Four Gardner-Area Teams Qualify for Hockey Tournament

MIAA released field hockey state tournament brackets with four teams from the Gardner area earning spots in the Round of 32.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hockey

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a field hockey player driving a ball across green turf beside a wooded treeline under stadium lights.
Quabbin and Narragansett will host Round of 32 games in the MIAA field hockey state tournament, with two other Gardner-area teams also qualifying. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The MIAA released its field hockey state tournament brackets, with four Gardner-area teams qualifying. Quabbin and Narragansett earned home games in the Round of 32 based on their seeding.

Why it matters

The bracket placements set first-round matchups for four local programs across Massachusetts, with two of them hosting games. Seeding determines which teams get home-field advantage in the opening round of the state tournament.

Oakmont, the No. 24 seed in Division 3, will face No. 9 Medfield, while Quabbin (No. 6, Division 4) faces No. 27 Southwick and Narragansett (No. 12, Division 4) faces No. 21 Carver. Gardner, the No. 24 seed in Division 4, plays on the road against No. 9 Sutton, and the Round of 32 schedule has not been finalized.

The players

Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA)

The MIAA is the governing body that oversees high school athletics and state tournaments across Massachusetts.

The details

Teams earned tournament spots through league titles and season performance. Quabbin and Narragansett received home games in the first round due to their seeding.

Timeline

  1. The MIAA has not yet released Round of 32 dates and times.

Season Trajectory

The MIAA seeding process awards home games in the Round of 32 to higher-ranked programs, and this year's bracket continues that structure. The placements determine which Gardner-area teams carry momentum into the state tournament.

Quabbin and Narragansett will host their Round of 32 matchups, giving local fans a chance to watch playoff field hockey at home. Gardner's road trip to Sutton means traveling supporters should plan ahead once the schedule is released.

The takeaway

Home-field advantage in the opening round can meaningfully affect a team's chances, so seeding is worth tracking. Fans planning to attend should watch for the MIAA's Round of 32 schedule release.

Further reading

For more on the state's high school competition, see Hockey coverage across Massachusetts.