D2 Girls Lacrosse Preview: So many contenders, so many possibilities as season begins

It wasn’t that long ago that Division II girls lacrosse was dominated by one high school program.

Portsmouth won five consecutive championships before moving up a division before last season, and in the Clippers’ absence, Hollis Brookline – which had been in three of the four previous finals – defeated Hanover – the last team to win D2 before Portsmouth – to claim the 2023 title.

But while both programs should be among the top teams in the division, they could be joined by another five teams that enter the year with a shot at taking home the title. It’s possibly the deepest the division has been in almost a decade.

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Goffstown, Windham, Winnacunnet, Oyster River-Newmarket and Timberlane all return deep squads that are ready to compete for that top spot, while HB and Hanover both return talent, but have a few more holes to fill.

With this being the second year of the NHIAA’s two-year cycle, it means teams that petitioned down – Manchester Memorial-West, Manchester Central, Keene-Monadnock and Spaulding – are eligible for the postseason.

Favorites

Windham (15-3, lost in semifinals): Since making back-to-back finals in 2014-15, and winning the later year, the Jaguars have made the semifinals in five of seven seasons and haven’t been able to get back to the title game

Windham has the lineup to do it this season, despite graduating seven seniors from a year ago and seeing goalie Annie Mitchell transfer to Governor’s Academy. The Jaguars have 13 players with varsity experience returning, including eight seniors.

Four of those seniors are at midfield, as Chloe Hall, Emma Kendzulak, Mia Gallinelli and Sophia Ponzini all return. Senior Casey Dolliver is back on attack, along with juniors Sophie Manchester and Darby Madden and sophomores Anna Hartmann and Ella Gallinelli. They’ll be joined by junior Marissa Andrews, sophomore Kiley Candon and freshmen Abby Labonville and Kiera Lee.

The defense will be led by seniors Paige Carboni, Skylar Willis and Victoria Maloney and junior Morgan Schwinn. Junior Addison Filadoro will also see time on defense while sophomore Jaidyn Seitzer steps in at goalie.

Winnacunnet (13-5, lost in semifinals): The Warriors graduated just three seniors from a year ago and return 18 players with varsity experience.

That includes a trio of goalies, with seniors Cadence Oleniak and Julie Milius and junior Madison Brunelle back in the fold. Also returning on defense are seniors Maggie Maloney and Clara Nardone and sophomores Taylor Burness and Libby Maloney.

Senior Shea Graham returns to lead the midfield along with juniors Sky Mace, Tegan Rooney, Caelyn Ross and Ella Waddell. Winnacunnet also returns sophomore middies Elle Emery, Reese Gandt and Izzy Needham while sophomore Amber Allgaier will be in the mix.

Juniors Emmy Granger, Sarah Rademacher and Jenna Kelly return on attack for the Warriors. Freshmen Annika Jacques, Isla Christie, Molly Houlihan and McKinley Fowler will also be looked to contribute.

Goffstown (12-6, lost in quarterfinals): The Grizzlies lost just four seniors from a year ago, and getting the program’s first playoff win gave Goffstown’s returners a lot of motivation for this season.

Senior midfielder Eva DeMatteis will look to lead the way for Goffstown, along with junior midfielders Morghan Dodge and Peyton Duff. Freshman Sydney Lavoie (midfield) and Trinity Lunn (attack) will have opportunities to contribute.

The Grizzlies also return senior goalie Abaigeal Estano to lead the defense, along with senior Nora Erwin and junior Amelia Cole.

Challengers

Hanover (15-2, lost in final): The Bears will be a young team this year, with just four seniors returning while graduating seven from last season and losing Maggie Higgins, who transferred to Holderness School.

Hanover does bring back a strong core, led by senior middie Maeve Lee and senior defenders Erin Kirkpatrick and Nina Marshall. Also returning are juniors Nora Bradley (midfield) and goalie Charlotte Robinson.

Junior Eleanor Edson will step in on defense while freshmen middies Cassidy Loughman and Maeve Bradley will be look at to contribute. Freshmen Sage Fargher, Joia Collins, Sophie Hopkins, Casey Wilkinson and Willow Clifford could see time on attack while freshmen Lily Tine and Isa Hartridge-Beam will have a chance to step in on defense.

Hollis Brookline (16-4, won championship): The Cavaliers return a talented core, but a program that saw low numbers a year ago will try to find a way to replace six seniors who played key roles.

Leading the way for HB will be senior midfielder Cailean Roy, one of six returning starters for the Cavs. Also back are juniors Samantha Smith and Sabrina Hill on attack and juniors Juliette Ogren and McKenna Maguire on defense. Junior goalie Addison Dougherty also returns.

Senior Isabella Martinos and junior Maddison Caetano will also see increased time on defense and will be joined by junior Nyah Jernberg. Juniors Teagan Arbogast and Charlotte Petrella return on attack and sophomore Elise Broadhurst will be looked to contribute at midfield.

Timberlane (13-4, lost in quarterfinals): The Owls have been on a steady rise the last few seasons, and after graduating just five seniors, could be poised for a big year. Timberlane’s core has not only played a lot of lacrosse together, but many of the Owls played together on the school’s soccer team that won D1 last fall.

The defense returns senior Jordyn Friel and juniors Emma Norcott and Ava Stewart, who were all starters a year ago, along with senior Brooke Morin and junior Sophie Doherty. Senior Bella Hughes takes over in goal.

