Brockton in good shape to repeat
BOYS SOCCER
In a quest to repeat as Division 1 state champions, Brockton and star senior Leonardo Teixeira are off to a fast start.
Teixeira (31 goals, 15 assists in 2017) scored three times as the Boxers handled nonleague opponent Dartmouth last week in the season opener for both programs. Brockton, which went 21-1-2 and captured the program’s first-ever state championship last fall, should be considered among the early favorites to finish atop Division 1 again, this fall.
Competing, however, in the ultra-competitive Division 1 South, Brockton will be challenged by perennial powers Needham and Silver Lake, as well as an up-andcoming program in Weymouth, which returns several starters off a team that advanced to the sectional semifinal in 2017.
Other programs to watch in Division 1 South include Hingham and New Bedford.
St. John’s Prep, last year’s Division 1 North champion, will be hard-pressed to top last year’s run to the state semifinals, but senior Sam Smith and crew will be looking to do just that this season. Other programs with a legit chance to dethrone the Eagles in the north include Brookline, Somerville, Lowell and Lexington, which returns Sancho Maroto to a team that lost in overtime to Framingham in the sectional quarterfinals.
In Division 2, defending state champion ConcordCarlisle will again be a difficult out. The Patriots bring back star midfielder Cam Emde-Gerdine along with starters Kyle Jackson (defender) and Ben Santos.
Last year’s sectional finalist Arlington — the Spy Ponders lost to C-C in overtime — brings back a large chunk of its core including underclassmen Perry Sofis-Scheft and Declan Dolan while North Andover, Masconomet, Danvers, and Belmont all have the talent to make noise in the tournament.
In Division 2 South, keep a close eye on Pembroke. The three-time Patriot League Fisher Division champion Titans lost to Oliver Ames in last year’s sectional final, but with the return of seniors Brian Flaherty, Sam Herrmann and Mike Hendriksen this could be the year that Pembroke makes that next step.
Duxbury and Nauset are near the top of a deep list of Division 2 South teams that could push for supremacy as the season moves along.
Division 3 state finalist Norwell should once again be the team to beat in the section, while in Division 3 North, defending sectional champion Watertown will have to fend off Saugus and star Jon Rodriguez, as well as Wayland for top billing this fall.
Coming out of Division 4 North, Boston International advanced to the state final last season and will be looking to finish the job this year with the return of senior striker Jesus Batiz, while St. Mary’s (Lynn), Ipswich, Austin Prep and HamiltonWenham, all tournament teams in 2017, will be looking to make some noise.
In Div. 4 South junior Ben Smith and company hope to lead Cohasset to a second consecutive sectional title. The Skippers will not have an easy road with programs such as Carver, Bishop Connolly, Nantucket and West Bridgewater aiming to knick off the defending champs.