We've been spoiled over the last few seasons in the River Rival Region. Dating back to the fall of 2007 — a total of six sports seasons — River Rival teams have captured a total of five state titles.
The Newburyport girls soccer team captured back-to-back Division 3 titles (2007, 2008). The Triton girls track team won a Division 3 title in the spring of 2008. The Amesbury football team captured a Division 3A title last fall. And the Newburyport hockey team won a Division 2 title last winter.
Putting that stretch in context, prior to the Newburyport girls soccer team's state title in 2007, no River Rival team had captured a state title since the Newburyport boys cross country won a Division 3 title in 2001.
In fact, before 2008, no Triton team had won a title since the wrestling team captured a crown in 1985. Before last fall, no Amesbury team had won a title since the softball team achieved the feat in 2000.
Can the run continue this fall? Let's assess which team has the best chance.
FOOTBALL: No River Rival team is a safe bet to capture a Super Bowl title. If the season ended today, no local team would advance to the postseason. Newburyport (4-4) and Amesbury (2-5) remain in the running for the CAL Small title, although both schools sit a game behind Lynnfield in the standings with three games to play. Pentucket (5-3) must beat three-time defending champion Masconomet on Saturday to have a chance at a CAL Large title. No small task.
BOYS SOCCER: Triton (10-7-1) is the lone local team to advance to the state tournament. The Vikings closed their regular season strong, but it's going to be tough sledding in the Division 2 North Tournament. Four of their seven regular-season losses came against teams they could face in the tourney.
GIRLS SOCCER: Newburyport (5-4-7) is the two-time defending Division 3 champion. However, the Clippers lost likely one of the state's top senior classes last fall. All three Newburyport captains from last season have since earned starting positions on their respective college teams. With only five wins in 18 regular-season games, it's tough to imagine the Clippers will be able to string together the requisite six straight wins to capture another state title. But I wouldn't want to coach a team that is slated against this year's Clippers in the tournament. They won't go down without a fight. Georgetown (11-4-1) and Pentucket (8-4-5) should be competitive in the Division 3 North bracket. The trick is avoiding early matchups with CAL foes.
FIELD HOCKEY: Newburyport (10-7-3) started its tournament run yesterday with an upset victory over sixth-seeded Saugus in the Division 2 North bracket. The 11th-seeded Clippers now have to face third-seeded Lynnfield, a team that beat the Clippers earlier this season. The Clippers will likely need to exact revenge of a few CAL teams that dealt them losses earlier this season to escape the Division 3 North bracket.
CROSS COUNTRY: Without question, the Newburyport boys cross country team has the best chance of any River Rival school to capture a state title. In fact, the Clippers may very well be the favorites of Division 4. They posted a perfect 12-0 record during the regular season in the CAL, a league composed mostly of Division 3 teams. With a pack of about four runners who are all capable of crossing the finish line together — and in the top 20-30 spots at the state championship meet — the Clippers could bring the River Rival Region its sixth state title in seven sports seasons.
Dan Guttenplan is the sports editor of The Daily News of Newburyport.
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