Final Boston Herald Top 20 Girls Hockey Rankings

Wellesley might compete in the Division 2 tournament, but the Raiders certainly made a claim for being the best team in the state.

Their only loss came to Div. 1 finalist Austin Prep, a setback they avenged four weeks later. Wellesley also defeated Div. 1 finalist Woburn as well as semifinalist Braintree on its way to an impressive 22-1-0 season.

Wellesley shared the Div. 2 state title with Canton, which went 19-1-4 on the season, with its only loss coming to No. 11 Westwood.

Austin Prep was one of several teams disappointed that it didn’t get a chance to finish off what they started. The Cougars had come so close to a state title the past two seasons and felt this was the team that could bring home the Div. 1 state title.

They ended the season with 15 consecutive wins and the top spot in the final Div. 1 ranking. The team they shared the Div. 1 title was Woburn, which rode a youth movement to get to the championship game. Braintree came very close to taking out Austin Prep in the tournament, losing a 2-1 contest in the semifinals.

Overall

1. Wellesley (22-1-0)

2. Austin Prep (21-1-2)

3. Woburn (19-2-2)

4. Braintree (20-3-1)

5. Canton (19-1-4)

6. St. Mary’s (15-3-4)

7. HPNA (18-1-2)

8. Norwell (20-3-0)

9. Notre Dame (14-3-5)

10. Arlington (14-3-5)

11. Westwood (15-6-3)

12. Boston Latin (16-4-4)

13. Belmont (14-4-4)

14. Falmouth (13-5-5)

15. Peabody/Lynnfield/N. Reading (15-5-1)

16. Methuen/Tewksbury (11-5-6)

17. Shrewsbury (14-6-2)

18. Needham (15-6-3)

19. Dennis-Yarmouth (13-3-3)

20. Dedham (12-8-2)

Division 1

1. Austin Prep (21-1-2)

2. Woburn (19-2-2)

3. Braintree (20-3-1)

4. Canton (19-1-4)

5. St. Mary’s (15-3-4)

6. Arlington (14-3-5)

7. Boston Latin (16-4-4)

8. Belmont (14-4-4)

9. Peabody/Lynnfield/N. Reading (15-5-1)

10. Methuen/Tewksbury (11-5-6)

11. Shrewsbury (14-6-2)

12. Needham (15-6-3)

13. Andover (11-7-4)

14. Waltham (13-4-5)

15. Duxbury (12-7-3)

16. Masconomet (10-7-4)

17. Reading (11-8-3)

18. Hingham (10-12-0)

19. Wayland/Weston (10-7-4)

20. Barnstable (10-8-3)

Division 2

1. Wellesley (22-1-0)

2. Canton (19-1-4)

3. Norwell (20-3-0)

4. Notre Dame (14-3-5)

5. Westwood (15-6-3)

6. Falmouth (13-5-5)

7. Dennis-Yarmouth (13-3-3)

8. Dedham (12-8-2)

9. Natick (15-7-0)

10. Ursuline (14-4-4)

11. Sandwich (17-6-0)

12. Norwood (11-8-2)

13. Algonquin/Hudson (13-5-3)

14. Medfield/Norton (11-8-3)

15. Burlington (11-9-2)

16. Winchester (7-11-2)

17. Bishop Fenwick (12-6-3)

18. Cohasset/Hanover (9-7-3)

19. Wakefield (8-9-4)

20. Bishop Stang (10-8-3)

NANCY LANE / HERALD STAFF FILE ON THE BOARD: Woburn players celebrate scoring in its Div. 1 semifinal win.

JIM MICHAUD / BOSTON HERALD TURNED ASIDE: Canton goaltender Carolyn Durand turns away a shot during the Div. 2 semifinal against Norwell.

NANCY LANE / HERALD STAFF FILE TOPS IN DIVISION 1: Austin Prep celebrates tying the Div. 1 semifinal against Braintree. The Cougars went on to win the game, 2-1.

FAITH NINIVAGGI / HERALD STAFF RAIDERS LAST LINE OF DEFENSE: Wellesley goalie Liddy Schulz had two shutouts in the postseason helping the Raiders win a share of the Div. 2 state title.