Hingham makes leap
Ready to take on best of Division 1
Having steamrolled four postseason foes by a combined 40 goals on its way to the Division 2 state title, Hingham is taking its talent to Div. 1 this year.
Longtime Harbormen coach John Todd feels his team is more than capable of making the transition. He cites the fact Hingham annually has packed its nonleague schedule with the premier Div. 1 programs in the state.
“We’ve always scheduled the heavy hitters. We’ve always played the LincolnSudburys, the St. John’s Preps and Needhams,” Todd said. “The only difference is that we will be in a different section. Our preparation is going to always remain the same.”
Hingham certainly has the horses to hang with anyone in the state. The Harbormen return midfielders Jake Quilty, Tommy Welch and Marshall Terres, attack Ryan Hill, longstick middie Frankie Higgins and defender Joey Rochte.
Hingham’s first goal will be to unseat defending Div. 1 South champion BC High. The Eagles gave LincolnSudbury all it could handle in the state final and return defensemen Will Bowen, Nolan Collins and Tommy Joyce, midfielders Chi Chi Price and Charlie Pyne, attack Aidan Carroll, longstick middie Martin Folan and goalie Pat O’Driscoll.
Xaverian has a pair of longstick middies back in Sean Nizolek and Dylan Gardner, attack Andrew Lee and midfielder Alec Coia. Duxbury reached the South final last year and should be strong in the midfield with Charlie Gans, Joe Gooley and Cole Biggins back.
Needham returns a pair of top-flight attacks in Jason Child and Danny McEvoy. Wellesley has a new coach in Jim Connolly, who is happy to have attackmen Hugh Callahan and Nick Marvan, top-flight goalie Teddy Darcey and midfielder Michael Bomes. Newton North suffered some key graduation losses, but Bussy Adam always manages to put together a competitive team.
Lincoln-Sudbury begins its quest for a fourth straight Div. 1 state title. Returning for the Warriors are attackmen Matt Ward and Owen Toland, defensemen Peter Rizzotti and Brendan Trovato, midfielders Cam Vona and Chandler Katz, goalie Seamus Fagan and longstick middie Will Sidari.
Acton-Boxboro features a pair of solid attackmen in Erin Raguin and Jake Erickson. St. John’s Prep is looking for big things from defensemen Andrew Ponsetto and Drew Leahy, midfielder Bryan Perry, attack Jack Rickards and longstick middie Robbie Dinsmore.
Andover has defenders Matt Belluche and Kevin Flowers along with midfielder Bret Miller. Waltham is looking to continue the momentum it gained from a terrific postseason run.
Medfield saw its reign as Div. 2 state champion come to an end last year, but the Warriors are back and primed for a return to the top. They will be solid in the midfield with Tom Schofield, Brian Abely, Jack McCordic and Dylan McNally back as well as goalie Liam Gately and attack Michael Hauptmann.
Foxboro will look to defenseman Patrick Kaveny, goalie Jacob Addeche and midfielder Brendan Tully. Walpole is led by defenseman Robert Colburn and attack Darragh Fahey, while Concord-Carlisle returns defensemen Mason Dorr and Harry Nelson along with goalie Ben Kacher.
Hopkinton is led by threesport standout Will Abbott in the midfield and D.J. Sloan at attack. Westwood will have one of the top players in the Tri-Valley League in midfielder Jake Antonucci.
In Div. 2 North, Reading will be buoyed by the return of midfielder Jack Geiger and attack Michael Tobin. Wakefield put together an undefeated regular season and returns longstick middie Ryan Fitzpatrick and goalie Ryan Chambers. Winchester has goalie Matt Sufferendoi and defender Hayden Bean back, while Burlington is making strides.
Beverly has defender Justin Loreti and attack Matt Rawding back. Marblehead is expecting big things from attack Sam Cioffi, while Billerica returns solid midfielders in James Einarson and Pat Quinn.
Hanover moves up to Div. 2 South and will look heavily to attack Neil Calkin and defenseman Chris Greene. Scituate has a strong returning cast keyed by midfielder David Murray. Falmouth has one of the best midfielders in the state in Collin Almeida, while Sandwich looks to defender Sean Laughlin and attack Mather Negron.
Ipswich rode a wave of momentum and incredible finishes all the way to a Div. 3 state title. Returning for the Tigers are midfielder Pat Gillis, attack Kevin Swenson and goalie Aiden McAdams.
Hamilton-Wenham will be in the hunt for the Div. 3 North title as attackmen Andrew Riggio and Kit Shaw are back with goalie Mayo Amorello and midfielder Tommy Lattanzi. Austin Prep is expecting another big year from attack Jack Richards.
In Div. 3 South, Cohasset has midfielders Noah Froio and Will Thomas back along with goalie Mason Fitzgerald and attack Kyle McFetridge. Cardinal Spellman has the Palin brothers back (Chris at defense, Matt at midfield), while defenders Lucas Pecora and Colin Orleman return for Norwell.
Dover-Sherborn is the favorite once again in Div. 3 Central East as midfielder Jack Dillon and defender Johnny Goudreault are back. Littleton should provide the stiffest challenge as attackmen Danny Angell and Will Scott return, while David Bartkus leads Bedford.