MIAA Power Ratings: Midfield Performance Decides Tournament Seeds

The MIAA regular season ends Sunday, and the tournament brackets for Divisions 1 through 4 will be released Tuesday. Games are scheduled to begin Thursday, Nov. 5, though teams may agree to play on Nov. 4. As the season concludes, coaches and athletes across the state point to the midfield as the deciding factor in their teams' success.

Tayla McDuff, a senior at King Philip, operates as the center midfielder for the No. 1 seed in Division 2. Her team holds a 14-3 record. McDuff, who is committed to Bentley University, notes that her role requires constant communication and support for teammates. She described the position as a place where players must avoid selfishness to generate assists and points for others.

King Philip coach Kaitlyn Wilder views the team as a puzzle where every piece is essential. She stated that a solid defense stops attacks, but a great midfielder acts as the engine of the field. Wilder emphasized that the team must possess the ball to dictate the side of the field they want to play on. Her roster includes 11 seniors.

In Division 3, Lauren Riley-Gove has led Gloucester to a 16-0 record and a No. 6 ranking. She highlighted the need for midfielders to be both offense-minded and defense-minded. Gloucester captain Olivia Madruga, who has six goals and 11 assists, agreed that the position is vital for transitioning between defense and offense. Riley-Gove credited Madruga with high game awareness, noting that the senior studied the sport from the sidelines before becoming a starter.

Riley-Gove also praised defensive midfielder Emme Sabia for her reach and speed, and right midfielder Mackayla Allen for her chemistry with Madruga. She asserted that successful assists are a prerequisite for beautiful goals, and that her players are generous with one another on the field.

Belmont coach Jessica Smith relies on all four of her midfielders to win big games. Senior captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz, a four-year starter committed to Brown, plays defensive center mid for the No. 3 team in Division 1. Lakin-Schultz described her position as distribution-focused, allowing her to send the ball left, right, up the field, or back to defenders to reset the play.

Other notable midfielders include Franklin senior Jossie Camp, Lincoln-Sudbury senior Elise Cecere, Somerset Berkley senior Ryan Crook, Ipswich junior Ava Poire, and Walpole senior captain Caroline Handwerk. The power ratings show Lincoln-Sudbury leading Division 1 at 13-0-1, while Sandwich leads Division 3 with a 17-0 record and the highest power ranking at 4.6518.