Rankings and Why It Matters

 

Focus on the top of the chart. Play-in games get teams into the round of 32. 

Finish top eight and if you win the first then you get a second home playoff game. 

The top four get a third home playoff game. 

For example, in the first round of qualifiers, 1 plays 32, 2 plays 31 and so on. As currently seeded, Melrose at 7 would face number 26. The seedings are going to change. 

Hopkinton lost 3-1 to Barnstable yesterday. They'll drop a little in AVG MARGIN and gain some in OPP RATING. 

Dartmouth beat Duxbury 3-2. They'll drop a little in AVG MARGIN and gain a little in OPP RATING. Likely - no change. 

North Quincy faces Marshfield (0-15) today. Marshfield has a negative OP RATING so a 3-0 win is offset.

Not saying Melrose is locked into #7 but later in the season it's highly unlikely they have a chance at 1-5. 

Play hard, play together, have fun and build momentum headed into the postseason.