“If you go up and down the list, there’s a lot of them. And, each year it’s getting harder and harder. Clearly, there’s a lot of successful teams, not just in our division, in lots of divisions, and it’s going take a lot of work.”
Now the talent-heavy division has a formidable newcomer — four-time defending Division 4 champion Uxbridge, which has moved up in the MIAA alignments.
“What was exciting about moving up to Division 3 was the opportunity, the push, and desire for a new challenge,” said longtime Uxbridge coach Kelly Rosborough.
There is a little respite. Newburyport, the No. 3 seed in last year’s tournament, is now in Division 2, and Dennis-Yarmouth, the No. 6 seed, has dropped to D4.
Rosborough said her team’s preseason and in-season practices have not changed.
“Everything has stayed the same,” she said. “Business as usual.”
Scheduling up with opponents has been a key measuring stick.
On Saturday, Uxbridge hosts defending Division 2 champion Somerset Berkley. In two weeks, the Spartans have back-to-back games against No. 8 Andover (Sept. 29) and No. 2 Walpole (Oct. 3), who have squared off in each of the past four Division 1 state finals.
“We want to play teams that we will learn from and who will expose our weaknesses,” said Rosborough. “We want to grow as a team with whatever situations/obstacles each opponent presents to us.”
Uxbridge is not daunted by the move up. Rosborough points to the resilience the Spartans have shown during their current 12-game winning streak. (Their last loss was to Somerset Berkley, 3-2, on Oct. 17, 2024.).
In its 4-0 start, Watertown has outscored foes, 21-3. Donahue is expecting an adjustment phase as this year’s squad continues to develop.
“Lots and lots of growing pains. People have to realize, we’ve talked about it. They’ve got to up their game,” Donahue said.
The natural revolving door of players elicits reshaping.
“There’s certain [graduates] that aren’t here anymore, and you have to be those people,” said Donahue. “This is how people learn.”
Tunnel vision is the driving factor for Sandwich. Seeking the program’s first state title since 1987, the Blue Knights (4-0) returned a deep, talented roster.
“I came back loaded with talent, and not only talent, but talent that has played together for a really long time,” said Sandwich coach Kelsey Beaton.
The 26-year head coach believes her Blue Knights are well-rounded, with the ability to cover the field from all sides. She attributed much of her team’s success to their cohesiveness; all the seniors picked up sticks together as freshmen.
“I have scorers that can come from anywhere,” Beaton said. “I feel like I have a very balanced team. I don’t have a weak link.
“I’ve been coaching over 20 years and I feel very lucky with this group.”
But Beaton and her squad are privy to what Uxbridge brings to the division.
“How can you not talk about Uxbridge? But [I] want them to focus on us for now,” she said. “It doesn’t mean in three weeks or four weeks I won’t be changing, but for now I want us to be playing our best field hockey. I want us to be playing as a cohesive unit.”
Sandwich has a challenging out-of-league slate: No. 9 Hingham on Sept. 27, No. 2 Walpole on Oct. 4, and No. 4 Somerset Berkley on Oct. 11.
“They know how good everybody is and they know that they have to work to get to where they want to be,” Beaton said. “There’s a lot of talent in this Division 3 group. It’s anybody’s game.”
▪ Lincoln-Sudbury junior midfielders Emerson and Avery Acquaviva were inseparable growing up. They shared a bedroom, played sports side-by-side, and even pulled April Fools’ pranks by pretending to be one another.
So when it came time to choose a college, it was no surprise the twins would continue their athletic careers together. They will at Penn State, as lacrosse players.
“It was always a dream that we wanted to do together,” Emerson said. “I honestly don’t see a college or a team that doesn’t involve Avery.”
The twins credit their older sibling, Izzy, who played at Lincoln-Sudbury and UMass, for inspiring them to play field hockey as freshmen. Both said field hockey taught them teamwork and perseverance, lessons they’ll carry throughout their athletic careers.
“I’m so glad our sister influenced us to play,” Avery said. “I just couldn’t imagine my life without it.”
▪ The past two seasons, Hopkinton has had a four-legged boost to team spirit. Millie, a golden retriever mix owned by assistant coach Sam Breen Collins, is a regular at practices and games, offering comfort through wins and losses.
She also attends games for Collins’s husband, Will, an assistant varsity football coach and JV softball coach, encouraging him on the sideline. Will and Sam both teach at Hopkinton High.
Thursday, Manchester Essex at No. 14 Masconomet, 4 p.m. — Masco will be shooting to extend its unbeaten streak while Manchester Essex looks for another win ahead of a key Cape Ann matchup with Newburyport on Sept. 24.
Saturday, No. 4 Somerset Berkley at Uxbridge, 1:30 p.m. — A clash of defending Division 2 champion SB and Uxbridge, the reigning Division 4 champion now in D3.
Monday, No. 15 Bishop Feehan at No. 2 Walpole, 4 p.m. — With a 38-2 scoring differential, the second-ranked Porkers are undefeated, while Bishop Feehan concludes a three-game stint against top 20 opponents.
Tuesday, No. 4 Somerset Berkley at No. 1 Watertown, 4 p.m. — The matchup caps a tough two-game stretch for Somerset Berkley, while top-ranked Watertown faces another test as it looks to continue its unbeaten run.
Correspondents Kat Cornetta and Alexa Podalsky contributed to this story.