Watertown still the team to beat – Boston Herald

Watertown head Coach Eileen Donahue is well-versed in cooking up the formula to repeat as state Champions throughout her legendary career, but the 19-time Champion won’t look that far down the line to consider repeating this new season just yet. Her focus on the present is likely what led to so much success, and that present while she feels it needs a lot of work still features Watertown as the team to beat in Div. 3 yet again.

Two-time All-Scholastic Seniors Maggie Driscoll and Lizzie Loftus return with junior Phenom Molly Driscoll to lead a program amid a 33-game win streak. But what puts Watertown over the top is the return of top supporting players like senior goalie Brianna Cooper, midfielder/forwards Rachel Egan and Adrianna Williams, and defender Aislin Devaney, to name a few.

We have a lot of tough competition, well see if we were up for that competition, Donahue said. With Lizzie, Maggie and Molly, they’d be the first ones to tell you that it’s not going to work with three people. Its not. The goal is the team goal, and fortunately we do have some key role people back.

Sandwichtook Watertown to double-overtime in the final and Returns big talent. Senior Emily Souke, senior Hailey Lemire, junior Julia Giampietro, and freshmen Quinn Jordan and Khloe Schultz lead a group ready to take another realistic shot at the title. Cape and Islands League Rival Coach Mary OConnor comes out of retirement to help Dennis-Yarmouth do much of the same, anchored by senior Returners Jordyn Pineau (midfield), Izzy OReilly (forward), Rebecca Lynn (defense) and Kristen Stagg (goalie).

Swampscott figures to pass the Northeastern Conference test, as Seniors Brooke Waters and Olivia Baran lead a fast and experienced Squad alongside Talented Juniors Coco Cloptan, Lucy Brown and Sawyer Groothius. It will battle closely with Gloucester, which is primed to rebound by returning NEC All-Star Aria Caputo, Ella Costa and Abby Lowthers.

Pentucketisnt so much The Little Train That Could anymore after reaching its first state semifinal. Seniors Haley Dwight and Reese Gallant are back to lead the attack, while Madie Kuchar and Lauren Arnold bolster the defense. Tritonchallenges for the Cape Ann League Kinney title with a large senior group, including Sammy Kelly, Devyn Karpenko and Riley Bell.

The Tri-Valley League is packed, as Dover-Sherborn looks to get back to the title game through its nucleus of leading scorer Ava Bent, midfielder Drew Hussar and midfielder Alia El-Hilali in front of Seniors Caroline Harvey (goalie) and Abby Wayne. It first needs to un-seat TVL Small champion Dedham, which Returns plenty of scoring pop in Seniors Connie Doyle, Ally LaBrecque and Tara Duncan, while Ella MacDougall holds down the goal. Medfield follows a breakout year as a legitimate Threat in the league, boosted by midfielders Ashley Malmquist and Chloe Sheild, and defenders Gabby Curl and Keira Dennehy.

Foxborois hungrier than ever, led by star scorers Mary Collins and Mya Waryas, midfielder Val Beigel and goalie Katherine Ferguson. Hanover will score plenty too with junior leading forwards Katie Radzik and Ava Toglia back, also returning most of its strong defense from last year. CaptainsBella Caldwell, Ava Meehan and Hannah Fortinguide a competitiveBishopStangteam.

Expect Wayland to make waves, while Pembroke and Dighton-Rehoboth also make strong postseason bids.

A huge part of the formula that rose Uxbridgeto the Div. 4 state titles last year was its elite scoring volume, something it could turn up ever louder this season. Captains in St. Anselm-commit Meghan Smith and Morgan Ouellette provide leadership, sophomore Phenom Elyse Bouchard follows a 30-goal season, and critical weapons Amelia Blood, Kendall Gilmore and Julianna Casucci come off playing at the national level this summer.

So much great field hockey happening in little ole Uxbridge, said head Coach Kelly Rosborough. These girls really grind it out in the offseason.

Runner-up Ipswichcomes back loaded with returning stars like Chloe Pszenny (midfield), Courtney Stevens (defense) and Ashton Flather (forward) as it looks to keep its foot on the gas. CAL Baker rivalManchester-Essexis a bona fide favorite alongside the Tigers after losing just two players. They return All-Scholastic midfielder Amy Vytopilova, while fellow All-Star Caelie Patrick, Hadley Levendusky and Helaina Davis stand out. Lynnfield will be a force as well behind star forward Julia Carbone and other returning starters in midfielder Ava Marotta, goalie Charlotte Radulski, forward Lana Sutera and defender Maddie Mastrangelo.

Monomoybrings in new head Coach Kyle Cappallo, who hopes to lead a return to the Final Four behind Returners Carly Dimock, Helen DiGiovanni, Emily Layton and Ella Reeves, as well as freshman Sam Clark.St. Marys(L) Returns Maggie Pierce, one of the states top scorers, as it looks for Deeper run, and Cohassetwill be a top power once again.

Casestands out from the South Coast Conference, boasting all but one returning starter as senior Lexi Yost and junior Megan Smith lead the attack, senior Brooke Orton and sophomore Maeve Richardson bolster the middle and Seniors Kaeylyn Lecomte and Rylie MacDonald guide the defense. Littleton returns senior forward Belle Field, Lindsey Barbella, Amelia Rogers and Katherine Anjoorian to lead another strong year.

Seniors Cara Lambert (goalie) and Rose Grenache guide Suttonas it takes a youthful turn this season.