In relation to depth, Divisions 3 and 4 for MIAA Soccer seems to be as robust as it could possibly get.
Yearly powers like Mansfield, North Attleboro, Walpole, Duxbury, and Scituate already headlined the degrees. Nevertheless, notable drop-downs from big-time packages like King Philip, Marshfield, and Barnstable solidify that depth much more.
For King Philip, the transfer aligns this system with a number of Hockomock league foes whereas nonetheless offering high-leverage matchups all through the season. The Warriors have been a high contender in Division 2 through the years, notably reaching the Tremendous Bowl in each season since 2021 and successful it in 2023.
Whereas this run has helped set a powerful tradition for this system, head coach Brian Lee mentioned the method can set extraordinarily excessive expectations.
“It’s a troublesome factor when that occurs as a result of unexpectedly, the way you deem issues profitable, that normal is raised,” Lee mentioned. “However actually, the boys really feel like they wish to maintain themselves to that normal, so we’ll proceed to attempt for that normal.”
Whereas reaching the title sport yearly is an excessive problem, Lee mentioned his group will showcase the Warrior model each week.
“I just like the staff,” Lee mentioned. “We needs to be aggressive, after which it turns to having a few guys have a breakout yr for you, a few guys filling spots for you after which staying wholesome. D3 is loaded from high to backside.”
King Philip will see vital contributions from gamers like quarterback Zach Gebhard and Bentley commit Nate Crisci on the road. Lee famous senior lineman Lex Chatham, son of former New England Patriot Matt Chatham, is a real breakout candidate.
Whereas the Warriors enter as a heavyweight, fellow Hockomock League member North Attleboro enters because the defending champion. The Purple Rocketeers went 11-2 and cruised to a dominant 35-0 victory over Mansfield within the state championship.
They had been powered by a potent working assault headlined by gamers like Brady Paradis, Ryan Bannon and dual-threat quarterback Chase Frisoli. Whereas it is going to be daunting to interchange that expertise, head coach Mike Strachan mentioned the staff will proceed to have a dynamic run sport.
“Total, we’ll proceed to give attention to our run sport and our offensive line and constructing self-discipline round that,” Strachan mentioned. “We’re going to be very younger in comparison with the place we had been a yr in the past, however we’ve got 4 or 5 returning starters and we’re going to have some nice senior management and captains this yr.”
The staff will depend on Corey Rufino and Frank Strachan to hold a big load within the speeding assault whereas left deal with and defensive finish Nate Rivera might be a game-breaker on each side of the ball. The Purple Rocketeers have a schedule that options some intriguing matchups and Strachan mentioned most weeks will really feel like rivalry week.
“These are all rivalry video games,” Strachan mentioned. “Whether or not it’s Foxboro, Mansfield, King Philip or Attleboro, these are all historic, conventional video games and so they date again to their days in youth soccer.”
Along with North Attleboro and King Philip, different notable contenders in Div. 3 embrace Mansfield, Marshfield, Barnstable, Billerica, Studying and Masconomet. Plymouth South, Hingham, Westboro and Silver Lake might be value following as nicely.
Div. 4 has been run by Duxbury and Scituate in current seasons. The Dragons gained consecutive titles in 2022 and 2023, with the latter coming over Scituate, however the Sailors received their revenge in 2024 with a 29-13 victory at Gillette Stadium.
The Sailors additionally knocked off Duxbury within the title sport in 2021, so it’s protected to say that these Patriot League foes are greater than accustomed to one another. Scituate head coach Herb Devine spoke of the rising rivalry and credited Duxbury for constructing a program to aspire to be.
“After I first began out we simply weren’t at that degree,” Devine mentioned. “It has taken time, it has taken good teaching and it has taken youngsters who purchase in and work laborious. Duxbury has all the time been on the high of the pyramid and I believe we’re at that degree now but it surely has taken time to get there.”
The Sailors might be led by quarterback Jonny Donovan, a Pomona-Pitzer commit, in addition to working again Grayson Foley and lineman Shea Tinkham. Devine additionally shouted out juniors Owen Morley and Chris Weber, who needs to be breakout gamers this season.
“These youngsters which can be taking part in this yr wish to proceed that successful custom,” Devine mentioned. “They wish to preserve the wins and championships going, and it takes laborious work to do this yearly. However that’s the objective we got down to do yearly, and it’s all about working laborious and persevering with the usual that our different groups have achieved previously.”
On the opposite aspect of that title sport was Duxbury, who count on to be in competition as soon as once more this season. Head coach Matt Landolfi mentioned the Dragons might be a bit completely different this yr, with a pass-heavy assault carefully aligned to the one they used with former quarterback Matt Festa just a few years in the past.
“This group is basically shopping for into what we’re doing on the sphere, however they’re additionally placing a variety of work into follow by studying the system,” Landolfi mentioned. “They’re excited to see the offense change from a heavy run offense from the previous couple of years right into a extra open, unfold offense that might be thrilling for the followers as nicely.”
The Dragons moved receiver Ian McNeil to working again and also will depend on Cooper Farabaugh and Hank Frazier to stay robust on the road. Brady Rhinesmith will take over at quarterback.
Different notable contenders might be Walpole, who dropped down from Div. 3, in addition to Grafton, Tewksbury, Malden Catholic, Marblehead and Burlington. Different groups to control embrace Middleboro, Norwood and Somerset Berkley.
With the slate trying loaded, Landolfi mentioned that the loaded nature of the division ought to preserve followers on their toes.
“It’s simply very aggressive,” Landolfi mentioned. “I believe each staff is happy about it since you actually wish to play good groups. I put Division 4 up there with a variety of the divisions throughout the state.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ryan Brooks (Burlington), Lex Chatham (King Philip), Kyle Coffin (Barnstable), Nathan Crisci (King Philip), Jonny Donovan (Scituate), Jayson Dyer (Barnstable), Jack Fabiano (Masconomet), Cooper Farabaugh (Duxbury), Grayson Foley (Scituate), Hank Frazier (Duxbury) Ramari Fernandez (Mansfield), Zachary Gebhard (King Philip), Will Harrison (Tewksbury), Jack Lightfoot (Tewksbury), Ian McNeil (Duxbury), Brady Rhinesmith (Duxbury), Nate Rivera (North Attleboro), Corey Rufino (North Attleboro), Frank Stachan (North Attleboro), Jonny Sullivan (Tewksbury), Shea Tinkham (Scituate) Ryan Thompson (North Attleboro), Tommy Vallett (Mansfield)
