The craziness of a delay in the bracket releases seems a fitting start to what has all the potential to be one of the most topsy-turvy field hockey state tournaments we’ve had in the new system — especially in Div. 1.
Reigning champion Walpole (17-0-1), second-seeded, is the favorite to repeat. Its speed suffocates offenses, while Kate Schneider and Caitlyn Naughton lead an attack that always finds a way. On the other side of the bracket is a No. 4 Andover (15-2-1) that has rounded into form, suggesting we just might get a fourth straight state final matchup between the Porkers and Golden Warriors.
But in the funkiness of the bracket is a bevy of head-scratchers. Strength of schedule bogged down one of the state’s best attacks in No. 7 Franklin (17-1), which is well-equipped to win a state semifinal rematch over the Porkers. No. 1 Lincoln-Sudbury (14-0-2) has passed just about every test in its best season to date, but a No. 9 Wellesley (11-3-4) that tied the Warriors twice, or a No. 8 Bishop Feehan (14-4) that’s competed with some of the state’s best could meet it for a major upset-watch in the quarterfinals.
Mackenzie Clarke is the field’s best player most games, which helps make a loaded No. 5 Belmont (16-2) quite the scare. All of No. 11 Winchester’s (12-6) losses have come to contenders, making it a dangerous sleeper in a potential matchup with No. 6 Central Catholic (15-2-1), which didn’t lose until the last two games behind bona fide star Kerri Finneran. Either of them will be real trouble for No. 3 Algonquin (14-2-2), though the Titans edged out almost every Central Mass. power behind their own star in Lindsey Brown.
No. 10 Wachusett has been in every game against top teams. No. 14 Concord-Carlisle and No. 15 Acton-Boxboro closed the regular season strong. No. 16 Durfee rides momentum from its best year yet, while most of the teams seeded No. 17 through No. 30 have heart-breaker potential.
The late shuffle of Div. 2’s seeding mellowed a bit of its suspense, but it’s far from boring as many teams flashed their merit as potential champion.
No. 1 Norwood (16-1-1) is deep beyond star scorer Shea Larkee, and the Mustangs have rolled on their mission to avenge last year’s loss in the state final. Reigning champion No. 8 Reading’s (13-4) three-game slump brought it down in the rankings, but high-powered wins early on show a rematch in the state quarterfinals could turn heads.
Beyond them, No. 2 Somerset Berkley (17-2), No. 5 Canton (16-2) and No. 6 Hingham (15-2-1) all punched in notable performances to show they’ve improved from their deep runs in the tournament last year. Those matchups will be as cutthroat as any.
No. 4 Nashoba (10-3-5) is a real threat to make its third Final Four in four years, while No. 9 Duxbury (13-5), No. 10 Westwood (9-7-2), No. 11 Malden Catholic (13-2-3), No. 12 Doherty (14-3-1) and No. 13 Hopkinton (9-7-2) are dangerous sleepers.
This might finally be the year for No. 1 Sandwich (20-0) to break through against the only team that’s beat it the last three years, set on a collision course to meet with No. 2 Watertown (17-0) and its 92-game win streak in the Div. 3 state final for the third time in four years. It will take a Herculean effort to overcome the Raiders’ wits, athleticism and scoring punch from Rachel Egan, but the Blue Knights’ longtime core – led by Khloe Schultz and Quinn Jordan – has the chip and the athleticism to dethrone the three-time reigning champions.
That’s to say Watertown gets past No. 3 Newburyport (13-3-2), which shocked the state by nearly beating the Raiders in last year’s tournament. A few impressive wins in the Cape Ann League has it battle-tested.
The Tri-Valley League again occupies the discussion, as No. 4 Medfield (13-2-2) is defensively strong and deep. A matchup with No. 5 Dedham (13-3-2) in the quarterfinals would be an all-timer, while No. 9 Dover-Sherborn (10-7-1) and No. 12 Medway (5-9-2) won’t be easy outs.
Much of the same goes for the Cape Ann League, which is stocked with sleepers in No. 7 North Reading and No. 12 Pentucket. No. 6 Dennis-Yarmouth has proven tough once again, while No. 10 Bedford, No. 17 Foxboro and No. 20 Hanover are also sleepers to watch.
Perhaps the most clear-cut favorite is in Div. 4, as No. 1 Uxbridge (16-2) looks to make history as the only other program besides Watertown to ever win at least four state championships.
It’ll likely meet either of the two programs hungriest to beat the Spartans in the final. No. 2 Monomoy (16-0-2) is deep after only graduating one player from last year’s title game loss to Uxbridge, led by dynamic scorer Emery Cappallo and elite midfielder Emily Layton. No. 3 Sutton (18-0) didn’t graduate anyone from last year’s state semifinal loss to the Spartans, and its similarly deep lineup passed each test against a wealth of quality teams and contenders.
Should No. 5 Manchester-Essex (14-2-2) reach the Final Four, it will join Uxbridge and Monomoy as programs to reach all four Div. 4 state semifinals. Abby Kent and Summer Demeo anchor a strong midfield to do it. Don’t count out No. 6 Lynnfield (12-3-3) from the Final Four, either, after notching notable wins all year and giving Sutton a tough, 2-0 battle.
No. 7 Cohasset, No. 9 Nantucket, No. 10 Hopedale and No. 12 Ipswich will be scrappy sleepers to watch out for.
PREDICTIONS:
D1
Champion: No. 2 Walpole
Final Four: No. 2 Walpole, No. 4 Andover, No. 6 Central Catholic, No. 8 Bishop Feehan
Sleepers: No. 8 Bishop Feehan, No. 11 Winchester
Potential Upset: No. 20 Arlington over No. 13 Beverly
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 14 Concord-Carlisle vs No. 19 Chelmsford
D2
Champion: No. 1 Norwood
Final Four: No. 1 Norwood, No. 2 Somerset Berkley, No. 5 Canton, No. 6 Hingham
Sleepers: No. 8 Reading, No. 11 Malden Catholic
Potential Upset: No. 10 Westwood over No. 7 Longmeadow
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 14 Westboro vs No. 19 Minnechaug
D3
Champion: No. 1 Sandwich
Final Four: No. 1 Sandwich, No. 2 Watertown, No. 3 Newburyport, No. 4 Medfield
Sleepers: No. 9 Dover-Sherborn, No. 13 Pentucket
Potential Upset: No. 19 Auburn over No. 14 Marlboro
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 13 Pentucket vs No. 20 Hanover
D4
Champion: No. 1 Uxbridge
Final Four: No. 1 Uxbridge, No. 2 Monomoy, No. 3 Sutton, No. 5 Manchester-Essex
Sleepers: No. 6 Lynnfield, No. 12 Ipswich
Potential Upset: No. 20 Stoneham over No. 13 West Bridgewater
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 15 Northbridge vs No. 18 Southwick
