A trio of unbeaten teams are the top contenders in the MIAA Division 1 girls’ hockey 31-team bracket that was announced Saturday.
Top seed Shrewsbury (19-0-1), making the move up from Division 2, has outscored foes, 109-24. Woburn (19-0-2), the reigning state champion, is the second seed, followed by Austin Prep (18-0-2), which is ranked No. 1 in the Globe’s Top 20.
Shrewsbury, featuring a deep offensive attack and a solid defense, cannot plan a trip to TD Garden yet for the state final March 18.
Each of the past two seasons in D2, Shrewsbury was ousted in its first game in the tournament.
“I told the girls it just gives us a bigger target on our backs,’’ said Shrewsbury coach Frank Panarelli. “We’re the No. 1 seed, but you have to show up and play the game.’’
Junior Delaney Couture leads the Shrewsbury attack with 47 goals and 15 assists.
In a 31-team bracket, there will be upsets.
Billerica/Chelmsford (9-8-3), the 28th seed, played close games with nearly every team in the Globe’s Top 20, and tied Shrewsbury, 2-2. Reading (8-8-3), Andover (10-5-5), and Needham (11-6-3) are among teams in the bottom third of the bracket that could make a run.
“Every game is going to be tough, every game is going to be a battle,’’ said Methuen/Tewksbury coach Sarah Oteri. “We need to be consistent every shift — every game.’’
Division 2
Two-time defending champion Notre Dame Academy of Hingham received the 10th seed after a challenging schedule produced an 11-6-2 record. But the Cougars will be a tough draw.
With all six of its losses coming against Division 1 opponents, Notre Dame still expects to make a run to TD Garden for the state final.
“For me, it’s very easy to coach a group of girls who have that kind of expectation for themselves,’’ said Notre Dame first-year coach Chris Marshall. “Regardless of what’s going on around them, they’ve got that quiet confidence that they’ve been there before. Going down one or two goals or losing a game here and there is not going to kill the spirit.’’
No. 1 seed Wellesley (15-2-3) was dealt both of its losses by unbeaten Austin Prep.
With a balanced attack and a strong forecheck, the Raiders are primed to get back to TD Garden after being denied last season.
Second-seeded Canton (15-3-3), which lost in last year’s final, again is leaning on a stifling defense anchored by an outstanding goalie, senior Colleen Kelleher.
Arlington Catholic (14-4-2), Milton (14-5-3), and Dennis Yarmouth (13-5-2) round out the top five seeds.
MIAA Girls’ hockey tournament
DIVISION 1
Seeds: 1. Shrewsbury (19-0-1); 2. Woburn (19-0-2); 3. Austin Prep (18-0-2); 4. Methuen/Tewksbury (17-1-2); 5. Barnstable (15-1-4); 6. Melrose (16-3-1); 7. Duxbury (16-3-2); 8. St. Mary’s (15-3-2); 9. Masco (15-3-2); 10. Braintree (15-4-1); 11. Lincoln-Sudbury (15-4-1); 12. Plymouth (14-3-3); 13. Franklin (13-3-4); 14. BMWORR (13-5-2); 15. Winthrop (12-5-1); 16. Longmeadow (10-5); 17. HPNA (12-6-2); 18. Westford Academy (11-5-4); 19. Boston Latin (11-5-6); 20. Belmont (12-7-1); 21. Mansfield/Oliver Ames (11-6-3); 22. Andover (10-5-5); 23. Needham (11-6-3); 24. Marblehead (10-6-1); 25. Peabody/Lynnfield (11-7-2); 26. Arlington (10-7-3); 27. Waltham (10-8-2); 28. Billerica/Chelmsford (9-8-3); 29. Reading (8-8-3); 30. Hingham (9-9-4); 31. St. Peter Marian (9-9-2).
