Two-time defending Division 1 field hockey state champion Andover has had peaks and valleys throughout the season, but the Warriors still have visions of a three-peat.
In order to reach that lofty goal, the No. 5-seed Warriors (13-2-3) have plenty of obstacles, including in Friday’s first-round Div. 1 North matchup at home against local rival and No. 12-seed North Andover (6-3-9), a team that has given them trouble this year. In two matchups, both ended in 2-2 ties.
Andover, led by Jaclyn Torres, Meagan Keefe, Bridget Morris and Weezie Gross, boats one of the top offenses in the state, but the Knights sport a stingy defense and can not be overlooked.
Of the top four seeds, Andover tied No. 1 Beverly (16-1-1) two weeks ago and split games with No. 4 Chelmsford (15-2-1).
In preliminary round games Thursday, Central Catholic (9-7-2) hosts Concord-Carlisle and Methuen (9-8-1) travels to Weston.
In Division 2 North, No. 10-seed Pentucket (9-8-1) opens at Lynnfield (11-4-3) Thursday. The Cape Ann League rivals battled to a scoreless tie earlier in the month.
Perennial power Watertown (18-0) is the top seed in Division 2, followed by Manchester Essex (16-1-1), which beat Pentucket 1-0 during the regular season.
Division 1 North
SEEDINGS: 1. Beverly 16-1-1, 2, Masconomet 15-0-3, 3. Acton-Boxboro 16-1-1, 4. Chelmsford 15-2-1, 5. Andover 13-2-3, 6. Lexington 11-3-2, 7. Newton North 12-3-3, 8. Westford 11-2-5, 9. Lincoln-Sudbury 12-3-3, 10. Peabody 10-5-3, 11. Danvers 9-6-3, 12. North Andover 6-3-9, 13. Lowell 8-6-4, 14. Central Catholic 9-7-2, 15. Reading 8-6-4, 16. Weston 7-6-5, 17. Methuen 9-8-1, 18. Needham 8-9-3, 19. Concord-Carlisle 6-7-5
Preliminary Round
Thursday, Nov. 1
Game 1: Methuen at Weston, 2:15 p.m.; Game 2: Needham at Reading, 4 p.m.; Game 3: Concord-Carlisle at Central Catholic, TBA
First Round
Game 4: Winner of Game 1 at Beverly, Nov. 3, 2:30 p.m.; Game 5: Lincoln-Sudbury at Westford, Nov. 2, 2:15 p.m., Game 6: Lowell at Chelmsford, Nov. 2, 2:15 p.m.; Game 7: North Andover at Andover, Nov. 2, 2:30 p.m.; Game 8: Winner Game 2 at Masconomet, Nov. 3, 2:30 p.m.; Game 9: Peabody at Newton North, Nov. 2, 2 p.m.; Game 10: Winner Game 3 at Acton-Boxboro, Nov. 3, 6 p.m.; Game 11: Danvers at Lexington, Nov. 2, 2:15 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Date, site TBA
Game 12: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner; Game 13: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner; Game 14: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner; Game 15: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner
Semifinals
Date, site TBA
Game 16: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 7 p.m.; Game 17: Game 14 winner vs. Game 15 winner.
Finals
Date, site TBA
Division 2 North
SEEDINGS: 1. Watertown 18-0, 2. Manchester Essex 16-1-1, 3. Swampscott 15-2-2, 4. Newburyport 13-2-3, 5. Winchester 14-3-1, 6. Tewksbury 11-3-4, 7. Lynnfield 11-4-3, 8. Wilmington 10-3-5, 9. Marblehead 10-5-3, 10. Pentucket 9-8-1, 11. Bishop Fenwick 8-7-3, 12. Ipswich 6-6-6, 13. Wayland 5-6-5
First Round
Thursday, Nov. 1
Game 1: Marblehead at Wilmington, 6 p.m.; Game 2: Wayland at Newburyport, TBA; Game 3: Ipswich at Winchester, 2:15 p.m.; Game 4: Pentucket at Lynnfield, 2:15 p.m.; Game 5: Bishop Fenwick at Tewksbury, 2:15 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Saturday, Nov. 3
Game 6: Game 1 winner at Watertown, 6 p.m.; Game 7: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, TBA; Game 8: Game 4 winner at ManchesterEssex, 6 p.m.; Game 9: Game 5 winner at Swampscott, TBA
Semifinals
TBA
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner.; Game 11: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner
Finals
Date, site TBA
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