Predictions: Bishop Feehan, Masco are the teams to beat
Since 2019, three Div. 1 girls soccer schools have consistently reached the Final Four, each claiming one title during their respective dynasties: Bishop Feehan, Hingham and Natick.
Two of the three stand atop all Div. 1 seeds entering the postseason, with one school moving down one division. Natick (16-1-1) earned the No. 1 seed. One looming obstacle may be the second-seeded Shamrocks. Led by two electrifying scorers in Holy Cross commit Ava Graham (21 goals, 13 assists) and Merrimack-bound Maddy Eddy (10 goals, 22 assists), Bishop Feehan appears poised to enjoy another elongated run.
There has been plenty of chatter over Hopkinton’s program the last handful of seasons and now the Hillers (17-0-1) claim the No. 3 seed. Playing key offensive roles will be Georgina Clarke (16 goals, nine assists) and Maddie Recupero (14 goals, 13 assists).
Wellesley (13-5-0) made headlines by clinching the fourth seed, while rival Brookline (13-3-2) took the fifth. No. 6 Franklin (16-20) remains a threat out of the Hockomock League.
Div. 2
Silver Lake completed a Cinderella run to the crown with a 1-0 win over Oliver Ames last season. One consistent representative has been No. 1 Masconomet, which enjoyed a 15-0-2 campaign. It all starts up top with Lauren Boughner (26 points), as well as Kayla Scannell and Amanda Schneider (25 points apiece).
Second-seeded Nashoba Regional went 15-12. Meanwhile, Western Mass. power Longmeadow grabbed the third seed.
Thanks to a brutal independent schedule, No. 4 Notre Dame (Hingham) finished 11-6-3. The Cougars are led by a premier athlete in Sydney Comeau.
Div. 3
Each of the top five seeds could make an honest case for a state championship, separated in the final power rankings by .337 points. Medfield earned the top seed. Kelly Blake remains a threat to find the net, along with Bridget Deignan and Emily Hoffman, while Sidney Heavey, Kenzie Ellis and Elizabeth George could also provide a spark for the Warriors.
Medfield isn’t the only Tri-Valley League standout to watch in this bracket. Dover-Sherborn (14-3-1) netted the No. 2 seed.
Third-seeded Hanover (17-0-1) is a legitimate title contender. Sophia Foley is a sniper, while the Hawks boast a Villanova commit in net in Natalie Mutschler.
Led by senior captain Belle Pettit in net (16 shutouts, three goals allowed), No. 4 Norwell finished 181-1, and has dominated just about every opponent in its wake. The Clippers have been propelled defensively by backs Smilia Spasic, Audrey Long and Eden Wheeler.
Arguably the top representative among all Western Mass. schools based on team rating (3.6536), Pope
Francis (15-1-0) wrapped up the No. 5 seed.
One should not discount sixth-seeded Cardinal Spellman (15-1-2) as a possible state finalist. No. 7 Nipmuc (14-2-2) has battled one of the tougher schedules in the state and could pose problems.
Div. 4
The ever-expansive Pioneer Valley League was controlled by a slim number of schools. In addition to Pope Francis, South Hadley (15-1-2) turned in an outstanding campaign, leading the power rankings essentially from end to end after dropping down from Div. 3. The Tigers were rewarded with the No. 1 seed.
A few candidates quickly come to mind. Sutton (12-4-2) claimed the No. 2 seed, while last year’s champion, Cohasset, is No. 3. The Skippers (113-3) won it all in 2022 with a 2-0 shutout of Northbridge and find themselves in a prime position to chase another crown.
Other schools to keep an eye out for are Hamilton-Wenham, Littleton, Lynnfield, Northbridge and West Bridgewater.
Div. 5
Whitinsville Christian followed up its Final Four season from a year ago by finishing the regular season 16-2-0. Monson, Hull and Mt. Greylock hold the next three seeds, respectively. All three schools remain hungry for championships, having come tantalizingly close in recent years. This is especially true for Monson, which dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to Sutton in the title bout last season.
Predictions
Division 1
Best first-round matchup: No. 16 Weymouth
vs. No. 17 Belmont
Possible upset: No. 20 Marshfield over No. 13 Newton North
One sleeper: No. 18 Central Catholic
Final four: Bishop Feehan, Brookline, Hopkinton, Natick
Champion: Bishop Feehan
Division 2
Best first-round matchup: No. 14 Westwood vs. No. 19 Canton
Possible upset: No. 18 Marlboro over No. 15 West Springfield
One sleeper: No. 12 Duxbury
Final four: Duxbury, Longmeadow, Masconomet, Oliver Ames Champion: Masconomet Division 3
Best first-round matchup: No. 16 Saugus vs. No. 17 North Reading
Possible upset: No. 20 Nauset over No. 13 Auburn
One sleeper: No. 20 Nauset
Final four: Dover-Sherborn, Hanover, Medfield, Norwell Champion: Hanover Division 4
Best first-round matchup: No. 14 Lunenburg vs. No. 19 Easthampton
Possible upset: No. 21 Advanced Math & Science over No. 12 Monument Mountain
One sleeper: No. 16 Monomoy
Final four: Cohasset, Hamilton-Wenham, South Hadley, Sutton Champion: Cohasset Division 5
Best first-round matchup: No. 15 Mystic Valley vs. No. 18 Bromfield
Possible upset: No. 36 Rising Tide over No. 29 Mount Everett
One sleeper: No. 14 West Boylston
Final four: Hull, Monson, Mount Greylock, Whitinsville Christian
Champion: Monson