D1 Girls Lacrosse Preview: Bishop Guertin looking to continue its run

Last season’s group of senior girls lacrosse players left Bishop Guertin High School having won a championship in every year they played for the program.

This year’s seniors will be looking to do the same, as the Cardinals have won the Division I title the last three times a spring season has been held. With scheduling back to normal in 2022, Bishop Guertin will face challenges, not only from teams within the division, but from a slate of out-of-state games.

Bedford, which lost to the Cardinals in the semifinals a year ago, have an experienced and talented lineup back, while Pinkerton, Souhegan and Londonderry also return key players to make a run.

The division will have 14 teams for this season, with eight advancing to the postseason.

Favorites

• Bishop Guertin: The Cardinals graduated a big and talented senior class, but while the depth may take time to build, this year’s group is as good as a year ago. Seniors Rylee Bouvier and Katie Campel give Bishop Guertin a dynamic duo in the midfield while seniors Nat Coutu and Stephanie Reap will lead the attack. Senior goalie Mackenna Reekie and Delaney Ramalho will anchor the defense. Juniors Tess Prunier (attack), Kate Daly (midfield) and Maddy Hartsock (defense) will step into starting roles while sophomores Lauren Redfern and Arianna Kouchalakos will have an opportunity to play key roles for the Cardinals. Freshman goalie Maddy Eder-Linell will also see time with the varsity.
• Bedford: The Bulldogs return a large number of players who reached the semifinals a year ago, led by senior Julian Bell and junior Sydney Grogan. Bell will be joined at attack by junior Reagan O’Brien, last year’s leading scorer, while Teagan Steele and Nat Denon get into the mix on offense as well. Grogan will have junior Ellie Enners and sophomore Liv Matthews back alongside, while Audrey Purnell and Maddy Kiely will be solid two-way middies. Junior goalie Abby Weidner and junior Sabrina Tipping will be joined on defense by sophomore Libby Norris.

Challengers

• Pinkerton: The Astros have a new coach for the first time in a decade, as Katie Bourque takes over for Pinkerton. She has a solid core returning, led by senior middies Ali Lamphere and Caitlyn Seleny, and seniors Lauren Sweeney (goalie) and Kristina Packowski on defense. Sophomore middie Hailey Schnider will also play a key role for the Astros.
• Souhegan: The Sabers have a strong senior class returning, led by captains Elle Stevenson (midfield), Sierra Kimball (defense) and Shannon Hargreaves (goalie). Senior McKenzie Cretsinger and sophomore Lyla Kimball will also be looked at to contribute on attack. Freshman Natalie Heimarck will also have a chance to contribute for the Sabers.

Contenders

• Londonderry: The Lancers saw a talented senior class graduate, but return another strong group of upperclassmen to stay in contention. Leading the way are seniors Tara Wright (midfield), Abigail Whitley (defense), Caroline Leone (midfield) and Tess Brown (defense). Junior Natalie Washington (midfield/defense) and sophomore Ashleigh Leone (defense) will step up into key roles, while Meg Daileanes and Jill Leonardo have a chance to contribute this year for Londonderry.
• Exeter: The Blue Hawks will also have a new coach at the helm, as Taylor Landers steps in for 2022. Exeter will look to senior captains Casey More (attack), Emily LaPia (midfield) and Erin McIlroy (midfield) to lead the way this season. Senior Tish Boys will look to lead the defense while freshman Hazel Jacobs will get first crack at goalie. Two freshmen middies, Hailey Okane and McKenzie Babin, have been strong in the preseason.
• Nashua South: The Panthers strength to start the season looks to be in the midfield, where seniors Kylie Dawe and Soleil Dubois return along with sophomore Ella Benzekri. Joining them will be freshmen Maren Lowell and Karina O’Donnell. Senior Kaitlyn West leads the offense while sophomore goalies Audrey Mullaney and Keira Walsh return. They’ll be joined by freshman Nevaeh Eppolito and Brynn Teftt.

Dark Horses

• Concord: The Crimson Tide welcome Ashley Durepo in as the new head coach and she’ll have senior captains Mary Martinson (midfield), Colette Brochu (defense) and Danielle Lemay (defense) to help lead the way. Greta Norton and Emma Beaujouan return at midfield while Sophia Payne is at attack. Sophia Branch and Lily Savoie are back on defense.
• Dover: The Green Wave return a core of 10 players, including seniors Arianna Bowden (midfield) and Alex Cook (defense). Also returning on defense are juniors Sam Dyer and Sam Koellmer while junior Danielle Young and sophomore Rylen Gray will see time on defense and at midfield and sophomore Arissa Hendrato steps in at goalie. Junior Molly Goodridge (attack/midfield) and sophomores Megan Healy (attack) and Payton Denning (midfield) will help lead the offense.

Rest of the Field

• Nashua North: The Titans have a pair of seniors returning they’ll lean on early in the year in attack Keira Sice and midfielder Katrina Pech-Buzek. Sophomore middie Summer St. Pierre also returns while freshman Molly Ducharme will also step in at midfield. Freshmen Rachel Gauthier and goalie Elliott Brown will see time on defense.
• Salem: The Blue Devils have a big group of returning players, including seniors Brynne Kolbert and Katelyn Moore, junior Ava Donahue and sophomore Kelsey McGibbon on defense. On attack, seniors Ariana Lakos and Corrie Smith and juniors Chloe Stone and Shayne Santo return. The midfield will be manned by returners like seniors Riley Devine and Emily Wilson, junior Faith Hoover and sophomore Paige Frias and Meg O’Callaghan. Junior Emma Powers will also see time at midfield while sophomore Grace Driscoll and freshmen Grace Hoover and Mariella Tomasello will have a chance to contribute at attack. Sophomore Grace Brito and freshman Gabriella Mosto will see time in goal.
• Manchester Central: The Little Green go into the year with a new coach in Jackie Lane. Zoe Demers returns at attack and Molly Cassidy will lead the defense, while Cailin Proulx will see time at attack and midfield. Freshman Grace Manning, Olivia Wheeler and Avery Proulx will also see time at midfield.
• Merrimack
• Keene-Monadnock

Playoff Predictions

• Playoff teams (8): Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Concord, Exeter, Londonderry, Nashua South, Pinkerton, Souhegan.
• Final four: Bishop Guertin, Bedford, Londonderry, Pinkerton.
• Championship: Bishop Guertin over Bedford.