Division I

D1 Girls Lacrosse Preview: List of contenders longer entering this spring

For the last decade, the Division I girls champion has been won by only a handful of teams. With a few exceptions, those same four teams have largely made up the final four each season as well.

For the last decade, the Division I girls champion has been won by only a handful of teams.

With a few exceptions, those same four teams have largely made up the final four each season as well.

Last season saw that begin to change, and this year, there could be even more, as D1 feels as deep as its been in quite some time.

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Since the 2013 season, Bishop Guertin (five titles), Pinkerton (three), Souhegan (one) and Bedford (one) have claimed all 10 championships. They’ve made up the semifinal field five times since 2015, and before last season, only Exeter (2015, 2021) had made it into the club.

That changed in 2023, as Portsmouth reached the championship game in its first year in D1 and Nashua South made its first semifinal appearance in 16 years, before both lost to Bedford, which captured its first title in D1.

This season could see even more parity, as all the top contenders have question marks going into the year.

Favorites

Portsmouth (18-3, lost in final): Despite losing eight players to graduation who were all key contributors, the Clippers might be in the best position early in the year to fill those holes.

That starts at midfield for Portsmouth, with senior Annie Parker and junior Morgan Ruhnke leading the way. They’ll be joined by sophomore Ginger Vinciguerra, while three freshmen – Hailey Stallkamp and Emery and Raegan Lawton – will be asked to step in right away.

Seniors Lexi Stanley and Anya Bake and sophomores Addie Delisle and Lily Patterson return on attack, with senior Jillian Richmond, sophomore Ella Souza and freshmen Georgia Bouvier and Addie Deihl getting into the mix.

The defense will be led by senior Maggie Conklin and sophomore goalie Sage Bussiere. Senior Lana Bresnahan will be looked to for key contributions while junior Abby Stacy and sophomores Nealey Conlin and Maddy Houghton will also be in the mix.

Pinkerton (12-6, lost in quarterfinals): The Astros failed to reach the final four last year for the first time since 2012, but after losing just three seniors, Pinkerton looks to have the right mix to get that far and then some.

The Astros have multiple returning players at every level on the field, led on attack by seniors Hailey Schnider and Isabella Pinardi and juniors Hannah Lisauskas and Anna Perkins. Also returning are seniors Kylee Burne and Ashlynn Ledoux while junior Bella Petralia and freshmen Sookie Folsom and Delaney Summers will also be in the mix.

Seniors Piper Knowlton and Natalie Paradzick return at midfield along with juniors Elise Collins and Mia Eckerman and sophomore Francesca Doyle. Freshman Ashley Clouthier will also see time at midfield.

On defense, seniors Emma Madsen and Alyssa Boisvert and sophomore Lexi Last are back in front for junior goalie Sara DiClemente. They’ll be joined by senior Taylor Curran, juniors Sydney Sexton and Lyla Goucher, and sophomores Cali Lockwood and Parker Knowlton. Freshman goalie Paige Fenner should also see some varsity time.

Challengers

Bishop Guertin (12-6, lost in semifinals): The Cardinals saw their run of consecutive titles come to an end at four and last season was just the second time since moving up to D1 in 2015 that Bishop Guertin wasn’t in the title game.

The Cardinals have the cast to get back there after losing just seven seniors, although all played a key role. A trio of seniors leads the way on attack, with Anna Campel, Skylar Naftali and Lauren Redfern all back, along with junior Mariella Tomasello.

Seniors Arianna Kouchalakos, Hailey LeBlanc and Kamryn Schmitt return at midfield, where they’re joined by sophomore Abigail Lynn and freshman Lola Dumont. Three junior goalies return, as Maddie Eder-Linell, Emmerson Danish and Haley Mitchell are all back.

Senior Grace Menicci returns on defense, along with juniors Lindsay Roedel, Jordan Gaebel and Madeline Harrington and sophomore Sydney Brophy. They’ll be joined by senior Taylor Guibord.

Bedford (18-1, won championship): The defending champs will look a bit different this year, seven seniors graduate, most of whom had been starters for multiple years.

But that doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare for the Bulldogs. With senior midfielders Olivia Matthews and Audrey Purnell returning, along with senior middie Megan Muir, who transferred from Concord Christian, and junior Maddie Kiely, Bedford has plenty of experience on both ends of the field.

Seniors Teagan Steele and Nat Dennon will be key contributors on attack, while the defense will be led by senior Libby Norris and sophomore Mikita Barry, in front of senior goalie Grace Steward.

Nashua South (15-5, lost in semifinals): The Panthers are coming off their best season in over 15 years and return all but four players from last year’s final four team.

A solid senior class will be led by Ella Benzekri at midfield with juniors Maren Lowell and Karina O’Donnell also returning. Seniors Maddy Matylewski and Morgan Udzanovich are back on attack, along with junior Saige Devins.

South’s defense should be strong with the return of senior goal Keira Walsh, along with seniors Audrey Mullaney and Abbey Benotti and juniors Nevaeh Eppolito and Brynn Tefft. The Panthers also have 13 freshmen joining the program, some of whom will be looked to to contribute.

