South Shore boys soccer: Norwell and Cohasset near the top of MIAA power rankings

With the state tournament about a month away, two South Shore programs sit at or near the top of their divisions in the MIAA's boys soccer power rankings.

The figures below come from the MIAA's rankings that include scores entered by 4 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2. The MIAA updates the rankings during the season, so check the official page for the newest numbers.

Division 3: Norwell is perfect

Norwell was 7-0 and ranked No. 2 in Division 3, just behind 8-0 Pope Francis. Norwell's average margin of victory, 2.14 goals per game, was among the best in the division.

• No. 2 Norwell: 7-0-0
• No. 10 Pembroke: 7-1-0
• No. 13 Scituate: 7-1-2

Division 4: Cohasset leads the division

Cohasset (6-2-1) was No. 1 in Division 4, and South Shore-area teams held five of the division's top eight spots.

• No. 1 Cohasset: 6-2-1
• No. 3 Abington: 5-2-0
• No. 4 Rockland: 4-1-2
• No. 6 West Bridgewater: 5-2-0
• No. 8 Carver: 5-1-2

Cohasset's rating combined a 1.44-goal average margin of victory with a 1.14 opponent rating, the MIAA's figures show.

How the MIAA soccer rankings work

The MIAA calculates each team's rating by adding two numbers:

1. Average margin of victory, capped at plus or minus 3 goals for any one game. Winning by six counts the same as winning by three.
2. Opponent rating, which measures the strength of the teams played.

Because schedule strength counts alongside results, a team with a loss or two can still rank ahead of an unbeaten team. The final regular-season rankings set the state tournament field: the top 32 teams in each division qualify, as the New England Soccer Journal has reported.

For more on reading the official numbers, see our guide to Massachusetts high school power rankings.