Fall 2024 State Championship Lookahead: Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer

MIAA Fall 2024 state champions already have been crowned in multiple sports -- Golf, Swimming, Field Hockey, Volleyball and Cross Country.

Now it is time for Boys Soccer and Girls Soccer teams to step into the spotlight. Ten more championship trophies -- five Boys Soccer and five Girls Soccer -- will be handed out beginning with a pair of title games Friday night at Worcester State College, and continuing Saturday, November 23 with a pair of four-game slates at Worcester State and Curry College.

Here is a look at what is ahead:

Boys Soccer

Division 3: Friday (4:45 p.m.) at Worcester State
Dover-Sherborn High School vs. Norwell High School

The first game of the weekend will be a rematch of a Sept. 14 regular-season battle in which the teams played to a scoreless draw. But someone will need to dent the scoreboard this time, one way or another.

Dover-Sherborn won its previous two championship appearances, but the No. 2 seed Raiders are looking for their first since 2010. D-S started the tournament with a 4-0 win over Hanover and a 4-2 conquest of Blackstone Valley Tech, then eliminated a pair of Tri-Valley League rivals (Holliston 2-1 and Medfield 3-1).

It's been more recent success for No. 9 Norwell, which beat Pembroke a year ago in penalty kicks and also prevailed in 2021 over Belchertown, also in kicks. The Clippers have plenty of experience in that end-game format, having gotten here with a penalty kicks win over Dighton-Rehoboth in the semifinals (2-1). That is the only goal allowed in the postseason by Norwell, which also has wins over Seekonk (5-0), Weston (5-0) and Pope Francis (1-0). 

Division 4: Saturday (10:30 a.m.) at Curry College
Cohasset High School vs. Lynnfield High School

Top-seeded Cohasset is back in the final for the first time 2016 and sixth overall (three in Division 4), still seeking its first championship. The Skippers needed to rally late for the tying goal in the semifinal before pulling out a 2-1 double-overtime win over East Boston. Leading up to that were wins over Oxford (5-0), Excel Academy Charter (3-1) and Northeast Voke (5-2).

Lynnfield, the No. 2 seed, is the defending champion after having beaten Monomoy Regional (1-0) in the 2023 final. That was the first championship in three previous tries for Lynnfield, which also had title appearances in 2006 and '07. This postseason, the Pioneers cruised to their first two tournament wins (4-0 over Uxbridge, 2-0 over Gardner), then battled to a 3-2 win over Hampshire Regional before edging Frontier Regional, 1-0, in the semifinals.

Division 2: Saturday (12:30 p.m.) at Worcester State
Oliver Ames High School vs. Hingham High School

One team has plenty of experience on this stage, while the other is hoping to write some history of its own.

No. 3 Oliver Ames is aiming for a third straight state championship (and fourth overall in six tries), after topping Wakefield in overtime a year ago and Hopkinton in 2022. The Tigers opened postseason play with a 3-1 win over Melrose, then rattled off consecutive shutouts of Milford (3-0), West Springfield (1-0) and Mansfield (1-0 in overtime).

Hingham will look to cap its first title game appearance with a victory. The No. 4 Harbormen have not allowed a goal in the tournament, advancing with wins over Nashoba Regional (1-0), Milton (2-0), Minnechaug Regional (2-0) and top-seeded Wakefield (1-0).

Division 1: Saturday (5:30 p.m.) at Worcester State
St. John's High School vs. Newton North High School

Although not recent, these programs have some past history, having met in the 2001 Division 1 final (a 2-1 St. John's victory).

The No. 8 seed Pioneers have not been back since winning it all in 2007, their fourth championship in as many tries. After opening tournament play with a 4-1 win over Brookline, St. John's has advanced past Needham (1-0 in OT), Ludlow (3-0) and St. John's Prep (3-2).

Newton North was here in 2021, losing a 2 OT heartbreaker to Brookline, but few could have seen this championship appearance coming. The No. 31 Tigers are by far the lowest seed ever to reach the final in the statewide tournament format, winning more games this postseason (five) than in the regular season (four). NN's tournament run has included wins over Winchester (2-1 in penalty kicks), Lowell (1-0 in OT), Leominster (1-0), Natick (1-0) and Xaverian (2-1 in kicks).

Division 5: Saturday (7 p.m.) at Curry College
Sutton High School vs. Dearborn STEM Academy

Another classic matchup between a championship veteran and an eager newcomer will cap the championship weekend.

Sutton, the No. 2 seed, has five previous championships, but the Sammies are seeking their first in Division 5 after falling in their last appearance in 2022 against Bromfield. Sutton got revenge for that game with a 3-1 win in the semifinals after previously beating Douglas (1-0), Rockport (6-0) and Brighton (1-0).

