In the latest installment of the MIAA statewide boys lacrosse playoffs, 139 schools punched their respective tickets, with familiar faces scattered across the board.
Could history repeat itself in Div. 1? Since the state switched to its current postseason format, St. John’s Prep has reigned supreme, winning four consecutive championships. Its most recent trip to the pinnacle featured an epic 17-13 win over Needham in last year’s final.
This time around, the Eagles (17-1) were awarded the No. 2 seed, while their Catholic Conference nemesis, BC High (15-3), was selected as the top seed even though St. John’s Prep won both matchups with its rival during the spring. That said, it’s very plausible they could end up clashing for a third time in the title bout.
St. John’s Prep will look for leadership from players such as Luke Kelly and Cam McCarthy, while BC High leans on the likes of Nick Emsing, Luke Allen and Murphy Belvin. However, there will be some programs looking to knock the two favorites off their perch.
No. 3 Lincoln-Sudbury (12-4) played a very difficult independent schedule, and was listed at the top of the power rankings most of the season. The Warriors head into the tournament led by Rex Friedholm and Nolan Martindale, and are just one of many publics looking to make a title chase. Watch out for programs such as No. 4 Andover, No. 5 Acton-Boxboro and No. 6 Concord-Carlisle, all of which are threats to make deep runs. Winchester is also an interesting school to monitor as the No. 10 seed. Some sleepers in the Div. 1 field include No. 15 Wachusett and No. 20 Arlington.
One school that should immediately come to mind as a favorite in Div. 2 is Billerica. The Indians dropped their season-opener to Lincoln-Sudbury, and have not lost since, riding a 17-game winning streak. Their biggest victory came May 19 when Kam Tremblay buried the clinching goal to give the program an 8-7 win over BC High.
It’s hard to see anyone knocking off the team at this point, but a few candidates in this top-heavy bracket include last year’s champion, No. 2 Longmeadow, always a perennial threat. Patriot League juggernauts in No. 3 Duxbury and No. 4 Hingham figure to be in the running once again. No. 5 Mansfield is slated to make noise after a 17-1 campaign, while sixth-seeded Reading enters the fray hoping to shake things up. Keep an eye out for No. 7 Marshfield as well, as the Rams are coming off a trip to the state final last year.
The Div. 3 field is quickly turning into a race to see who can supplant Medfield as the favorite. At the onset of the playoffs, however, an upset doesn’t appear likely. Some consider the top-ranked Warriors (15-3) a top-five team in the state. Medfield will be propelled by athletes such as Ben Lusby and Braeden Sutton as it looks to repeat as champion.
The Cape and Islands League will be well represented in Div. 3, with No. 2 Nauset and third-seeded Falmouth following suit. Dracut climbed the rankings after cruising through its Merrimack Valley Conference slate, and is a contender as the No. 4 seed. Scituate is always lurking as a danger to embark on a championship run, and sits at No. 5. Other interesting teams are No. 8 Wakefield and No. 12 Dover-Sherborn. No. 19 Old Rochester is a possible sleeper.
Is it safe to say that Cohasset is back to form? Every few years, the Skippers seem to reach the state championship, and they’re in prime position again this spring. With the top seed in Div. 4, Cohasset (17-2) is a heavy favorite, and will be powered by Shane Mulcahy, Gus Greene and Taighe Dwyer, to name a few. Other teams to watch in this bracket include second-ranked Weston and Cohasset’s South Shore League cohort in No. 3 Norwell.
Nantucket enters as the No. 4 seed, looking to win its second straight Div. 4 crown. Ipswich enjoyed a great run in Cape Ann League play and is a fifth seed.
Predictions
Div. 1
Champion: No. 2 St. John’s Prep
Runner-up: No. 1 BC High
Final Four: No. 1 BC High, No. 2 St. John’s Prep, No. 3 Lincoln-Sudbury, No. 5 Acton-Boxboro
Sleeper: No. 15 Wachusett
Best first-round matchup: No. 13 Needham vs. No. 20 Arlington
Potential upset: No. 20 Arlington over No. 13 Needham
Div. 2
Champion: No. 1 Billerica
Runner-up: No. 3 Duxbury
Final Four: No. 1 Billerica, No. 3 Duxbury, No. 4 Hingham, No. 7 Marshfield
Sleeper: No. 18 West Springfield
Best first-round matchup: No. 14 Sharon vs. No 19 Westborough
Potential upset: No. 22 Methuen over No. 11 Algonquin
Div. 3
Champion: No. 1 Medfield
Runner-up: No. 2 Nauset
Final Four: No. 1 Medfield, No. 2 Nauset, No. 3 Falmouth, No. 5 Scituate
Sleeper: No. 22 Apponequet
Best first-round matchup: No. 14 Pembroke vs. No. 19 Old Rochester
Potential upset: No. 24 Northampton over No. 9 East Longmeadow
Div. 4
Champion: No. 1 Cohasset
Runner-up: No. 3 Norwell
Final Four: No. 1 Cohasset, No. 2 Weston, No. 3 Norwell, No. 5 Ipswich
Sleeper: No. 11 Abington
Best first-round matchup: No. 12 Nipmuc vs. No. 21 Hoosac Valley
Potential upset: No. 23 South Shore Voke over No. 10 Pentucket
