Prior to the 2006 season, I always remember the state field hockey playoff brackets revolving around Section 1, Section 2 and Section 9 with one team receiving a bye to the regional final each year. However, in 2006 and 2007, Section 1 was thrown into the mix with Section 4 and Section 9.

Section 4, based on Marathon’s numerous state titles, is second to Section 1 in state championships and final four appearances. In 2006, Maine-Endwell defeated Rye in a regional game and Marathon survived, in overtime, against Broxnville.

This season, Section 1 has to face the Section 8-Section 11 winner (Long Island) champion. If Mamaroneck, Bronxville and Putnam Valley should win, these teams will play the Section 3-Section 4 winner. Talk about a difficult task. This year, the Section 5 winner plays the Section 6 champ for a state final four berth while Section 2 and Section 9 face each other for the other state final four berth. Not to take anything away from these four sections, but it appears the Section 1 side of the bracket is much, much tougher.

I asked Section 1 field hockey coordinator Sue Hughes about this and she said the brackets are set up based on travel. I would think that Sections 3 and 4 are much closer to Sections 5 and 6 than Sections 2 and 9. It just seems that Section 1 gets the short end of the field hockey stick each year with the state brackets. Even with this though, Section 1 has had a state champion every year since 1999 as well as a state finalist.