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
