It’s a tall task following up on a 21-1-1 season and a Div. 1 girls soccer championship.
Natick has passed the test. The Redhawks enter the 2024 playoffs as the top seed with a record of 15-0-1. From start to finish, they have served as the premier team in Div. 1, along with a Bay State Conference counterpart in second-seeded Wellesley (14-3-1). Beyond those two, the dropoff in teams makes anything is possible. No. 4 Bishop Feehan (13-2-3) always seems to find itself in the mix for championships. But the Shamrocks’ decorated manager Phil Silva is serving an MIAA-imposed one-year suspension. John Scibilia has stepped in as interim coach. No. 6 King Philip (16-2-0) is a threat out of the Hockomock League, while seventh-ranked Hopkinton (15-1-2) bowled through its Tri-Valley League slate. A surprise team to watch? No. 18 Woburn (12-3-3).
Behind star Maggie Blosser, Masconomet is 17-0-1 and the top seed in Div. 2. A year ago, the Chieftains fell to eventual champion Notre Dame (Hingham) in the semifinals. No. 2 Duxbury (16-1-1) cruised through a tough Patriot League; local rivals in No. 11 Hingham (10-4-3) and No. 14 Scituate (13-2-3) could also be tough outs. Not to mention, sixth-seeded Somerset Berkley remains perfect on the year (18-0-0) behind a very talented junior class.
Last season was Norwell’s time. The Clippers claimed the Div. 3 crown and are right back on track at 18-0-2. The top-ranked squad but No. 2 Medfield (13-3-2) and No. 3 Weston (13-2-3) hung close with the Clippers all year. No. 15 Hanover (11-6-1) and No. 29 Nauset (13-3-2) are a few possible Cinderella teams to watch.
The Div. 4 field looks wide open. Sutton (16-2-0) is a favorite, obviously as the top seed. No. 2 Hamilton-Wenham (14-0-4) will look to build upon its run from last season, as will third-seeded Lynnfield (13-3-2). Cohasset (12-3-1) boasts arguably the top player in the state with Boston College commit Tess Barrett, and will attempt to orchestrate a deep run as the No. 4 seed.
Div. 5’s top two spots, Douglas (12-5-1) and Hull (12-2-4), both reached the Final Four in 2023, and the schools seem to be on a collision course. Who could take them down? No. 4 Georgetown (9-6-3) or No. 11 Monson (12-6-0), which won a title last year.
Best first round matchup
No. 15 Lincoln-Sudbury vs. No. 18 Woburn
Possible upset
No. 20 Wachusett over No. 13 Franklin
One sleeper
No. 27 Central Catholic
Final four
No. 1 Natick, No. 2 Wellesley, No. 4 Bishop Feehan, No. 6 King Philip
Champion
No. 1 Natick
Best first round matchup
No. 15 Notre Dame (Hingham) vs. No. 18 Longmeadow
Possible upset
No. 21 Bishop Stang over No. 12 Westwood
One sleeper
No. 28 Billerica
Final four
No. 1 Masconomet, No. 2 Duxbury, No. 5 Holliston, No. 6 Somerset Berkley
Champion
No. 1 Masconomet
Best first round matchup
No. 16 Belchertown vs. No. 17 Tewksbury
Possible upset
No. 29 Nauset over No. 4 Nipmuc
One sleeper
No. 29 Nauset
Final four
No. 1 Norwell, No. 2 Medfield, No. 5 Dover-Sherborn, No. 6 North Reading
Champion
No. 1 Norwell
Best first round matchup
No. 13 Rockland vs. No. 20 Monument Mountain
Possible upset
No. 22 Nantucket over No. 11 Lunenburg
One sleeper
No. 25 Blue Hills
Final four
No. 1 Sutton, No. 3 Lynnfield, No. 4 Cohasset, No. 10 West Bridgewater
Champion
No. 4 Cohasset
Best first round matchup
No. 15 Ayer Shirley vs. No. 18 Mystic Valley
Possible upset
No. 30 Greenfield over No. 3 Tahanto
One sleeper
No. 16 Nashoba
Final four
No. 1 Douglas, No. 2 Hull, No. 4 Georgetown, No. 11 Monson
Champion
No. 2 Hull