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 first round trip road trip: 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 Vélez (Concord-Carlisle, Sr.), Cam Walty (Weymouth, Sr.)

Overview: Even though their unbeaten streak ended on the final day of the season, Newton South (13-1-4) retains the top spot as the Lions seek redemption after missing out on the Dual County League title by one point. Right behind is Lowell (18-0-0), the only such record 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 they could reach a deep career.

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

Some teams are keeping an eye on the back half of the draw: 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) They are certainly not seeded, and proved their 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 first round trip road trip: No. 15 Scituate at No. 18 Longmeadow, 121 miles

Players to watch: Craig Churchill (Oliver Ames, Sr.), Jack Millward (Wakefield, Jr.), Jack Gavron (Wayland, Sr.), Marco Gemiani (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) remain a force after winning the title last season, capturing Hockomock Davenport and allowing just five goals. The No. 1 Warriors (15-2-1) finished atop the group after a dominant season in one of the state’s most competitive leagues, the Middlesex. Since both teams are on opposite sides of the bracket, a championship game rematch is a possibility.

Under first-year head coach David Leahy, No. 4 Hingham (15-2-1) is also poised 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 first round trip road trip: No. 40 Taconic at No. 25 Danvers, 158 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 taken by 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 on each other. No. 10 Holliston (9-6-3) makes it five TVL teams in the top 10.

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

Norwell, the reigning champion in D3, is out with a point to prove after finishing as the ninth seed after a 16-1-2 season. Your opponent in last year’s final? No. 14 Pembroke (13-2-3), who will come out to settle the score for last year’s loss on penalties.

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 first round trip road trip: No. 19 Nantucket at border No. 14, 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 power forward Nathan Askjaer and senior Cian Casey, Cohasset (14-4-2) is the headliner. The Skippers dominated South Shore Tobin and played competitive games with Norwell and Weymouth, two of the best in the state.

Defending champion Lynnfield (12-3-3) captured second place, 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 has scored five or more goals in seven different games.

Despite the roster change, Monomoy, last year’s D4 runner-up, will be another team to watch. The No. 17 Sharks (12-4-2) will be led by seniors Seamus St. Pierre and Ryan Laramee, both key pieces 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 first round matchup: No. 36 Upper Cape at No. 29 Smith Academy

Longest first round trip road trip: No. 37 Turners Falls at No. 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 pool filled with Boston City League teams, their newly crowned city champion Boston International (13-2-3) sits in 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 being ranked No. 7. Third-seeded Bromfield (11-3- 4), is Another quarterfinalist who returned a year ago: he lost to runner-up Douglas on penalties.

Other key teams include No. 4 Dearborn STEM (6-8-5), which just lost in City’s title game and is eager to capture a trophy, and No. 2 Sutton (15-3-0 ), which fell to Westport. as the top favorite in last year’s field.