Power rankings: Nobles, Deerfield, Holderness on the rise

Noble and Greenough senior midfielder Ava Newman works against Dexter Southfield. (Adam Richins photo)

The movement in our power rankings was subtle this week, with only a handful of teams shifting up, down or out.

But all that changes now.

It’s tournament time across the region, from the Independent School League and Lakes Region League, whose tournaments open today, to the eight-team Prep Cup this weekend that features many of New England’s strongest teams.

Which teams own a spot in this week’s Top 10? Let’s take a look.

1. PHILLIPS ANDOVER

Record: 15-0 | Previous rank: 1 | Next game: Saturday vs. TBD at Prep Cup

Andover has spent the last few weeks making decent teams look vastly overmatched. Its 18-3 win over Loomis Chaffee on Saturday was the 33rd in 34 games for the program dating back to last season, and it should be the top seed for this weekend’s Prep Cup, where it will play its two games against teams that follow it in these rankings.

2. NOBLE AND GREENOUGH

Record: 17-2 | Previous rank: 3 | Next game: Wednesday vs. Brooks (3:30 p.m.) in ISL championship tournament quarterfinals

Nobles has been absolutely suffocating teams since midseason, allowing just 51 goals in its last 12 games, or barely four goals each time out. Offensively, Cecily Baron, Corey Kumin (with four assists), Ava Newman and Emily Rowley each scored twice in Monday’s 10-3 win over Pingree.

MORE PREPS: TOURNEYS: ISL, Prep Cup, Lakes Region and more

3. SACRED HEART-GREENWICH

Record: 10-5 | Previous rank: 2 | Next game: Wednesday vs. Hotchkiss (4 p.m.)

The Tigers absorbed their fifth loss of the season last week, 9-6 to national high school power Darien (Conn.). While Peyla Carcaterra is regarded as one of the top sophomores in the country, another sophomore – attack Sasha Mollett – is standing out as well. The Prep Cup will give this team a chance at two more statement wins.

4. DEERFIELD

Record: 11-2 | Previous rank: 5 | Next game: Wednesday vs. Berkshire (3:30 p.m.)

Another team that seems to be playing its best lacrosse as the season winds down. The attack is firing on all cylinders. Only two teams – Pingree and Andover – have held Deerfield to single-digit goal totals, and those games came early in the season. Another team headed to the Prep Cup, which should be a great end-of-season measuring stick.

5. GOVERNOR’S

Record: 11-3 | Previous rank: 4 | Next game: Wednesday vs. BB&N (3:30 p.m.) in ISL championship tournament quarterfinals

Govs bounced back from its midweek loss to Nobles by locking down Rivers on Saturday, 14-4. Junior goalie Brea Barker continued her strong season with nine saves, while junior Anna Williamson had a hat trick and two assists to supplement freshman scoring sensation Quinn Powers.

6. DEXTER SOUTHFIELD

Record: 11-3 | Previous rank: 6 | Next game: Wednesday at Pingree (5:30 p.m.)

These next two spots in the Top 10 were the toughest to determine. Thankfully, the two teams in question – Dexter and Pingree – play head-to-head this evening, so it should be clear how to order them going forward. Both teams will be part of the Prep Cup this weekend, which is being hosted by Dexter.

7. PINGREE

Record: 12-2 | Previous rank: 7 | Next game: Wednesday vs. Dexter Southfield (5:30 p.m.)

The Highlanders saw their nine-game win streak halted by Nobles on Monday, 10-3, the first time all season an opponent has held a pretty robust offense to fewer than eight goals. They doubled up Williston Northampton on the weekend, with Caitlin Cunningham and Ellie Bracken scoring hat tricks, and Isla Cleveland causing four turnovers and collecting three groundballs.

8. THAYER

Record: 12-3 | Previous rank: 8 | Next game: Wednesday vs. Milton Academy (3:30 p.m.) in ISL championship tournament quarterfinals

It’s now 10 wins in 11 games for Thayer, which is playing as well as any team in the ISL not named Nobles. Bridget Hegarty, Hattie DiBattista and Anne Marie Zukauskas had hat tricks as the Tigers closed out their ISL regular season with a 16-9 win over St. Mark’s last week.

9. HOLDERNESS

Record: 13-2 | Previous rank: 10 | Next game: Wednesday vs. Kimball Union (5 p.m.) in Lakes Region tournament semifinals

Holderness has answered just about every question asked of it this season, and now will try to make this season a truly special one by winning the Lakes Region tournament. It’s already played KUA twice this season, winning 17-4 and 16-3. A third win would put the Bulls in Friday’s final against New Hampton or St. Paul’s.

10 (TIE). BERKSHIRE

Record: 13-1 | Previous rank: 10 | Next game: Wednesday at Deerfield (3:30 p.m.)

The Bears have passed every test but one, and since that loss to Hotchkiss on April 29 they’ve won four games by a combined score of 65-15. A game with Deerfield this afternoon gives the team’s seven seniors a chance to wrap up their careers with a very memorable win.

10 (TIE). TABOR

Record: 10-3-1 | Previous rank: 10 | Next game: Wednesday vs. Rivers (3:30 p.m.) in ISL championship tournament quarterfinals

Despite taking it on the chin from Nobles on Saturday (a result that puts the Seawolves in a very non-exclusive group), it’s been a strong second half to the season. Seniors Mavis O’Neil and Ashley Piersol both scored four goals in a 13-9 win over Milton Academy last week as they try to wrap up their outstanding Tabor careers on a high note.

MORE TABOR: How Tabor teammates pushed one another to Division 1 dreams

@MikeZhe603
mzhe@laxjournal.com