Today’s Game of the Day
North Dartmouth Bishop Stang (Mass.) at Oak Bluffs Martha’s Vineyard (Mass.), 3:15 p.m.
Bishop Stang has a 16-1 record thus far this season, but take the long road trip (complete with ferry ride) to Martha’s Vineyard.
The postseason has begun in earnest across the United States this week, and your Founder has always been asked what the toughest state tournaments have been. Well, what I’ve noticed is that there are going to be a number of street fights to even get to the state tournament for some teams and regions.
Now, for the purposes of this exercise, a “sectional tournament” is defined as a tournament signifying an area of a particular state which may or may not lead to a state championship within a state. For example, Connecticut plays a straight bracket for each of its three classes towards a state titlist for each, but Virginia plays four straight brackets down to two qualifiers for the VHSL state championship. California has four sections, but no state championship tournament, while Pennsylvania has up to 12 sections (called Districts), but not all have the sport.
Here are the most difficult sectional tournaments to win this season:
1. Pennsylvania: PIAA District 2 Class AA.
Only one team gets out of a very tough section which includes Wyoming Seminary, Crestwood, and Lake-Lehman. Any of those three would be worthy winners of the Class AA state championship.
2. Virginia: VHSL Eastern Region.
Though the favorites this year appear to be Frank W. Cox and Maury, watch out for Lakeland and Princess Anne. This tournament has been the incubator for state champions.
3. New Jersey: NJSIAA Group IV South.
Three tough teams in this section: defending Group IV champion Eastern, defending Group III champion Shawnee, and the team that could upset the apple cart, Washington Township.
4. California: CIF San Diego Section, Division I.
Scripps Ranch, Torrey Pines, and La Costa Canyon are very closely matched. Whoever is playing well in mid-November wins it.
5. Ohio: OHSAA Dublin Bracket #1.
A very tough section with Thomas Worthington, Bishop Watterson, and Ottawa Hills, all of whom have won the state championship the last decade.
6. Massachusetts: MIAA West Division II.
Dominated by Smith Academy, Frontier Regional, and Greenfield.
7. New Jersey: NJSIAA Group II North 1.
Undefeated Madison Borough and West Essex highlight this competitive section
8. Pennsylvania: PIAA District 1 Class AAA.
This tournament is a lottery, since it is by far the largest district classification in field hockey’s largest-participatory state. This year, 27 teams go for six slots in the state tournament, so those “tipping point” games in the lower half of the quarterfinal round are some of the most competitive.
9. Virginia: VHSL Northern Region.
Last year, all four quarterfinal games at Oakton High School went into overtime, making the “tipping point” games almost an afterthought.
10. Maryland: MPSSAA Class 4A East.
Severna Park, Broadneck, and South River are all contending this year for the state championship.
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