2024 MIAA Boys Soccer Tournament Breakdown

Favorites: No. 1 Newton South, No. 2 Lowell

Sleepers: No. 12 Lexington, No. 22 Franklin

Best First Round Matchup: No. 19 Braintree at No. 14 Xaverian

Longest road trip in the first round: No. 17 Ludlow at No. 16 Belmont, 83 miles

Players to watch: Will Baltas (St. John’s Shrewsbury, Sr.), Nico Bradley (Newton South, Sr.), Ikaro da Silva (Lowell, Jr.), Matty Gordon (Natick, Sr.), Jake McConville (BC High, Sr.) , Vincent McGann (Chelmsford, Sr.), Garrison Murphy (St. John’s Prep, Jr.), Garrett Scagliarini (Franklin, Sr.), Jamo Velez (Concord-Carlisle, Sr.), Cam Walty (Weymouth, Sr.)

Overview: Despite their undefeated streak ending on the final day of the season, Newton South (13-1-4) holds on to first place as the Lions look for redemption after missing out on the Dual County League title by a point. Right behind them is Lowell (18-0-0), the only brand in the state.

Defending champion Concord-Carlisle (11-2-3) is the fifth seed, behind No. 3 Weymouth (14-2-2) and No. 4 St. John’s Prep (13-1-4) – all teams that could do it save a deep flight.

No. 7 Natick (10-4-3) has the most impressive win of the D1 tournament, defeating Newton South to end the year. No. No. 12 Lexington (11-2-6), No. 16 Belmont (11-3-4) and No. 20 Arlington (12-3-3) are Middlesex League foes with proven schedules.

Some teams are keeping an eye on the back half of the bracket: No. 24 Needham (9-8-1) is a perennial contender with trips to the finals in three of the last five tournaments, No. 22 Franklin (13-4 – 1) is certainly under-seeded – and it proved its place by beating No. 8 St. John’s Shrewsbury (12-6-0) to end the season.

Division 2

Favorites: No. 3 Oliver Ames, No. 4 Hingham

Sleepers: No. 25 Sharon, No. 30 Melrose

Best first round match: No. 19 Milford at No. 14 Dartmouth

Longest road trip in the first round: No. 15 Scituate at No. 18 Longmeadow, 191 miles

Players to watch: Craig Churchill (Oliver Ames, Sr.), Jack Millward (Wakefield, Jr.), Jack Gavron (Wayland, Sr.), Marco Geminini (Mansfield, Sr.), Spencer Goss (Bedford, Sr.), Sandro Neyra (Hingham) , Sr.), Nick Mirogiannis (Reading, Sr.), Landon Raposa (Dartmouth, Jr.), Jason Xintaropoulos (Billerica, Sr.), Rory Zampese (Marblehead, Sr.)

Overview: There are plenty of contenders in the 38-team field, highlighted by last year’s finalists Oliver Ames and Wakefield. The third-seeded Tigers (13-2-2) have remained a force after winning the title last season, conquering the Hockomock Davenport and conceding just five goals. The No. 1 Warriors (15-2-1) finished atop the standings after a dominant season in one of the state’s most competitive leagues, the Middlesex. With both teams on opposite sides of the bracket, a rematch of the championship game is possible.

Under first-year head coach David Leahy, No. 4 Hingham (15-2-1) is also primed for a deep run. The Harbormen won 15 of 16 games in the Patriot League.

Also keep an eye on No. 19 Milford (10-4-4) and No. 25 Sharon (11-4-3) – both teams bounced back from poor 2023 campaigns to compete in the Hockomock Kelley-Rex.

Division 3

Favorites: No. 1 Pope Francis, No. 2 Dover-Sherborn

Sleepers: No. 9 Norwell, No. 14 Pembroke

Best First Round Matchup: No. 19 Swampscott at No. 14 Pembroke

Longest road trip in the first round: No. 40 Taconic at No. 25 Danvers, 258 miles

Players to watch: Ronan Coffey (Norwell, Sr.), Shane Crowley (Pembroke, Sr.), Charlie Curmi (Medfield, Sr.), Felipe de Carvalho (Ashland, Sr.), Brian Dunnecq (Dedham, Sr.), Simon Hart (Dover -Sherborn, Sr., Nolan Hua (Weston, Sr.), Mehdi Khemmich (St. Mary’s, Sr.), Finn Rodger (North Reading, Sr.), DJ Tandy (Archbishop Williams, Jr.)

