantor has chipped in a 7-7−14 scoring line. MIAA power ranking: No. 18 in Div. 2

10. West/East Bridgewater (6-5, NR)

The co-op program had a rocky start to the season − a 1-3 record while being outscored 16-8. Things are looking much better since then, though − WEB is 5-2 and has allowed one or two goals in five of those games. The only losses in that stretch were a one-goal decision vs. Nauset/Monomoy and a 7-1 defeat to red-hot Pembroke. They've rebounded from the latter to post consecutive wins over Leominster and Hanover, fueled by three goals from senior forward Grace Ogilvie. MIAA power ranking: No. 33 in Div. 1

On the bench: Hanover (5-4-1), Archbishop Williams (4-7), Plymouth North/South (3-5-3), Mansfield/Oliver Ames/Foxboro (4-4-1), Weymouth (4-7-1)

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: South Shore high school girls hockey Top 10 ranking