Let 2025 forever live in MIAA field hockey history as one of the most notable in this modern age of dynasties and rivalries, and one of the best of all time.
This is the year when Walpole (21-1-1) ran through most of its competition for a third straight season, using overwhelming tenacity and the leadership of 20 seniors to cap off a three-peat in Div. 1. Only the 1994-96 Porkers have done that in Div. 1.
This is the year when Somerset Berkley (22-1) sparked more conversation about boys in field hockey, as junior Ryan Crook partnered with star senior Addie Finlaw to help lead an otherwise balanced group to a repeat Div. 2 state title.
This is the year when Sandwich (19-2-2) reached a fourth state final in five years, becoming just the sixth program to do that. When Div. 3 rival Watertown (18-3) shook off roster turnover enough to earn its fifth straight state semifinal appearance, adding to its state-record total trips (31) and head coach Eileen Donahue’s state-record 795 career wins.
This is the year Franklin (17-3-3) tied for the Div. 1 lead in shutouts (16) and goals allowed (11) with Andover (17-2-2) en route to its first state final. When Dover-Sherborn (18-3-1) went unbeaten in the cut-throat Tri-Valley League en route to a third Div. 3 Final Four trip in four years. When Winchester (18-4) reached a second straight Div. 1 Final Four for its third trip ever.
And yet, this is also the year when all eight of those teams fell to Uxbridge, when the Spartans (23-0) won all 23 of their games by at least three goals. Several played them tough, but nobody came close by game’s end. That includes a poetic 7-0 win over four-time defending Div. 3 state champion Watertown in the state semifinals as part of Uxbridge’s path to a fifth straight state title (four in Div. 4), joining Watertown (nine straight) as the only two MIAA field hockey programs to ever five-peat.
Several notable longtime or retired coaches have said the Spartans – with eight D-I college commits – are the best high school team they’ve ever seen. Others say they are at least in the conversation.
Head coach Kelly Rosborough was asked about what goes into the success of this year after the state final ended.
“Hours and hours and hours of practicing and playing good field hockey,” she said. “Many of them have been playing since they were in elementary school, and they’ve been playing hard since elementary school. … I think that it’s just endless hours of working hard, committing. When other friends might be making other choices, they’re at training and they’re driving an hour, an hour and a half for some of those events.”
She added: “Going across to Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida — during holidays, during different parts of the year. And their family support, we can’t get where we’re going without the support of the family, because they also have to commit to that to make that happen. It’s all-encompassing. I said to the girls on signing day, no one achieves success alone; it takes everyone involved.”
The title was a grand ending for superstar seniors Kendall Gilmore (Maryland-commit), Amelia Blood (Wake Forest), Casucci (UNH) and goalie Julia Okenquist (Holy Cross), who were on varsity for all five championships.
Star juniors Brooklyn Kaferlein (Louisville), Addie Blood (UMass), Aubrey Bouchard (Bryant), Maddie Cammuso (Stonehill) and sophomore sensation Ava Rosborough were equally vital, and Kelly Rosborough raved about the impact of first-year starting seniors Sydney VanderZicht and Morgan Charbonnier on defense, as well as the efforts from the bench.
“All of us have worked our butts off since we were very young,” Casucci said. “We worked for everything we have achieved. … Hearing that (we could be the best all-time) feels amazing because I know that each and every one of us deserves that title.”
Beyond Uxbridge, there is much to note.
Dennis-Yarmouth’s (18-5) two seniors went out with a bang, helping win two chaotic finishes deep in the Div. 4 state tournament to secure the Dolphins’ first state title since 2018. It beat Frontier (16-5-2), which upset a loaded Monomoy (16-6-1) in the state semifinals to make its first final appearance in over 20 years. The run to the Div. 4 Final Four was Monomoy’s fifth straight.
Hingham (20-2-1) was a feel-good story in Div. 2, as the 13 seniors that helped it reach its first two Final Four trips in 2023 and 2024 finally reached the state final as the top seed. Wellesley (20-2) was another with 20 straight wins to return to the Div. 1 Final Four, only falling to Div. 1 state finalists Walpole and Franklin.
St. Mary’s of Lynn (18-1-1) secured its first Catholic Central League title and its first unbeaten regular season. East Bridgewater’s 13 wins were its most since 2006. Waltham (12-5-3) snapped a 17-year playoff-win drought.
Watertown’s unbeaten streak reached 103 games before Somerset Berkley beat it 4-3 in the regular season. Nashoba (20-1-1) rode an unbeaten record in Div. 2 to the state semifinals, where it also lost to the Blue Raiders. Somerset Berkley also handed Sandwich its first loss.
Senior goalie Devon Barry dominated in net late in the Div. 1 tournament for Franklin, shutting out Wellesley and allowing just one goal to Walpole. The Porkers’ win secured a state-best 15th Div. 1 state title, and a third for seniors Kate Schneider, Kendal Cusack and twins Emily and Grace Hagan.
Uxbridge’s Amelia Blood graduates as the program’s all-time assists leader. Club teammate Mackenzie Clarke (UConn commit) graduates as Belmont’s all-time leading scorer and a strong candidate for Div. 1’s top player.
Lynnfield (16-1-3) went unbeaten in the Cape Ann League to secure its first Kinney title since 2014. Lincoln-Sudbury (13-3-3) reached its first state quarterfinal in 20 years, falling in a shootout to Winchester. Winchester had a special year, including a rare win over Middlesex League foe Watertown.
Star-studded Canton (16-2-4) reached its second straight Div. 2 Final Four, gutting out a tough win over Hockomock League foe King Philip (16-5) in the quarterfinals. Masconomet (17-1-2) went unbeaten in Div. 2 up until Westwood (12-7-2) upset it in the second round, marking the Wolverines’ eighth straight win in a special mid-season turnaround.
