Everything has come down to this. The final dance is here.
On Sunday, the MIAA will crown its Division 1 and 2 girls champions at TD Garden. For many on the ice, it may just be the biggest game of their lives.
Neither bracket went chalk. You'll have the Nos. 5 and 6 seeds battling in Division 1, while the No. 2 seed in Div. 2 will take on the fifth seed.
Here’s the full schedule for Sunday, including the boys MIAA championships:
- Division 2 girls: No. 2 Milton vs. No. 5 King Philip | 9 a.m.
- Division 3 boys: No. 1 Hanover vs. No. 3 Medfield | 11 a.m.
- Division 1 boys: No. 7 Pope Francis vs. No. 8 St. John’s Shrewsbury | 1 p.m.
- Division 2 boys: No. 1 Canton vs. No. 2 Tewksbury | 3 p.m.
- Division 1 girls: No. 5 Archbishop Williams vs. No. 6 Methuen/Tewksbury | 5:30 p.m.
- Division 4 boys: No. 2 Littleton/Bromfield vs. No. 9 St. Bernard’s | 7:30 p.m.
Going back to my pre-tournament predictions, I hit on three of the four finalists. While I didn't pick Archbishop Williams to get here in Div. 1, I did get Methuen/Tewksbury correct. I also nailed Milton and King Philip in Div. 2.
In my Division 1 picks, I went 14-for-17 in the first two rounds (13-for-16 in the Round of 32 and 1-for-1 in the preliminary round). I hit on all eight teams that made the quarterfinals, too. I wasn't as sharp the rest of the way, picking just two of the four semifinalists correctly. In my Division 2 bracket, I went 14-for-16 in the first round before hitting on seven of the eight quarterfinalists. I also hit on three of the four semifinalists.
All in all, that feels like a pretty solid performance. How about a solid B-plus or A-minus?
Naturally, I'm back for more.
Let’s dive into our MIAA championship day picks.
Division 1: No. 5 Archbishop Williams vs. No. 6 Methuen/Tewksbury
Archbishop Williams and Methuen/Tewksbury could not have taken more different paths to the Garden.
The Bishops, making their first-ever state final appearance, were up and down through the first half of the season. With key players injured, Archies went 4-5-0 through Jan. 10. Since then, they're one of the hottest teams in the MIAA, going 14-2-1. One of the state's deepest offenses just needed to get healthy at the right time. It's safe to say they turned it on down the stretch. Archies has outscored opponents 17-0 in four postseason games, and the shutout streak currently sits at five in a row with a 20-0 differential. The Bishops are outscoring teams 24-3 over the six-game winning streak they'll take into Sunday.
GIRLS MIAA BRACKETS:Â Division 1Â |Â Division 2
Much is owed to electrifying play-drivers like sophomores Julie Murphy and Izzy O'Brien, although this postseason has seen a plethora of others step up. Maddie Markarian has three goals in the postseason, while Catherine Lacey has scored two big goals as well. Defenders Aliya Greenwood, Cam Katapodis and Kendyl Nolan have also stepped up, as have pesky forwards McKenzie Lima-Tower and Emily Fleming. Fleming had three assists in the quarterfinals. Goalie Maggie Shea has been stout, too. She's coming off a 15-save shutout in the semis after a 13-save shutout in the quarterfinals.
As for the Red Raiders, the only undefeated team remaining in the state, they're making their first trip to the Garden since 2019. Back-to-back ties in January followed 11 straight wins to open the year and preceded this current 11-game heater. M/T has allowed more than one goal just once this season, largely thanks to standout senior goalie Lydia Barnes, who's coming off a 12-save shutout in the semis. The Red Rangers' 12 goals against are the fewest of any team in the MIAA, boys or girls. Barnes and defenders like Lyla Chapman, Maeve Burns and Lauren Ryan will be tasked with slowing down a potent Bishop attack.
Offensively, Ella Duffy has been clutch with four goals this postseason. Sarah Marano has a pair of goals in the tournament, too, including the overtime winner in the quarterfinals. Eighth-grader Annalise Blais was the overtime hero in the semifinals. She's played beyond her years all season.
NEPSAC GIRLS CHAMPIONS: Loomis Chaffee beats Deerfield in Elite 8 | Phillips Exeter beats Choate in Large School | Groton beats New Hampton in Small School
The Red Rangers are playing for something bigger, too, after coach Dave O'Hearn passed away in July after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Methuen/Tewksbury has been and will be playing in his honor.
With all that being said, though, it's too hard to ignore how dominant Archies has been. I told colleague Evan Marinofsky that whoever won the quarterfinal matchup between Archies and No. 4 Bishop Feehan (my original champion prediction) would win it all. I've got to stick to my guns, even though I don't like having to pick against the Red Rangers.
Prediction:Â Archies wins, 3-1
Division 2: No. 2 Milton vs. No. 5 King Philip
In one corner, you've got Milton. The Wildcats have had a singular goal in mind throughout the season. They're in search of redemption after losing in the final last March.
In the other corner, you've got King Philip. The Warriors are headed to the Garden for the first time in program history after knocking off defending champion Medfield in the semifinals.
BOYS MIAA BRACKETS:Â Division 1Â |Â Division 2Â |Â Division 3Â |Â Division 4
Both teams can score in spades. KP is the MIAA's highest-scoring team on the girls side with 111 total goals. Milton is third with 99. Both teams have strong goaltending. KP has given up just 28 goals this season to 30 for Milton. Much of that is owed to KP goalie Kiki Lynch and Milton netminder Caera Hart. Lynch, a senior, had a 42-save shutout against a high-flying Pembroke squad in the quarterfinals. She followed it with a 21-save clean sheet in the semis. Hart, a sophomore, has allowed just two goals in four tournament games.
The Wildcats boast one of the state's most prolific scorers in senior Sabrina Stone. She has four goals in the postseason, while young forwards Lindsay Butt and Maeve Lovett have stepped up in the tournament as well. Senior defender Mairin Hart has a pair of goals this postseason, too. Mairin and Caera Hart, plus other defenders like Elise Hinckle, will be key to stopping KP in its tracks. Others like Nayeli Thayer, Noelle Gorham, Mia Cataruzolo and Abby Coughlin will be vital to keeping up with the Warriors' attack, too.
As for KP, the Warriors also boast one of the most productive skaters in the state in Annabelle Curran, who has two goals in the postseason. Linemates Ella Morgan (three playoff goals) and Steph Leblanc (two playoff goals) have made KP's top trio one of the most dangerous lines in the MIAA. Tayla McDuff and Calleigh Brady have scored big goals in the tournament, too. On the blue line, whether it's Brady, Grace Lehan-Allen, Lanie O'Shea or Emma Richard, the Warriors will have their hands full with Milton's deep attack.
NEPSAC BOYS CHAMPIONS: Avon Old Farms upsets St. Mark’s in Elite 8 | Cushing beats Brunswick in Large School | Winchendon beats Holderness in Small School
Like Methuen/Tewksbury in Div. 1, King Philip will also be playing for something bigger. The Warriors have been playing in former coach Ken Assad's honor. Assad passed away unexpectedly in December.
IÂ hate to also pick against the Warriors. I really do. But Milton has arguably been the best team in the MIAA from start to finish this season. The Wildcats are deep and have last season's experience fueling them. Nevertheless, I expect this to be a close, back-and-forth game.
Prediction:Â Milton wins, 4-3
