Norwood, the No. 1 seed in Division 2, had the highest power rating (3.9832) of all divisions thanks to its tight schedule. Somerset Berkley is always a big threat at No. 2, followed by Notre Dame-Hingham and Nashoba. Reigning champions Reading sit in 8th place after three consecutive defeats this month.

There is deja vu in Leagues 3 and 4, with champions Watertown and Uxbridge in position to lift the trophy once again. But if Watertown is going to win its 22nd title, the Raiders will need to do it as a No. 2 seed. The top-seeded Sandwich (20-0) has put together a spectacular season. Newburyport sits in 3rd place after last year’s amazing finals run. Uxbridge did not shy away from the challenging schedule where they will face Andover, Walpole and Algonquin. No. 2 Monomoy is poised for another deep run.

CHAPTER 1

Favorite: No.1 Lincoln-Sudbury

Sleeping: No.5 Belmont

Players to watch: Ellie Innes (Lincoln-Sudbury, Jr.), Mackenzie Clarke (Belmont, Jr.), Lily Marchand (Bishop Feehan, Sr.), Caitlyn Naughton (Walpole, Sr.), Kerri Finneran (Central Catholic, Sr.), Bella DiFiore (Andover, Sr.), Raena Crandall (Franklin, Sr.).

Longest first round trip: No. 28 Barnstable, No. 5 Belmont – 91 miles

Overview: The Round of 16 is expected to bring the fiercest competition in the group. No. 1 Lincoln-Sudbury’s path to the championship could face obstacles against the winner of No. 16 Durfee and No. 17 King Philip. No. 4 Andover could go up against No. 13 Beverly or No. 20 Arlington.

But teams that get over this hump will have to face an even more competitive Round 8. If LS advances to the Round of 8, the opponent will likely be a tough No. 8 Bishop Feehan team. No. 7 Franklin has a chance at a rematch with Walpole, which ended its tournament run in the quarters last year. Matches between Algonquin and Central Catholic and Belmont or Natick and Andover could change the course of the tournament.

CHAPTER 2

Favorite: No.1 Norwood

Sleeping: No.6 Hingham

Players to watch: Shea Larkee (Norwood, Sr.), Haylen Wilson (Hingham, Sr.), Caitlin “KK” Hussey (Duxbury, Sr.), Emily Carr (Somerset Berkley, Sr.), Libby Quinn (Reading, Sr.), Avi Panacopoulos (Malden Catholic, Sr.), Meg Hourihan (Nashoba, So.).

Longest first round trip: No. 17 Scituate, No. 16 Agawam – 192 miles

Overview: Top-placed Norwood lost to Reading in the final a year ago. The Mustangs can enter the Round of 16 with the winner of the tie-breaking matchup between No. 16 Agawam and No. 17 Scituate. After that: No. 8 Reading or No. 9 Duxbury. Somerset Berkley could see No. 15 Masconomet or No. 18 Leominster in the Round of 16. Canton and Dartmouth could compete to play No. 4 Nashoba or Hopkinton in a quarterfinal matchup. Although No. 6 Hingham is down two spots from last year, the team’s path to a Round 8 matchup against No. 3 NDA-Hingham could be very close.

CHAPTER 3

Favorite: No.2 Watertown

Sleeping: No.4 Medfield

Players to watch: MK Cronin (Dedham, So.), Rachel Egan (Watertown, Sr.), Morgan Felts (Newburyport, Sr.), Quinn Jordan (Sandwich, Jr.), Maeve Kelly (Medfield, Sr.), Ava Korisianos (St. ) Mary’s, Jr.)

Longest first round trip: No. 27 Notre Dame-Worcester, no. 6 Dennis-Yarmouth — 185 miles.

Overview: It’s strange not to see Watertown at the top of the Division III standings, but the No. 1 Sandwich’s strength of schedule puts Kelsy Beaton’s squad above the 21-time champions. . . There is potential for a semifinal between No. 1 Sandwich and No. 4 Medfield, which would be a matchup of two teams with great depth. . . A rematch of last year’s wild Division III championship game between Watertown and No. 3 Newburyport is unlikely to be possible this year, but the teams could potentially see themselves in the semifinals. . . Speaking of Newburyport, Division 3 is full of Cape Ann League teams; The Clippers and neighbors No. 30 Triton will potentially meet in the Round of 32 game. CAL also No. Also represented by 7 North Reading.

CHAPTER 4

Favorite: No.1 Uxbridge

Sleeping: No. 5ManchesterEssex

Longest first round trip: Depending on mileage, No. 2 Smith Academy No. 31 in Monomoy is a 184-mile drive. But Westport’s 55-mile land/sea trip to Nantucket on No. 9 will take 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Players to watch: Amelia Blood (Uxbridge, Jr.), Abby Kent (Manchester Essex, Jr.). Emily Layton (Monomoy, Sr.), Evie Phelps (Nantucket, So.) Shea Ryan (St. John Paul II, Sr.) Taylor Valiton (Lynnfield, Sr.)

Overview: No. 1 Uxbridge has filled its schedule with games against the state’s best in each division, giving the Spartans an extremely tough challenge for the tournament. They are among the heavy favorites for their fourth straight state title and are the only D4 champions since the MIAA moved to four divisions in field hockey. . . But No. 2 Monomoy has been a mainstay in the latter stages of the D4 tournament since 2021, while also giving his squad the experience of returning to a second consecutive championship game. . . No. 5 Manchester-Essex has had some ups and downs this season but has gained momentum heading into the postseason by winning its last five. The Hornets want to return to the championship game, where they last played in 2022. . . Keep an eye on No. 9 Nantucket, a hungry team that builds on its growing success over the last few years.

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Kat Cornetta can be reached at [email protected]. Alexa Podalsky can be reached at [email protected].