For the primary time in what appears like a number of years, it has turn into really tough to handicap the Div. 1 women lacrosse playoff discipline. Prior to this season, it appeared like you can circle one to a few applications, and water would finally discover its degree when the premier groups met within the finals.
Now? That is now not the case. There are loads of colleges within the hunt. So the query is, what is going to make the distinction with regards to crunch time? Experience might play a task.
Which is why it’s fairly potential {that a} faculty reminiscent of Westwood (18-3) might discover itself within the winner’s circle once more, regardless of being slotted because the third total seed. The Wildcats have been propelled by a pair of UMass Amherst commits with Ava Connaughton and Lillian Hancock main the cost, together with Dartmouth-bound Riley Harrington, in addition to Kella McGrail, who’s headed for Davidson.
Who else will make noise? Well, take your choose. Lincoln-Sudbury enters because the top-ranked crew, whereas Steve Balter’s group at Wellesley is listed at No. 2. Fourth-seeded Walpole could possibly be a powerful contender, as will No. 5 Reading and sixth-ranked Longmeadow, all having fun with improbable campaigns. Don’t overlook No. 7 Franklin, at all times a state title contender beneath Kristin Igoe Guarino. Each of those colleges have traded off wins, so it might merely come right down to which groups play their greatest when it issues.
“I think playing (Lincoln-Sudbury) the last game of the season and winning, that definitely helps to kind of know where we stand with what we’ve done this season,” mentioned Westwood coach Margot Spatola. “That helped, to see that we definitely grew from the beginning of the year to now. But I think with any of these teams, it’s anyone’s game on any day.”
The Div. 2 discipline seems to be a bit extra top-heavy, particularly with Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) main the pack. A case could possibly be made that the undefeated Cougars (20-0) could possibly be the state’s top-ranked program, pacing all MIAA colleges with a crew ranking of 18.6901. With contributors reminiscent of Emma Connerty and Jane Hilsabeck, they need to be a powerful favourite to make a run to the championship. Could a faculty like Wayland or Duxbury step up and problem? It’s a risk.
Meanwhile, in a similar way to what we’re seeing within the Div. 1 bracket, the Div. 3 event could possibly be gained by a big selection of groups. Top-ranked Newburyport (16-2) might proceed its current domination of the sector and cruise to a title. But it’s fully fathomable to see Aizza Chase, Kira Fulton and Laney Larsen main No. 3 Cohasset (16-3) proper again to prevalence or to see second-seeded Medfield make the ultimate. No. 15 Notre Dame Academy (Worcester) could possibly be a candidate to shock followers, getting into the playoffs at 14-6.
Moving on to the Div. 4 ranks, third-seeded Dover-Sherborn (14-6) shall be hoping to defend final 12 months’s championship, however the Raiders might see robust competitors from the likes of top-ranked Ipswich, in addition to No. 2 Weston and fourth-seeded Nantucket. Archbishop Williams enters the event at 16-4, however is seeded sixteenth. The Bishops might tackle the function of a darkish horse crew because the weeks progress.
Predictions
DIV. 1
Champion: No. 3 Westwood
Runner-Up: No. 1 Lincoln-Sudbury
Final Four: No. 1 Lincoln-Sudbury, No. 3 Westwood, No. 4 Walpole, No. 7 Franklin
Sleeper: No. 11 Weymouth
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 15 North Andover vs. No. 18 King Philip
Potential Upset: No. 19 Shrewsbury over No. 14 Winchester
DIV. 2
Champion: No. 1 Notre Dame (Hingham)
Runner-Up: No. 3 Duxbury
Final Four: No. 1 Notre Dame (Hingham), No. 2 Wayland, No. 3 Duxbury, No. 5 Leominster
Sleeper: No. 14 Dartmouth
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 15 Billerica vs. No. 18 Canton
Potential Upset: No. 24 Ursuline over No. 9 Burlington
DIV. 3
Champion: No. 3 Cohasset
Runner-Up: No. 2 Medfield
Final Four: No. 1 Newburyport, No. 2 Medfield, No. 3 Cohasset, No. 4 Foxboro
Sleeper: No. 13 Bromfield
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 15 Notre Dame (Worcester) vs. No. 18 Middleboro
Potential Upset: No. 23 Gloucester over No. 10 Essex Tech
DIV. 4
Champion: No. 3 Dover-Sherborn
Runner-Up: No. 1 Ipswich
Final Four: No. 1 Ipswich, No. 2 Weston, No. 3 Dover-Sherborn, No. 4 Nantucket
Sleeper: No. 15 Archbishop Williams
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 15 Archbishop Williams vs. No. 18 Tyngsboro
Potential Upset: No. 22 Hull over No. 11 Georgetown
Source: www.bostonherald.com