A number of months in the past, on Sept. 3, numerous ladies soccer groups made the journey over to Medway High School for what has develop into an annual jamboree. The colleges that stood out probably the most that day? Bishop Feehan and Hingham, two perennial powerhouses which at all times appear to be left standing come the state playoffs.
Shocker, right here we’re in early November, and the packages stay sturdy favorites to win the Div. 1 title. Led by a UCLA commit in Sophie Reale and a rising star in Claire Murray, Hingham (14-0-4) enters the sector because the second seed, trying to construct upon final 12 months’s journey to the state championship (a 3-2 loss to Natick). Meanwhile, Kileigh Gorman and Bishop Feehan are available third-ranked and 18-0-0.
You’d assume these packages could be destined to cross paths sooner or later within the state match, which might happen within the Final Four if issues pan out. However, Bishop Feehan and Hingham aren’t the one doable state finalists. After coasting by a troublesome Dual County League schedule, Acton-Boxboro enters the Div. 1 discipline undefeated as the highest seed (13-0-3), whereas Algonquin sits at No. 4, additionally unbeaten at 12-0-6. Watch out for Methuen as a possible sleeper, a program that was slotted as little as the No. 21 seed, regardless of solely dropping two video games.
The Div. 2 championship ought to come down to 2 groups, in concept. Most would possible choose top-seeded Oliver Ames (12-3-1) or No. 2 Masconomet (15-0-2) to proceed their domination. Mary Cross (seven objectives) has carried Oliver Ames offensively.
Third-ranked Minnechaug will look to enhance upon its run from 2021, when the Falcons made a visit to the Round of 16 (a 2-1 loss to eventual champion Whitman-Hanson). Other groups to key in are No. 4 Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) and sixth-seeded Grafton (16-0-1).
Could No. 22 Nauset be a wild card choose? The Warriors are 16-1-1 and an annual contender within the postseason, so something is feasible.
The Div. 3 discipline is trickier to dissect, just because there may be loads of parity. South Hadley (16-1-1), Newburyport (16-1-0), Stoneham (13-3-2) and Hanover (14-3-1) spherical out the highest 4 seeds. The latter three packages all reached the Round of 16 in 2021, with Stoneham finally bowing out within the Round of 8. But you might truthfully make a case for as much as 15 groups.
Last fall, we noticed Cohasset outscore its playoff competitors 17-3. The Skippers faltered within the Div. 4 championship to Hamilton-Wenham (a 2-1 loss), however didn’t precisely take a downturn this season. In truth, thanks largely to the unbelievable efforts of sophomore Tess Barrett, and seniors Tessa Curatola and Peyton Lord, to call a couple of, Cohasset is as soon as once more top-ranked. The Skippers stay a problem for opposing groups, as does Hamilton-Wenham. The fourth-ranked Generals will try to recapture the magic they found one 12 months in the past, however might be challenged by the likes of Central Mass. groups Northbridge (13-3-2) and Littleton (17-0-1).
For practically the complete season, save for per week or so, Monson (16-0-2) and Sutton (12-5-1) have paced the Div. 5 energy rankings. Now they enter the playoffs as the highest two seeds. Completely comprehensible, for the reason that two colleges really met within the Final Four final 12 months, with the Suzies profitable a 2-1 thriller. Sutton proceeded to seize the state championship with a 3-2 victory over Palmer final Nov. 20. Georgetown or Tahanto might additionally compete for all of it.
PICKS
Division 1
Best first spherical matchup
No. 12 Winchester vs. No. 21 Methuen
Possible upset
No. 22 Weymouth over No. 11 Needham
One sleeper
Methuen
Final 4
Acton-Boxboro, Bishop Feehan, Hingham, Newton South
Champion
Bishop Feehan
Division 2
Best first spherical matchup
No. 14 Plymouth North vs. No. 19 Billerica
Possible upset
No. 18 Melrose over No. 15 East Longmeadow
One sleeper
Nauset
Final 4
Masconomet, Nauset, Notre Dame (Hingham), Oliver Ames
Champion
Masconomet
Division 3
Best first spherical matchup
No. 16 Swampscott vs. No. 17 Lynnfield
Possible upset
No. 21 St. Mary’s over No. 12 North Reading
One sleeper
Swampscott
Final 4
Hanover, Newburyport, Norwell, Stoneham
Champion
Stoneham
Division 4
Best first spherical matchup
No.12 Wahconah vs. No. 21 Malden Catholic
Possible upset
No. 22 Mashpee over No. 11 Pope Francis
One sleeper
Easthampton
Final 4
Cohasset, Hamilton-Wenham, Littleton, Northbridge
Champion
Cohasset
Division 5
Best first spherical matchup
No. 15 Maynard vs. No. 18 Mystic Valley
Possible upset
No. 25 Carver over No. 8 Mt. Greylock
One sleeper
St. John Paul II
Final 4
Douglas, Georgetown, Monson, Sutton
Champion
Monson
Source: www.bostonherald.com