Tue., Feb. 27 — Preliminary
Marblehead/Gloucester/Hamilton-Wenham/Manchester Essex/Swampscott vs. Masconomet/Amesbury/Georgetown/Newburyport/Triton at Valley Forum, Haverhill, 4; Needham vs. Braintree at Zapustas Rink, Randolph, 6; Hingham vs. Austin Prep at Brooks School, North Andover, 7; Belmont vs. Franklin at Pirelli Veteran’s Arena, Franklin, 7:30; Haverhill/North Andover/Pentucket vs. Longmeadow at Olympia Rink, West Springfield, 8.
Wed., Feb. 28 — Preliminary
Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading vs. Duxbury at The Bog, Kingston, 3:20; Boston Latin vs. Bourne/Mashpee/Wareham at Gallo Arena, Bourne, 4; Reading vs. Methuen/Tewksbury at Methuen High, Methuen, 5; Billerica/Chelmsford vs. Barnstable at Kennedy Rink, Hyannis, 5:30; Mansfield/Oliver Ames vs. Plymouth North/Plymouth South at Armstrong Arena, Plymouth, 5:30; St. Peter-Marian vs. Woburn at O'Brien Arena, Woburn, 6; Waltham vs. Melrose at Flynn Memorial, Medford, 6; Westford/Littleton vs. Winthrop/Lynn English at Larsen Rink, Winthrop, 6:10; Arlington vs. St. Mary’s at Connery Rink, Lynn, 8; Andover vs. Lincoln-Sudbury at Valley Sports Arena, Concord, 8.
Mon., March 5 — First round
Longmeadow/HPNA winner vs. Shrewsbury at NorthStar Ice Sports, Westborough, 5:10.
DIVISION 2
Seeds: 1. Wellesley (15-2-3); 2. Canton (15-3-3); 3. Archbishop Williams (14-4-2); 4. Milton (14-5-3); 5. Dennis-Yarmouth (13-5-2); 6. Natick (13-5-2); 7. Westwood (13-6-3); 8. Stoneham (11-5-4); 9. Norwell (13-7); 10. Notre Dame Hingham (11-6-2); 11. Pembroke (12-7-1); 12. Norwood (11-8-1); 13. Algonquin-Hudson (11-9); 14. King Philip (10-8-2); 15. Matignon (11-9-1); 16. Winchester (9-8-3); 17. Wakefield (9-9-2); 18. Walpole (9-9-3); 19. Bishop Fenwick (9-9-2); 20. Medfield (7-7-6); 21. Cohasset/Hanover (8-8-5); 22. Falmouth (8-9-3); 23. Concord-Carlisle (7-10-3); 24. Central Catholic (5-13-2).
Mon., Feb. 26 — Preliminary
Hanover/Cohasset vs. Norwood at Bajko Memorial Rink, Hyde Park, 4; Walpole vs. Matignon at Stoneham Arena, Stoneham, 6; Wakefield vs. Winchester at O'Brien Arena, Woburn, 6.
Wed., Feb. 28 — Preliminary
Bishop Fenwick/Essex Tech vs. King Philip at New England Sports Center, Marlborough, 5; Central Catholic vs. Norwell at The Bog, Kingston, 5:20; Concord-Carlisle vs. Notre Dame (Hingham) at Ice House, Canton, Canton, 5:30; Falmouth vs. Pembroke at Hobomock, Pembroke, 6:40; Medfield/Norton vs. Algonquin/Hudson at New England Sports Center, Marlborough, 7.
Fri., March 2 — First round
Norwell/Central Catholic winner vs. Stoneham at Stoneham Arena, Stoneham, 6.
Sun., March 4 — First round
Matignon/Walpole winner vs. Canton at Ice House, Canton, Canton, 3:40; Norwood/Hanover-Cohas winner vs. Dennis-Yarmouth at Tony Kent Arena, South Dennis, 4:40.
TBA — First round
Algonquin/Medfield winner at Milton, TBA; Pembroke/Falmouth winner at Natick, TBA; Notre Dame/Concord Car winner at Westwood, TBA; Winchester/Wakefield winner at Wellesley, TBA; King Philip/Fenwick winner at Archbishop Williams, TBA.
Lenny Rowe can be reached at lenny.rowe@globe.com. Correspondent Dan McLoone can be reached at dan.mcloone@globe.com.