Dover (13-4, lost in quarterfinals): The Green Wave turned in the best year in program history last season, but saw eight starters from that team graduate, and nine seniors overall.

Dover has plenty of leadership returning behind senior captains Rylen Gray (defense/midfield), Payton Denning (midfield) and Megan Healy (midfield/attack). Also returning on attack will be junior Lily Hunt and sophomore Reese Sanders, while freshman Khloe Healy will see some opportunities as well.

Junior Maggie Berry returns for her third season in goal with Gray, senior Alexis Silva and junior Kiley Campbell returning as well. Freshman Kyra Small will also see time on defense.

Contenders

Souhegan (7-9, lost in quarterfinals): The Sabers failed to reach the semifinals for just the second time since 2011, but have a solid core of seniors that will try to help them get back to the final four.

Leading the way will be Lyla Kimball (midfield), Emma Kennedy (attack/midfield), Maddie Lim (midfield/defense) and Allison Jordan (defense). They’ll be joined by newcomers Libby Kennedy, Izabelle Stevenson, Sophie Jacobs and Lanai Hickman.

Exeter (8-11, lost in preliminary round): The Blue Hawks saw a dozen seniors graduate from a year ago, but return a core that should keep them in playoff contention.

Seniors Garen and Izzy Steiner lead the way for Exeter at midfield, along with juniors Hailey O’Kane and Karli Scherpf. They’ll be joined by junior Sophia Wilhem and freshman Grace McIlroy.

Senior Lilyan Blood returns in goal while senior Jia Patten and junior Alex Girard are also back on defense. Sophomore Phoebe Christenson also returns on attack.

Merrimack (8-9, lost in quarterfinals): The Tomahawks graduated just seven seniors from a year ago, but have just one returning in goalie Emma Shorette.

Shorette will be joined on defense by returners Summer Dalbec-Joyal (junior) and sophomores Kyleigh Perella and Natalia Williams. Junior Maeve LaRock and freshman Brielle Kovaliv will also be looked to to contribute on defense while freshman goalie Grace Evans should see some time.

Junior Ava Martin returns to lead the midfield, along with sophomores Jackie Hayes and Liv Mitchell. Juniors Payton Trepaney, Lexi Bell and Brooklynn Hilyard are back on attack, as is sophomore Mia Flores. They’ll be joined by Morgan Bellemore (junior), Lily Palmer (sophomore) and Lillian Burns (freshman).

Londonderry (4-13): The Lancers will try to get back into the playoffs behind a senior class of 10.

That includes defensive returners Addi Currier, Eleni Kotsakis, Jill Leonardo and Katie O’Neill, along with goalies Jayden Sherwood (junior) and Abby Cook (sophomore) and sophomore Avery Stowell, who could also see time at midfield. Freshman Molly Leone should also see time on defense as well.

Seniors Ashleigh Leone and Natalie Washington return to lead the midfield, while junior Gabby Pedrick and sophomores Eres Delorey and Madison Grennon are also back. Freshman Addison Doyle will also be in the mix.

The attack will be led by seniors Kiara Edmunds, Lilah Melia and Emily Oullette, along with junior Ava Naar and sophomore Annabelle Melia. Freshmen Summer Butler, Lexi Padykula and Core Rogers will also be looked to to contribute.

Dark Horse

Salem (2-15): The Blue Devils have had a tough go of it in recent years, but numbers have continued to grow and Salem enters the year with a dozen returning players, eight of whom were starters last season.

Leading the way on attack are seniors Grace Driscoll and Paige Frias and sophomore Katie Wood. They’ll be joined by senior Shea Briody. Juniors Haylee Bernard, Lilly George, Madeline Hannon and Grace Hoover are back at midfield, while senior Lily Carreiro and sophomores Makayla Burns and Nicole Ringdahl will be looked to to contribute.

The defense will see the return of starters Kelsey McGibbon and Emma Michaud, both seniors, along with junior Laila Galvez. Junior Mia Molino and sophomore goalie Olivia Schoenrock are also back and they’ll be joined by junior Emily Young and seniors Meg O’Callaghan, Adriene Newton, Sam Romeo and Lyndsay Troisi.

Rest of Field

Concord (4-13): The Crimson Tide will look to get back to the playoffs behind the leadership of seniors Sarah Leuci (midfield), Ava Philbrook (midfield), Grace Smith (defense) and Sofia Payne (attack).

Joining Payne to return on attack is junior Lilly Merrill and sophomore Emma Pelletier, while freshmen Malie Ramshaw and Brook Nelson will also see time on attack. Sophomore Amelia Crumrine returns to join Leuci and Philbrook at middie, while sophomores Lexi Magee and Anya Kendziora and freshmen Gracen Arndt and Sydney Brown will be in the mix.

Smith, sophomore Leah Foulds and junior Charlotte Dill will lead a young defense that will add freshman Emelia Raimo and goalie Abby Poole, also a freshman.

Nashua North (1-17)