The women hockey state tournaments final 12 months painted two groups as certain winners: Austin Prep pulled off the right season to safe the Div. 1 crown earlier than leaving the MIAA, however Duxbury couldn’t survive the upset-ridden Div. 2 discipline.
The dialog is way completely different this time round.
Div. 1 is loaded on the prime with No. 1 St. Mary’s changing Austin Prep as the favourite. Only Archbishop Williams has beat them, and the 2 are in separate divisions. But two tight, one-goal battles within the common season confirmed No. 2 NDA (H) is true behind the Spartans. A 3rd episode between the 2 within the ultimate could be epic, however neither are a assure to get there.
No. 8 Peabody/Lynnf./NR has a historical past of working into St. Mary’s within the playoffs and will trigger bother ought to they cross paths within the state quarterfinals. If it’s not PLNR standing in the best way of the Final Four, it’s doubtless a equally highly effective No. 9 Methuen/Tewksbury protection that handed a troublesome take a look at within the MVC/DCL. The path for NDA isn’t any simpler, with harmful potential roadblocks in No. 7 Bishop Feehan, No. 15 Cape Cod, No. 18 Reading or No. 10 Arlington.
The remainder of the bracket is certain for thrilling leisure. No. 4 HPNA is on a collision course with unbeaten No. 5 Winthrop to make a run for the title, however nonetheless must get previous a well-recognized foe with upset potential in No. 13 Billerica/Chelmsford. The identical goes for a possible assembly between No. 3 Shrewsbury and No. 6 Hingham, however No. 11 Longmeadow and No. 14 Pope Francis are true threats.
Don’t rely the chickens earlier than they hatch in Div. 2, both.
Top-seeded Archbishop Williams appeared destined for the title after beating St. Mary’s within the common season, however losses to No. 2 Duxbury, No. 3 Andover and No. 4 Canton afterward revealed it received’t be that simple. Any one of many 4 have the power to be champion.
Duxbury’s likelihood for revenge of its early exit to Canton in final 12 months’s event received’t come except the 2 meet within the ultimate. Canton’s likelihood at revenge for the loss to defending champion No. 5 Algonquin in final 12 months’s title recreation would arrive a lot sooner, and the Titans have the weapons to as soon as once more prime the Bulldogs. Don’t rely out No. 6 Sandwich, No. 7 Falmouth or No. 8 Winchester from making a deep run.
Then there’s the upset issue. No. 18 Norwood, No. 19 Franklin, No. 20 Framingham, No. 21 Braintree, No. 22 King Philip, No. 23 Belmont, No. 24 Norwell and No. 25 Waltham have all flashed signature wins over prime groups to resemble vital sleepers, making for what might be a wild first two rounds of play.
Predictions
DIV. 1
CHAMPION: No. 1 St. Mary’s (L)
RUNNER-UP: No. 2 NDA (H)
SLEEPER: No. 7 Bishop Feehan
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 St. Mary’s, No. 2 NDA, No. 4 Canton, No. 6 Hingham
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: No. 12 Bishop Stang vs No. 21 Whitman-Hanson/SL
POTENTIAL UPSET: No. 11 Longmeadow over No. 6 Hingham
DIV. 2
CHAMPION: No. 2 Duxbury
RUNNER-UP: No. 4 Canton
SLEEPER: No. 6 Sandwich
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 Archbishop Williams, No. 2 Duxbury, No. 3 Andover, No. 4 Canton
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: No. 11 Lincoln-Sudbury vs No. 22 King Philip
POTENTIAL UPSET: No. 21 Braintree over No. 12 Dedham
Source: www.bostonherald.com