Dearborn is not only a newcomer here, but this is the school's first season as the host of its co-operative team with Albert D. Holland School of Technology (previously Burke HS). Dearborn edged fellow Boston City League foe Tech Boston Academy (2-1) in the semifinals, and the Wolverines also have beaten Smith Academy (9-0), Hopedale (3-1) and Maynard (1-0 in kicks) to get here. 

Girls Soccer

Division 3: Friday (7 p.m.) at Worcester State
Medfield High School vs. Nipmuc Regional High School

Both schools have won all of their previous championship game appearances, but it has been a decade (or more) since either has been here. The teams (both nicknamed "Warriors") did meet during the regular season, with Nipmuc scoring a 4-1 win on Oct. 19.

No. 2 Medfield won its only two previous state finals in 2010 and 2012 (both Division 2). This postseason Medfield beat Dighton-Rehoboth (4-0) and Hanover (2-0), then after an offensive battle vs. Danvers (5-3), reached the title game with a 3-1 semifinal win over Cardinal Spellman.

No. 4 Nipmuc made a statement with its 2-1 semifinal win over 2023 state champion Norwell. Before that, Nipmuc had scored wins over Nauset Regional (5-0), Medway (2-0) and Dover-Sherborn (2-1). Nipmuc won a Division 3 championship in 2014, and back-to-back Division 2 titles in 2005-06.

Division 2: Saturday (10 a.m.) at Worcester State
Masconomet Regional High School vs. Duxbury High School

The top two seeds have been the clear frontrunners in Division 2 all season and, despite plenty of recent success, both will be looking to end lengthy championship droughts.

No. 1 Masconomet has not won a title since 1989 or appeared in the final since 1992. The Chieftains overwhelmed Melrose (3-0), Westfield (6-0) and Oliver Ames (3-0) before rallying for a 3-1 win over Mansfield in the semifinals.

For No. 2 Duxbury, it's only been since 2008 for a championship, one of three previous for the Dragons in four tries. The offense (21 goals in four postseason games) will test top-seeded Masco's stout defense as Duxbury's tournament run has included wins over Ludlow (3-1), 2023 champion Notre Dame Academy (7-1), Nashoba Regional (6-1) and Westborough (5-2).

Division 5: Saturday (2 p.m.) at Curry College
Douglas High School vs. Hull High School

Another matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 seeds, but neither has been back on this stage in a while ... or at all.

Top-seeded Douglas made its only two previous appearances in 2002 and '03, winning the first. After falling in the semifinals in 2023, the Tigers have been on a quest this postseason, notching 24 total goals in four tournament wins over McCann Tech (7-0), Westport (9-0), Bromfield (4-1) and Georgetown (4-0).

Hull has never been to this stage, reaching the state semifinals a year ago before falling to eventual champ Monson. The No. 2 Pirates overwhelmed Springfield International Charter (10-0) to open postseason play, then have proceeded through the bracket against Ayer Shirley (5-1), Millis (3-1) and Tahanto Regional (2-0).

Division 1: Saturday (3 p.m.) at Worcester State
Wellesley High School vs. Bishop Feehan High School

One school was in this same position a year ago, while the other is back in the state championship for the first time in two decades.

It is No. 2 Wellesley that has waited the longest, though the Raiders won their only two previous championship appearances in 1996 and 2004 (both in Division 2). Wellesley had to fight off a last-second tying goal in regulation to beat Brookline in the semifinals (2-1) on an overtime penalty kick. Before that, the Raiders toppled Plymouth North (6-2), Lincoln-Sudbury (2-1) and Newton North (3-0).

No. 4 seed Bishop Feehan avenged last year's championship game defeat by stunning top seed Natick, 2-1 in double overtime, in a semifinal thriller. The Shamrocks also battled for one-goal wins in each of their other three tournament games against Boston Latin (2-1), Franklin (2-1 in kicks) and Needham (3-2). 

Division 4: Saturday (4:30 p.m.) at Curry College
Sutton High School vs. Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School

No program playing this weekend has as much championship game experience as Sutton, and Hamilton-Wenham will be looking to overcome that and add to its modest history in a matchup of top two seeds.

No. 1 Sutton holds state girls soccer records for most state final appearances (15) and championships (11), including each of the last three seasons under the new statewide format. The Suzies beat South Hadley for the Division 4 title a year ago and won back-to-back in Division 5 in 2021-22. This tournament run for the Suzies has included wins over Easthampton (5-0), Bellingham (4-1), Northbridge (6-0) and Cohasset (3-1).

Hamilton-Wenham also was a champion in 2021, taking home the Division 4 crown for the program's only title in two previous attempts. The No. 2 seed Generals will look to cap a tournament run that has included wins over Frontier Regional (7-0), Ipswich (7-0), South Hadley (3-2 in OT) and Lynnfield (3-0).