High school field hockey tournament preview and predictions

When the field hockey state tournament kicks off its third year under the new system Thursday, there’s an undeniable parallel between the Div. 1 and Div. 3 brackets that draws intrigue.

Every year there is parity. But for as confident as top-seeded Walpole (D1) and Watertown (D3) should be with their chances of securing the crown, there’s an unpredictable balance sure to shake things up.

Div. 1

The stars have aligned for Walpole (17-1) to avenge consecutive losses in the state final, set in a collision course with No. 2 Andover (15-2) to meet in the title game for a third straight year. The Porkers have an edge this time. But the only team they lost to (Uxbridge) fell to the Golden Warriors, who are clicking for a potential three-peat.

From there is an extensive tree of teams connected through beating one another. No. 6 Central Catholic (14-2-1) topped Andover early to show they’re capable of a Final Four run, but a No. 3 Wachusett (13-1-4) team it tied is anchored by experience. Chalk has them meeting in the state quarterfinals, though getting past No. 11 Belmont or No. 14 Barnstable won’t be easy.

No. 5 Acton-Boxboro (13-4-1) also beat Andover, but shares a blemish with No. 4 Franklin (17-0-1) against No. 8 Bishop Feehan. No. 12 Needham (13-5), No. 13 Winchester (13-5) and No. 20 Chelmsford (5-9-3) are sleepers, but A-B and Franklin look primed to meet in the quarterfinals.

Bishop Feehan (11-5-1) has settled into a rhythm since a blowout loss to Walpole and could give them trouble. First they get a chance for revenge for an upset loss to No. 9 King Philip, though the Warriors look for the next step themselves.

No. 7 Algonquin, No. 10 Concord-Carlisle, No. 15 Wellesley and No. 16 Lincoln-Sudbury could also turn heads.

Div. 3

Watertown (17-0) enters its bid for a three-peat as the clear title favorite on a 70-game win streak and 37-game shutout streak. Around them will be havoc.

Six of last year’s state quarterfinal teams are ranked in the top eight, each stronger than last year.

No. 2 Newburyport (17-1) followed up a surprise trip to the Final Four with a dominant regular season. An emotional rematch with No. 7 Gloucester (13-3-2) from last year’s Elite 8 is chalked out.

There won’t be a rematch between Sandwich and Watertown in the state final for a third straight year, but the No. 4 Knights (17-0-1) returned signature pieces to meet the Raiders for a fierce semifinal. No. 5 Foxboro (15-2-1) got a heavy dose of contenders in the regular season that Sandwich didn’t, though, which could mean it is bound for the Final Four instead. No. 12 Swampscott (11-5-2) and No. 13 Weston (11-4-3) are no afterthoughts.

Loaded No. 3 Dover-Sherborn (14-2-2) avoids Watertown until the state final, but No. 6 Falmouth (10-5-3) stands in the way as the only team to not lose to Sandwich. The Clippers look to make some noise in their new division, though No. 22 Hanover may be a significant sleeper. No. 14 North Reading isn’t an easy out either.

Strong goalies make a big difference to down a perennial juggernaut like Watertown, and the Raiders could run into a few. Gianna Triangle of No. 17 St. Mary’s (11-4-2) and Megan McGinnity of No. 9 Danvers (13-2-3) stand out, and both defenses have limited opponents.

Div. 2

The suspense doesn’t look as dramatic here, but don’t confuse that for a shortage of elite action. While they have dominated most of the way, neither No. 1 Reading (17-1) or No. 2 Norwood (16-2) is a shoe-in to meet in the final.

The Rockets’ second round would be against No. 16 Nashoba or No. 17 Masconomet. Both reached the Final Four in 2021 and 2022. No. 8 Canton looks like an upset candidate by beating Norwood in the regular season finale, but that’s if it can get past 2021 state champion No. 9 Westwood.

A second-round matchup for the Mustangs potentially holds No. 15 Notre Dame Academy of Hingham, which has been competitive in a tough schedule. A TVL rematch with No. 7 Hopkinton is possible in the quarterfinals. No. 10 Doherty also looks dangerous.

No. 3 Somerset Berkley (17-0-1) rolled past most as a strong Final Four candidate. A battle of unbeatens against No. 6 Dartmouth (17-0) is possible in the quarterfinals, but No. 14 Oliver Ames and reigning champion No. 11 Longmeadow spell trouble.

No. 4 Hingham (15-2-1) is ready to make its mark in the new division and will see familiar Patriot League foes until the quarterfinal. No. 12 Leominster is a sleeper, though, and No. 5 Minnechaug has big wins on its resume.

Div. 4

No. 1 Uxbridge (17-1) looks to have the tightest grip of any top seed, carrying wins over Walpole, Bishop Feehan, Acton-Boxboro, King Philip and Foxboro. Their cast of young stars has them primed for a three-peat, though anything can happen.

No. 3 Monomoy lost 6-0 to Uxbridge, but lost 6-1 in the regular season last year before taking the Spartans to double overtime in the state semifinal. The Sharks (13-2-3) are loaded for a crack at Uxbridge in the final. No. 2 Manchester-Essex (14-1-3) is Newburyport’s only loss and navigated a tough Cape Ann League to also stand as a final threat.

Senior-less No. 4 Sutton (13-3-2) hopes to ride its grass field all the way to at least the Final Four. No. 5 Case (14-1-1) was unbeaten most of the season and is sure to put forth a good run. Pesky No. 12 Frontier stands in the way if it can get past No. 21 Westport.

No. 6 Lunenburg (15-1-2) is a talented group to potentially send Monomoy home early. No. 8 Cohasset (11-6-1), No. 10 Lynnfield (11-7-2), No. 11 Clinton (18-0), No. 14 Nantucket (9-5-3), No. 15 St. John Paul II (11-2-4) and No. 23 Ipswich (4-8-6) may all be sleepers.

Predictions

Div. 1

Champion – No. 1 Walpole

Final Four – No. 1 Walpole, No. 2 Andover, No. 4 Franklin, No. 6 Central Catholic

Sleepers – No. 10 Concord-Carlisle, No. 12 Needham

Potential Upset – No. 19 Shrewsbury over No. 14 Barnstable

Best First-Round Matchup – No. 16 Lincoln-Sudbury vs No. 17 Braintree

Div. 2

Champion – No. 1 Reading

Final Four – No. 1 Reading, No. 2 Norwood, No. 3 Somerset Berkley, No. 4 Hingham

Sleepers – No. 8 Canton, No. 12 Leominster

Potential Upset – No. 12 Leominster over No. 5 Minnechaug

Best First-Round Matchup – No. 16 Nashoba vs No. 17 Masconomet

Div. 3

Champion – No. 1 Watertown

Final Four – No. 1 Watertown, No. 2 Newburyport, No. 3 Dover-Sherborn, No. 5 Foxboro

Sleepers – No. 7 Gloucester, No. 6 Falmouth

Potential Upset – No. 22 Hanover over No. 11 NDA (W)

Best First-Round Matchup – No. 14 North Reading vs No. 19 Oakmont

Div. 4

Champion – No. 1 Uxbridge

Final Four – No. 1 Uxbridge, No. 2 Manchester-Essex, No. 3 Monomoy, No. 5 Case

Sleepers – No. 10 Lynnfield, No. 6 Lunenburg

Potential Upset – No. 21 Westport over No. 12 Frontier

Best First-Round Matchup – No. 10 Lynnfield vs No. 23 Ipswich