Do you bear in mind when late-game heroics took over half of the Div. 3 state quarterfinal video games final yr in subject hockey? When a aim inside the ultimate 4 minutes was the one offense each Newburyport and Dover-Sherborn used to punch their tickets to the Final Four? No?
Gloucester and Foxboro do.
How about within the subsequent spherical, when offensive juggernaut Sandwich was blanked up till scoring the game-winner early within the fourth? The similar state semifinal spherical a formidable defensive season got here to an abrupt halt with a 6-0 loss to Watertown? Remember?
Newburyport and Dover-Sherborn do.
And Sandwich’s slim loss to Watertown within the Div. 3 state last for a … you get the purpose.
Gloucester head coach Lauren Riley-Gove quipped in early September that there’s nothing like a bit of heartbreak to finish the prior season. It’s a bit of additional gasoline {that a} crew like hers – with a big returning forged from an upset loss – can use as motivation.
The solely drawback with how that interprets to any form of benefit within the upcoming Div. 3 state match, although, is all 4 of these different groups that fell brief additionally return a lot of their cores. None of them have greater than two losses as we enter the ultimate weeks of the common season, and all have giant appetites for what November can carry. Especially after how final yr ended.
Add former Div. 2 stalwarts Danvers and Falmouth into the combination from match realignments, and a crowded room now has much less area than it maybe ever had.
This subject simply may carry the fiercest set of competitors in comparison with every other division.
“We returned so many of our players last year and we got to the Elite Eight,” mentioned Foxboro head coach Melissa Bordieri. “These girls know (how close they were to the Final Four), they feel that. They want it so badly. … I think it’ll be a great tournament to watch for an outsider, just watching good games.”
“The final eight is going to be exciting to watch, and that’s what tournament play should be about,” added Sandwich head coach Kelsy Beaton. “It should be exciting. It should be, ‘Anyone can win.’ I’m excited for it. My girls are excited for it.”
It’s one factor for the reigning eight Div. 3 state quarterfinalists to all come again sturdy. It’s one other to throw extra risks into the pot. Danvers, Falmouth, and even former Div. 4 menace St. Mary’s of Lynn complicate issues.
The apparent ingredient is Danvers’ and Falmouth’s latest match success as a menace to everybody – with the Falcons reaching the Div. 2 state semifinals final yr and the Clippers doing so in 2021. Less apparent is how harmful their common season familiarity with Gloucester, Swampscott and Sandwich may very well be to these particular groups.
Outside of Watertown’s wins within the state last, the one crew Sandwich (11-0-1) hasn’t crushed in its final 22 video games is Falmouth after a 1-1 tie on Monday. A decent race for the Northeastern Conference title has examined every of Gloucester (10-2-2), Danvers (10-1-2) and Swampscott (7-5), as all 5 video games between them to this point have been determined by one aim.
“It adds a whole other ballgame, the (potential) to maybe have to play a team a third time,” mentioned Danvers head coach Kristen McCarthy. “It’s not easy.”
“I guess you can look at it as a double-edged sword,” Riley-Gove added. “In one way, you’re like, ‘We know these people, we want to come out and beat them.’ And the other, I don’t know. Danvers seems to be an Achilles heel.”
In the grand scheme, although, these high NEC groups are only a small handful of premier groups from premier leagues/conferences that belong to Div. 3. It’s truly fairly notable what number of there are.
Newburyport (13-1) has navigated a CAL ridden with parity by profitable all however two video games by at the least three targets. Foxboro (10-2-1) wasn’t fazed in a 2-0 loss to Hockomock League chief Franklin, or in last-minute wins over next-best opponents King Philip and Canton.
Dover-Sherborn (10-2-1) hasn’t struggled a lot in a Tri-Valley League loaded with tournament-likely groups, and Falmouth’s 6-3-3 report is a mirrored image of the Cape and Islands League’s issue.
Usually, this success in a tough league is a bonus. But it’s extra of a norm when all of the projected leaders within the division are thriving in such a manner, which makes Sandwich’s Beaton dearly miss being within the C&I much more than she already did.
Of course, Watertown (12-0) is the elephant within the room amongst all of them because the two-time defending champions, who simply set a nationwide report with a thirty third straight shutout. The high of the Middlesex League is hard, and the Raiders simply beat Reading, Winchester and Belmont by 7-0 scores.
Molly Driscoll & Co. look borderline unstoppable – even when contemplating Div. 1 title favourite Walpole. But Watertown head coach Eileen Donahue respects what lies forward.
“Their records alone (are impressive), and then you’re dealing with Danvers and Falmouth moving down to us,” mentioned head coach Eileen Donahue. “Newburyport was in the Final Four last year and look how well they’re doing. Look at Sandwich (and Dover-Sherborn). These are all solid programs, and I’m not taking away from any of the other divisions. … It’s anyone’s game. One-and-done.”
This isn’t even to say the upset threats all around the rankings. Hanover (No. 16) returned high expertise from final yr and is 8-3-1. Medfield (No. 13), St. Mary’s (No. 17), Weston (No. 18), North Reading (No. 21) and Pentucket (No. 28) have all drawn reward for making opposing groups earn every little thing.
By seemingly each measure, this Div. 3 state match goes to be must-watch subject hockey.
“I even would go as far (the top) 10 to 15 teams in D3 all can play (for a deep run),” mentioned Dover-Sherborn head coach Molly McGill. “We have to show up to every game. There aren’t any gimmes.”
“We say to the kids on any given day, any team can win,” added Newburyport head coach Shannon Haley. “You have to show up ready to play. … Never take any team for granted because in Div. 3 and in the (Cape Ann League), it’s so competitive.”
Buckle up.
Source: www.bostonherald.com