MANCHESTER -- If it sounds familiar, that's probably because it is: Burr and Burton Academy (14-0-0) owns the No. 1 seed in the Division II playoffs for the seventh time since 2000.

The defending champions host No. 16 Fair Haven (1-11-2), a team they beat 8-0 on Oct. 11, today at 3 p.m., looking to extend their current winning streak to 19 games. Like last year's title team, the Bulldogs are built around a stingy defense that has yielded only five goals this season -- and only one in seven D-II contests. Meanwhile, sophomore Reid Conde (13 goals), Sean Paradis and Axel Sapera (eight goals each) have carried an attack that has not been shut out.

Should BBA advance to the quarters, it would see either No. 8 Springfield (6-7-1) or No. 9 U-32 (4-8-2).

Lurking on the opposite side of the bracket is second-seeded Montpelier, also 14-0-0. If the squads meet in the title game, it would be just the second time since 1980 that two teams reached the final with no losses or ties between them.

Arlington eyes upset vs. Chelsea

ARLINGTON -- In Division IV, Arlington (6-6) takes the No. 10 seed to seventh-seeded Chelsea (10-4) today for a 3 p.m. clash. After getting caught in some midseason doldrums, the Eagles enter the postseason on a three-game winning streak.

"Our approach is go in and keep playing like we have at the end of the season," coach Todd Wilkins said. "We started to peak at the right time."

A return to working the attack to the wide areas has

Advertisement
paid off for the Eagles, who have only lost one game to a D-IV team this year -- and that team, Black River, the No. 5 seed, is also one they beat twice (5-2, 4-0). Fred Pickering leads the attack with 16 goals (including four hat tricks) and sweeper Alex Hawley's return to the lineup in the final week has helped solidify the back line.

Victory today would likely send Arlington to a quarterfinal date with rival Twin Valley (11-3), the No. 2 seed.

"They're a good side, but no team we would see [in D-IV] is as good as what we see in the John James [Tournament]," Wilkins said.