As quickly as Watertown constructed a 2-0 lead within the Div. 3 state ultimate at WPI, Newburyport head coach Shannon Haley referred to as a uncommon, first-quarter timeout to quiet down the Clippers.
What adopted was an on the spot basic.
By the top of the half, Newburyport snapped the Raiders’ national-record, 41-game shutout streak with the primary objective Watertown allowed in almost two seasons. By the top of the third quarter, the Clippers tied the rating at 3-3. And by the top of the sport, it was Molly Driscoll’s a hundred and fiftieth profession objective that propelled long-unbeaten Watertown to a three-peat.
Newburyport gave a fantastic battle, however Watertown nonetheless achieved what many thought it will to completely embody what we noticed throughout the whole sport this yr.
For as many shut calls and common season upsets as there have been, the primary powers from the final three seasons nonetheless held up the final word trophy. Uxbridge outscored playoff opponents 36-0 to three-peat in Div. 4. Walpole beat Andover of their third straight Div. 1 state ultimate matchup. Reading and Norwood had been exceptions with Div. 2 state ultimate debuts, however the Rockets’ title was three years within the making.
Don’t get it twisted, this was arguably essentially the most parity we’ve seen in discipline hockey since 2020; loaded with program-firsts and particular person milestones. But the truth that two groups nonetheless three-peated, and a 3rd virtually did, is an indication for event modifications. It’s time we revisit the thought of one thing like a Super 8.
Many voices name for groups like Watertown and Uxbridge to maneuver as much as Div. 1, setting them as much as play different traditionally premier applications come event time. But that’s simply transferring a Div. 3 or Div. 4 downside right into a Div. 1 downside. Andover, Walpole and Acton-Boxboro are already thorns in Div. 1, so throwing Watertown and Uxbridge in there solely complicates issues.
Instead, let’s recreate the Div. 1A, double-elimination event.
Selection wouldn’t be political – you are taking the top-10 groups within the energy rankings and put seeds 7, 8, 9 and 10 in a play-in spherical. Selection wouldn’t be unique to larger colleges – Watertown (Div. 3), Reading (Div. 2), Norwood (Div. 2), Uxbridge (Div. 4) and Newburyport (Div. 3) all ranked within the state’s top-10 this yr.
Field hockey is already a sport with parity among the many finest in every division, so sending a certified Div. 4 crew to play a Div. 1 crew isn’t placing it in an unfair state of affairs. And every time any of the dominant groups inside the decrease divisions aren’t at their peak, they aren’t dedicated to taking part in effectively past their enrollment within the Div. 1 event.
Safety and boys
The state event made nationwide information when a Dighton-Rehoboth lady was tragically hospitalized as a result of a ball – from a Swampscott boy’s sweep throughout a nook – struck her within the mouth and precipitated important facial accidents.
I talked in regards to the incident with effectively over a dozen distinguished coaches who noticed the tape – none of whom need boys taking part in with the women. Here are two predominant takeaways from these conversations:
First, what can’t be ignored from that is the necessity for necessary facial safety when defending corners. The pace and top of this explicit ball weren’t extraordinary for what most gamers see in any given recreation, as high-velocity, wayward pictures on corners occur typically. Some say the ball even seemed tipped, which can also be frequent. Field hockey face-shields can be found for such cases, and it may possibly not be non-obligatory to put on them on these performs.
Second, most coaches need boys to play. Field hockey isn’t any extra a strictly women’ sport than ice hockey was a strictly boys’ sport. They need it for everybody, simply not co-ed as a result of it’s provenly unsafe, unfair, and does take alternatives away from some women.
Change is not going to come from simply pointing fingers on the MIAA, although. This is a 44-year battle that may’t be fastened by simply banning boys.
Girls hockey partly got here to prominence within the MIAA by mother and father, golf equipment and youth leagues selling the game. It constructed curiosity outdoors of MIAA competitors. The MIAA actually may look into operating extra camps and clinics to assist construct that curiosity, and will take one other dive into doubtlessly altering the situations of boys’ participation on the women’ groups with out outright banning them.
It is obvious, although, that boys want to go away the women’ sport quickly – not only for the women’ sake, however the boys’ too. Hopefully co-ops and unbiased 7-on-7 groups will type prior to later. It appears to be one of the best spark for change.
Table officers
Newton North’s protest of its 3-2 first-round state event loss to Needham is comprehensible.
With below three minutes to go, officers waved off a game-tying objective on a nook attributable to a Tigers unlawful substitution earlier than the insert. The officers didn’t see the substitution – Needham introduced it to their consideration, and a session with the desk led to their resolution. The official timer is accountable for monitoring substitutions, so officers adopted the correct protocol. But Newton North’s challenge is that the timer and keeper of the official ebook had been Needham college students.
It’s frequent for the desk to be made up of the internet hosting faculty’s college students, however that should change for the playoffs. At least one grownup must be on the desk with a transparent understanding of their tasks transferring ahead, which is already urged as “experienced timer” within the rulebook.
Source: www.bostonherald.com