Massachusetts girls' soccer tournament brackets reveal open fields and deep talent
Only two top seeds are defending champions, leaving Division 1 and other tiers wide open for upset candidates.
By Eric Collins ·
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association girls' soccer tournament begins this November with a bracket full of uncertainty and high stakes.
Of the top seeds across all five divisions, only Duxbury in Division 2 and Medfield in Division 3 hold the title from last year. The remaining three defending champions, Natick, Sutton, and Hull, qualified but are not the top seed in their respective tiers. Division 1 is the most unpredictable field, with more than six teams capable of winning the state championship.
Wellesley and Concord-Carlisle are the favorites in Division 1, though Wellesley has not lost since September 24. The Raiders are 12-0-2 and won the Bay State Conference, while Concord-Carlisle captured the Dual County League title. Emmy O'Donnell leads Concord-Carlisle with 16 goals and 12 assists. Defending champion Natick enters as the No. 20 seed, suggesting a new team will likely claim the crown.
Medfield enters Division 3 with an 18-0-0 regular season record, the best in the state. The Warriors rely on Sidney Heavey, Devon Weafer, and Audrey Grandinetti. Norwell is a dangerous opponent, having lost only one game all season and winning five in a row. Foxborough and Cardinal Spellman are listed as sleepers in this division, where the longest road trip covers 155 miles.
In Division 2, Duxbury is the top seed with a 14-0-5 record, but Hingham and Oliver Ames present strong challenges. Newburyport went 15 games without conceding a goal between September 15 and November 2. Duxbury's Lilah MacQuarrie leads the team, while Hingham's Taylor Bello posted 34 goals and 14 assists.
Cohasset leads Division 4 despite Sutton winning the last three titles. The Skippers scored 70 goals in the regular season, led by Brynn Dwyer. Sandwich is the designated sleeper after playing Cohasset to two tight losses. In Division 5, Granby defends its title after winning its third straight Western Massachusetts Class D championship. Hull, the defending state champion, is unbeaten in its last five games.
The tournament features players from Bishop Feehan, Winchester, and Natick in Division 1, while Masconomet's Blosser twins anchor Division 2. Holbrook is the sleeper in Division 5, and the longest journey in that tier is 172 miles.
