When all teams in the four divisions took to the practice fields in August, the common aspiration was to earn the right to play in a new season at the conclusion of 16 games.
Some teams along the way had to shift that focus into merely winning the game on hand. Some have turned in the jersey and the cleats for a different set of uniforms perhaps. Others are lacing up the cleats a little tighter as postseason play gets underway.
Bracket breakdowns, previews on each area team and maybe even a prediction or two will encompass the boys soccer tournament preview.
Now, let’s get dancing.
The Crimson Tide as the lone Division I school in the area, will in fact play at least one more game in 2021. Concord (10-4-2) earned the fifth seed in a talent-rich bracket. It closed out the season with a 3-1-1 record that included consecutive 5-1 wins in the second to last week of the season. The Tide will host No. 12 Nashua North in the preliminary round on Oct. 26 at Memorial Field. Concord defeated Nashua North 1-0 on Sept. 25.
Coe-Brown leads off the bracket for area Division II teams as the fifth seed. The Bears posted five wins in their last eight games, including overtime wins against Bow and Merrimack Valley. After opening the season with a 4-4 record, closing out the regular season 5-2-1 is improvement. Coe-Brown hosts No. 12 Souhegan in a Sept. 27 rematch. The Bears won the match 2-1.
Following the Bears is a familiar face in the postseason in Bow. The reigning state runners-up have earned the sixth seed after an up-and-down regular season. The Falcons (9-6-1) started the season red-hot with dominant performances both offensively and defensively, but were unable to carry them into the back half of the schedule. Bow will host No. 11 Kennett in the preliminary round. The two programs did not meet during the regular season.
Closing out the Division II bracket is Merrimack Valley as the seventh seed. The Pride (7-5-4) could either be a one-and-done, or have all the potential in the world to hoist up the trophy in a few weeks. MV closed out the regular season with a win over Pembroke and were winners in three of its last four. It’ll host No. 10 Kingswood in the preliminary round in a week one rematch. The Pride defeated Kingswood 2-1 in the match.
With only a couple of blemishes on the record, Hopkinton has earned the second seed in the Division III bracket and will host No. 15 Hillsboro-Deering. The Hawks (14-1-1) only loss came at the hands of top-seeded Gilford in a 1-0 final. Their tie was against Kearsarge in a very competitive 2-2 final.
Speaking of Kearsarge, it too has made the tournament as the eighth seed. The Cougars (10-5-1) closed out the season with a 3-2 record in their final five games, capped off with a 4-3 loss at Conant in the season finale. Kearsarge will host No. 9 Laconia. The Cougars defeated Laconia 2-1 back on Oct. 2.
Rounding up the Division III portion is No. 10 Bishop Brady. The Giants went from a team without a coach to playoff bound in just a few months and it’s been nothing short of impressive. Lead by horde of under-the-radar talent, the Giants could make some noise and it’ll start with their preliminary round match when they travel to No. 7 Berlin.
The fourth and final division in the tournament will be represented by two area teams in No. 6 Concord Christian and No. 12 Pittsfield. The Kingsmen (11-4-0) will host No. 11 Colebrook while the Panthers will travel to No. 5 Wilton-Lyndeborough.
Concord Christian and Colebrook did not meet during the regular season, whereas Pittsfield and Wilton-Lyndeborough did. The Panthers lost the match 6-0.
All the preliminary games will be played on Oct. 26 at the higher seed’s home field. The quarterfinals will also be played at the higher seed’s home field, those are scheduled for Oct. 29. Both first and second round games will start at 3 p.m. and that is a division-wide schedule.
Once the tournament turns to the semifinals and championship rounds, that is when the changes occur. Division I semifinals and finals matches are scheduled for Nov. 1 and Nov. 5, respectively. Those matches will take place at Stellos Stadium in Nashua.
Division II semifinals and finals will also be held at Stellos Stadium. Semifinal games are scheduled for Nov. 2 and the championship match will also take place on Nov. 5.
Divisions III and IV will have their semifinals and finals matches at Bank of NH Stadium at Laconia High School. Division III semifinals are scheduled for Nov. 1 while the Division IV semifinals are on November 2. Both championship games will be played on Nov. 5.