Overview: The Division 3 field is dominated by the Tri-Valley League.

Many of the hits from Dover-Sherborn (13-3-2), No. 3 Medfield (12-4-2), No. 4 Dedham (14-3-1) and No. 5 Ashland (12-4-2 ) were inflicted by each other. No. 10 Holliston (9-6-3) makes it five TVL teams in the top 10 seeds.

Pope Francis’ emphatic rise from No. 30 in last year’s tournament to the top spot is impressive, and the Cardinals (15-0-3) are one of the teams to beat this year. No. No. 6 North Reading (16-0-2) is still undefeated, as is No. 11 Chicopee (16-0-2).

Reigning D3 champion Norwell has one more point to prove after finishing No. 9 following a 16-1-2 season. Their opponent in last year’s final? No. 14 Pembroke (13-2-3), who will be looking to settle the score from last year’s defeat on penalty kicks.

Division 4

Favorites: No. 1 Cohasset, No. 2 Lynnfield

Sleepers: No. 11 Abington, No. 17 Monomoy

Best First Round Matchup: No. 17 Monomoy at No. 16 Excel Academy Charter

Longest road trip in the first round: No. 19 Nantucket at No. 14 Frontier, 206 miles

Players to watch: Chris Acosta (East Boston, Sr.), Elvis Alonzo (Nantucket, Sr.), Kaiky Araujo (Rockland, Jr.), Nathan Askjaer (Cohasset, Sr.), Sammy Bothwell (Manchester-Essex, Sr.), Ned Buletza (Ipswich, Sr.), Aiden Grafton (Abington, Sr.), Rocco Scenna (Lynnfield, Jr.), Nick Stein (Hamilton-Wenham, Jr.), Seamus St. Pierre (Monomoy, Sr.)

Overview: Behind powerful striker Nathan Askjaer and senior Cian Casey, Cohasset (14-4-2) is the headliner. The Skippers dominated the South Shore Tobin, playing competitive games with Norwell and Weymouth, two of the state’s best.

Defending champion Lynnfield (12-3-3) clinched the second seed even after losing star midfielder Dillon Reilly for the season. No. 11 Abington (10-3-5) will be a fun team to watch and a constant threat in the final third – the Green Wave have scored five goals or more in seven different games.

Despite the roster turnover, Monomoy, last year’s D4 runner-up, will be another team to keep an eye on. The No. 17 Sharks (12-4-2) will be led by seniors Seamus St. Pierre and Ryan Laramee, both key figures in last year’s run.

Division 5

Favorites: No. 1 Boston International, No. 3 Bromfield

Sleepers: No. 7 Westport, No. 16 St. John Paul II

Best Opening Round Matchup: No. 36 Upper Cape at No. 29 Smith Academy

Longest road trip in the first round: No. 37 Turners Falls at #28 Cape Cod Tech, 170 miles

Players to watch: Sam Amara (Dearborn STEM, Sr.), Noah Amaral (Westport, Sr.), Greg Codjoe (St. John Paul II, Sr.), Declan Rivera (Rising Tide Charter, Sr.), Jerry Registe (Boston International, Sr.) .)

Overview: In a Division 5 series full of Boston City League teams, the newly crowned city champion Boston International (13-2-3) takes first place. The Lions advanced to the D5 quarterfinals last year before falling to eventual state champion Westport.

Speaking of Westport (12-3-3), it’s not the same as last year’s undefeated season, but the Wildcats are out with a point to prove after sitting in seventh place. Third-seeded Bromfield (11-3-4) is another returning quarter-finalist from a year ago – falling to second-place Douglas on penalties.

Other key teams include No. 4 Dearborn STEM (6-8-5), fresh off a loss in the City title game and eager to capture a trophy, and No. 2 Sutton (15-3-0) , who fell for Westport. as the top seed in last year’s field.

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