The unbeaten Austin Prep women hockey workforce stood out from over 100 miles away because the clear-cut favourite to take the Div. 1 state title again in 2022. It was a lot of the identical final yr for juggernaut St. Mary’s of Lynn, up till Shrewsbury upset it at TD Garden to as a substitute take the crown.
After a wild, roller-coaster of a daily season, we’re seeing precisely what coaches had been speaking about in December once they stated this yr’s Div. 1 state event can be not like both of the previous two with how tough it’s to choose a front-runner.
Top-seeded Notre Dame of Hingham (14-4-2) confirmed it could actually beat nearly anybody within the state, doing virtually precisely that throughout the second-toughest power of schedule. The Cougars are deep and allowed precisely one aim per sport behind a prime protection and goaltender. If it could actually discover its scoring contact, it’ll be very tough to beat them.
Right alongside them, although, is a No. 2 St. Mary’s (18-3-1) group that cut up the season collection with NDA. The Spartans even took it to extra time of their first sport lacking one among their prime gamers, and the new-look protection impressed head coach Frank Pagliuca sufficient to really feel snug heading into the event. Paired with freshman standouts Bella Freitas and Alyssa Norden, St. Mary’s will even be tough to beat.
Lower-seeded however simply as harmful is No. 5 Hingham (16-5-1), which has two potent strains – led by 100-goal scorer Caroline Doherty. Its protection is younger, however have greater than held their very own towards the guy prime groups within the state. A double-overtime away from the Final Four final yr, the Harborwomen, too, might be tough to beat.
We may do that for a dozen extra groups. Reigning champion No. 7 Shrewsbury (11-4-5) may meet the Spartans for a rematch within the state quarterfinals, posing an actual risk to repeat if it could actually crank up the offense. Deep No. 4 Malden Catholic (13-3-4) additionally cut up the collection with NDA with a loaded protection, and chalk would result in an epic showdown with Hingham.
No. 6 Methuen/Tewksbury (14-4-2) allowed simply as few objectives as NDA regardless of taking part in in arguably the state’s prime league. No. 3 Lincoln-Sudbury (17-2-1) received that MVC/DCL Large league and is able to way more. Eighth-seeded Pope Francis’ report (12-7-2) is deceiving, with its two ties coming to St. Mary’s and Malden Catholic. Any workforce that may beat Div. 2 energy Duxbury garners respect, which can be stated about Malden Catholic and No. 10 Bishop Feehan (10-9-3).
The listing goes on. Eleventh-seeded Archbishop Williams (9-10-2) struggled by means of a tricky schedule at first however has since rounded into playoff kind. No. 9 Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading (16-4) and No. 13 Winthrop (13-3-2) are well-coached with the expertise to grit out just a few gutsy wins. Never depend out No. 12 HPNA (8-9-3), No. 15 Andover (7-9-3), No. 19 Billerica/Chelmsford (6-9-5) or No. 20 Westford Academy (7-10-3) from the MVC/DCL Large to, on the very least, play heartbreaker. No. 14 Belmont/Watertown (13-2-3) led Div. 1 with a 0.83 objectives allowed per sport. No. 16 Braintree (9-9-3) and No. 18 Boston Latin (16-4-2) have signature wins below their belts.
Div. 2 appears much less dicey down the listing of groups, however we additionally stated that two years in the past earlier than a Twenty second-seed made the Final Four and the Tenth-seed beat the ninth-seed for the state title.
Right now, top-seeded Duxbury (19-3) is the clear-cut favourite to repeat its state title. Premier scoring weapons are all around the roster, and groups haven’t been capable of get a lot previous Anna McGinty because the Dragons lead the state in objectives allowed (0.77). Keeping their focus with an enormous goal on their again hasn’t been a lot of an issue up to now, and plenty of of them already confirmed poise final yr to go the space.
Nobody is unbeatable, although, and fairly just a few groups have made a behavior of proving that.
Second-seeded Falmouth (19-2-1) has as harmful of an assault as anybody after main the state in objectives scored, averaging a contact below 5 per sport (4.95). No. 3 Burlington (17-1-2) is a giant-killer, utilizing premier protection and goaltending to separate with Malden Catholic, and handed each Falmouth and Belmont/Watertown their first losses. No. 4 Nauset (17-2-1) is true behind Falmouth in scoring with its personal array of threats, utilizing a well-rounded workforce to dismantle a bevy of Div. 1 threats.
Don’t depend out No. 5 Algonquin (13-6-1) or No. 6 Longmeadow (11-4-1) from the Final Four dialog at least. Two-time reigning finalist No. 7 Canton (17-4-1) didn’t have it towards Duxbury within the common season finale, however a group of signature wins makes its seeding appear low. No. 9 Milton (17-4-1) has an elite goalie in Lila Chamoun and No. 8 Pembroke has an elite scorer in Jen Birolini – every might be difference-makers towards a run.
No. 10 Westwood (13-5) and No. 13 Sandwich (10-10-2) constructed momentum within the second half of the common season to pose a risk. With the precise assist round Kelly Holmes, No. 15 King Philip (14-8) might be harmful. Opponents should be cautious towards pesky Patriot League groups.
PREDICTIONS
D1
Champion: No. 5 Hingham
Final Four: No. 1 NDA Hingham, No. 3 Lincoln-Sudbury, No. 5 Hingham, No. 7 Shrewsbury
Sleeper: No. 8 Pope Francis
Potential Upset: No. 19 Billerica/Chelmsford over No. 14 Belmont/Watertown
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 16 Braintree vs No. 17 Needham
D2
Champion: No. 1 Duxbury
Final Four: No. 1 Duxbury, No. 3 Burlington, No. 5 Algonquin, No. 7 Canton
Sleeper: No. 9 Milton
Potential Upset: No. 13 Sandwich over No. 4 Nauset
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 8 Pembroke vs No. 25 Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake
Players To Watch:
Ivorie Arguin, Pope Francis
Ava Baker, Malden Catholic
Jen Birolini, Pembroke
Chloe Bryda, Bishop Feehan
Ava Buckley, PLNR
Lila Chamoun, Milton
Izzy Cusack, Canton
Caroline Doherty, Hingham
Isa Fischer, Burlington
Bella Freitas, St. Mary’s (L)
Harper Friedholm, Lincoln-Sudbury
Kelly Holmes, King Philip
Ava Larkin, NDA (H)
Anna McGinty, Duxbury
Risa Montoya, Shrewsbury
MJ Petisce, Methuen/Tewksbury
Sienna Reeves, Nauset
Casey Roth, Falmouth
Eva Surette, Braintree
Julianna Taylor, HPNA
Source: www.bostonherald.com