"We know what we're up against, and we play some of the toughest teams that we've seen win [titles]," said senior captain Owen Waddell. "Seeing them win it all, we really want to do that."

It's a wait that many of the Generals have seen first-hand.

Take four-year starter Nick Stein. In his freshman year, Newburyport went the distance in Division 3. Earlier that year, the Generals lost a narrow 1-0 game to the Clippers.

In his sophomore year, the Generals lost one game in the regular season -- to eventual Division 4 champion Lynnfield.

Last year, two weeks after falling to No. 4 East Boston in the second round, the Generals saw Lynnfield again advance to the title game, though they were bested by Cohasset.

"We all know how it feels to lose," Stein said. "We want to go out on a high note. We've gone decently far in the playoffs every year, and it just sucks at the end of the year to lose."

Stein drives the Generals in his senior year. The dynamic winger has 15 goals and 11 assists to go with his skillful one-on-one play that allows him to beat defenders consistently.

"He is a handful to deal with for any team," H-W coach Matt Gauron said. "He just stretches out the offense for us. It's hard to know what to do with him if you're trying to defend him."

Senior Rory Taylor (8 goals, 7 assists), junior Gus Tratnyek (6 goals, 4 assists), and Waddell (2 goals, 4 assists) have also provided big sparks offensively. The surprise for the Generals has been defense.

Senior Cormac Heney, the returning starter in goal, hurt his hand before the season. Sophomore Rowan McConnaughey stepped in and has performed admirably behind a back line led by senior captain Jonas D'Arrigo, with sophomore defensive midfielder Dillon Harer in front of them.

"No one expects your starting goalie to go down mid-summer," D'Arrigo said. "[McConnaughey] immediately stepped up and took on that role, and he's really embraced it."

The Generals have conceded just 11 goals in 14 matches.

"We've been very strong back there," Waddell said. "We play out from the back much better than we have the past few years."

With 11 seniors, it's a crew that has played together for years through the youth levels. In that time, they've learned and developed a chemistry they feel is like no other. Stein reinforced that they score in unselfish and varied ways -- it's not just one route to goal.

"We all play off each other," D'Arrigo said. "We've been playing together for 16 years, our whole lives, and all of us play over the summer, too. We really just built this team up and have a great connection."

Having learned their lessons and seen the success of others, the Generals are hoping that the long build up pays off.

"I can feel the excitement on the field that they are really, really excited to create opportunities for each other," Gauron said. "I've had times where it feels like a job, but not with these kids. These kids are excited to make plays and it's fun to watch on the sideline."

▪ It's a strange thing to say of a team with just one loss, but one of Arlington's biggest strengths this season has been its ability to respond after a poor performance.

"The team itself has set its own standard and play, not based on wins and losses," said 26-year coach Lance Yodzio.

The Spy Ponders (12-1-1) felt they didn't meet that standard in a 2-2 draw with Woburn on Sept. 24, and it has been all victories since. Yodzio's team leads the crowded Middlesex League's Liberty Division and was 19th in the Division 1 power rankings as of Friday. Sam Neal (13 goals, five assists) and Keegan Maxwell (nine goals, six assists) have powered the attack, with fellow seniors Nolan Koopmann and goalie Shea Paoletti-Newton anchoring the defense, which has conceded once in the last seven games.

A showdown with Lexington (11-2-2) on Oct. 27 to conclude the regular season could decide the Liberty winner.

"It's definitely up there with one of the strongest teams I've had," said Yodzio.

▪ New Bedford (11-3-0) was up to 10th in the Div. 1 power rankings before picking up its signature win of the season on Saturday -- a 3-0 decision over Hingham, previously the Globe's No. 16 team. Carlentz Jean Pierre (two) and Flavio Martins scored the goals.

It's been a resurgent season for the Whalers, who finished as the 38th seed in Div. 1 each of the last three seasons.

▪ Nantucket coach Rich Brannigan II clinched career win No. 300 on Friday in the Whalers' 9-3 victory over Rising Tide Charter. Nantucket has won three in a row and was 25th in the Div. 3 power rankings as of Friday.

Tuesday, No. 3 Needham at No. 6 Weymouth, 4 p.m. -- A Bay State showdown with huge implications at the top of the Herget Division.

Tuesday, No. 4 Framingham at No. 15 Natick, 6:30 p.m. -- The Flyers look to get back to winning ways when they travel to their Bay State Carey rival.

Thursday, North Andover at No. 8 Lowell, 5 p.m. -- North Andover's impressive season can add a signature win in a road trip to Lowell, which leads the Merrimack Valley Large.

Saturday, No. 14 Concord-Carlisle at No. 1 Oliver Ames, 10 a.m. -- The Tigers still have yet to lose this season, but hosting Concord-Carlisle will be a significant nonleague test.

Monday, No. 13 Norwell at No. 19 Hingham, 4 p.m. -- In the penultimate regular season game for both teams, the defending Div. 3 champions travel to a Patriot League contender for a nonleague matchup.

Hamilton-Wenham boys' soccer well positioned to take Cape Ann path to a state title - The Boston Globe