With state finalists ready to clash in 11 state championships this weekend, this week's Game Tracker is focused on the soccer, volleyball and field hockey state championships being played Saturday and Sunday:
Michael Jordan will be helping Ludlow play for its second straight state championship.
BOYS SOCCER
Division I: Catholic Memorial vs. Ludlow, Sunday 1:30 p.m. at Worcester State
The defending state champion Ludlow Lions aim for two straight against an upstart Catholic Memorial team, which has run its way to the state finals after entering the postseason as a No. 7 seed. Ludlow is the top team out of Western Mass. and enters with an impressive 18-0-3 record. The Lions knocked off rival Minnechaug in the WMass final in penalty kicks and dispatched CMass champ Algonquin Wednesday in the state semifinal. CM, meanwhile, has won three straight games after being tied in regulation. The Knights defeated King Philip in the South semifinals in double overtime, topped Brockton in the South finals on penalty kicks and won in overtime Thursday against Lexington in the state semifinal.
Division II: Concord-Carlisle vs. Palmer, Sunday 4 p.m. at Worcester State
The No. 8 seed coming out of Division II North, Concord-Carlisle knocked off power Sandwich Thursday for the right to play in the Division II state championship. Palmer punched its ticket Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Nipmuc. Palmer rolled through WMass sectional play as the two-seed and impressed with a 3-0 rout in the state final. Concord-Carlisle impressed through North sectional play, outscoring its opponents 12-1.
Division III: Weston vs. Douglas, Sunday 11 a.m. at Worcester State
Algonquin defeated Minnechaug Wednesday to advance to the Div. I state championship
Weston did the seemingly unthinkable and knocked off previously-undefeated Cardinal Spellman --- which had won 24 games --- to advance to the Division III state championship. Weston will face Douglas, the Central Mass. champion, which advanced to the state final Wednesday with a win over Lenox. Weston entered sectional play as the No. 2 seed and has simply dominated the opposition since, outscoring opponents, 22-0 in five tournament games.
GIRLS SOCCER
Division I: Acton-Boxboro vs. Algonquin, Sunday 6:30 at Worcester State
Acton-Boxboro goes for its second state title in three years and will play for the third year in a row after improving to 22-0 with an overtime win over Whitman-Hanson Thursday in the D-I state semifinal. The Colonials will face Algonquin, which advanced to the final with a win over the defending champion Minnechaug Wednesday in penalty kicks. A-B has simply rolled through tourney play, outscoring opponents, 15-1, in North sectional play.
Division II: Cardinal Spellman vs. Wahconah, Saturday 3:30 p.m. at Foley Stadium
Acton-Boxboro rolled through Division I North play and will play in its third straight state championship game.
Cardinal Spellman punched its ticket to the Division II state championship with a state semifinal win over Danvers. The Cardinals were the five-seed in D-II South and have shown a knack to win tight games, winning by virtue of a one-goal advantage in four of their five tournament games, including an overtime win over Holliston in the South semifinals. Wahconah is making its second straight trip to the Division II state championship after falling to Duxbury in the title game last year. The Warriors have dominated in three of their four tournament games while also showing the ability to win the tight one in defeating Belchertown in the WMass final on penalty kicks.
Division III: Millis vs. Gateway Regional, Saturday 6 p.m. at Foley Stadium
Millis advanced to the Division III state championship Wednesday with a state semifinal victory over Georgetown. Gateway beat Sutton. Millis came out of the South as the No. 4 seed, defeating top-seed Norwell and No. 2 West Bridgewater en route to the state semifinals. Gateway was the No. 5 seed in Western Mass. play and has only allowed one goal throughout postseason play.
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