Seniors Maia Parker and Anne Quinn and junior Ella Lampron return at midfield where they’ll be joined by sophomore Mia Morrier and freshman Rylee Donahue. Timberlane has a deep attack, with senior Lily Brien, juniors Ella Watts, Lulu Trasatti and Addie Conlan and sophomores Ava Paul and Hayden Quaratiello returning. The Owls will also get a boost from the return of sophomore Lila Fitzgerald, who missed last year with an injury.

Oyster River-Newmarket (11-6, lost in quarterfinals): The Bobcats only lost three seniors and return 11 players with varsity experience.

Emy Przybylski is the lone returning senior for ORN and she’ll look to contribute on both ends of the field, along with fellow captains, juniors Mia Weglarz (midfield) and Shea Sullivan (defense/midfield).

Also returning on defense are junior Lily Zehtner and sophomore Maerwyn Holden-Mount along with goalies Eliza Farwell (sophomore) and Sydney Haines (junior).

Junior Kira Jakobs is back at midfield while juniors Hannah Dunbar and Keira Ferris return on attack. Freshman Lexi Gill will see time at both defense and midfield.

Contenders

John Stark/Hillsboro-Deering (8-8, lost in quarterfinals): After losing just four seniors, the General-Cats look to return to the playoffs with a large number of players back.

That includes senior goalie Emma Donahey and seniors Hannay Corey and Lilleea Perkins and junior Natalie Lawson on defense. They’ll be joined by freshman Addison DeCew, who will also see time at midfield, while freshman goalie Rowin Ledy will also be in the mix.

Seniors Elizabeth Hatfield and Melody Couturier return at midfield, along with sophomore Claudia Dustin. Freshman Hannah Perkins will have a chance to contribute, while freshman Zoe Lawson will see time at midfield and attack.

The attack will be led by senior Kennedy Dwyer and juniors Evette Dagenais, Ryan Mucci and Kayce Rhodes.

Kingswood (5-11, lost in preliminary round): The Knights lost seven seniors from last year’s playoff team, but with a big group of returning seniors, they expect to be back in the mix this season.

Seniors Lily Davenhill, Charlotte Ling and Kiera Nason return at attack to give Kingswood leadership up front, while junior Bella Vachon and sophomore Kylee King also return on offense. Emily Matos and Carrigan Williams, both seniors, are back at midfield along with sophomores Issy Fournier and Addy Ingham.

The defense will be led by seniors Anaka Waldron and Makenna Woodbury and junior Marina Roy. Senior Addison Blattenberger will also contribute while a freshmen class of six could also see time.

Pembroke (2-13): The Spartans dropped off a year ago after making the postseason in 2022, and with a solid returning core, they’re hoping to return.

Leading the way this year will be seniors Zoey Mayeu, Treic Thomas-Guerzon and Carly Wood. Juniors Bailey Gatchell, Ashlie Klawes, Sarah Keeler and Kendall Purtell also return.

Junior Kayla Amyot will be looked to contribute this season while freshmen Lily Royer, Lily Ricci, Layla Couture and Giuls Davis will also have opportunities for Pembroke.

Merrimack Valley (8-7, lost in preliminary round)

Dark Horses

Spaulding (1-14): The Red Raiders had a small roster a year ago, which means plenty of returning players with experience. With a few newcomers out this year, Spaulding hopes to get a step closer to a postseason spot.

Leading the way is senior midfielder Kate McCawley and junior goalie Izzy Orrell. Senior Julia McCarthy also returns on defense while senior Armani Ragas will see time on defense and attack. Junior Annabel Prochilo and freshman Jaida Wentworth will also be in the mix on defense.

Senior Molly Gould and junior Sydney Cormier return on attack, where they’ll be joined by sophomore Emery Goldworthy and freshman Aivah Helton. Sophomore Payton Boumel is back at midfield with junior Grace Turgeon and freshmen Rachel Baughman and Sarah Lin expected to contribute.

Manchester Memorial-West (1-13): The Crusaders have a dozen players returning, including four who have played varsity each year.

That includes senior goalie Ariana Villafrane, who will be joined on defense by senior Kaitlyn Correll, juniors Elizabeth Champagne, Kelly LeGallo and Madison McCaffrey and sophomores Aalizah Kan and Dino Loaiza.

Seniors Lily Hall and Kaleigh Murphy are also four-year varsity players at midfield while senior Elma Stitkovac also returns. Sophomores Reilly McNelly and Audrey Morgan also return at midfield.

Leading on attack will be senior Maya Blight, with sophomores Joanna Alley and Rylee Page joining her. Juniors Lyla Colangelo and Grey McDonald will see time at attack and midfield.

Rest of Field

Alvirne (0-16): The Broncos have a solid returning group to help improve on last year’s record, led by captains Makayla Meehan (senior, midfield/defense), Audriana Chipperini (junior, midfield/attack) and Addison Lemire (junior, midfield/attack).

The defense also returns senior goalie Alexa Kruger and seniors Lydia Tolentino, Rachel Stevens and Ava Biskaduros, who could also see time on attack. Juniors Victory Chapman, Reece Durkee and Gianna Allison also return on defense.

Juniors Adiana Reilly, Kylie Grove and Jaliceanna Santiago will look to contribute on attack and at midfield. Sophomores Cadence Bice, Katie Considine, Olivia Baptista and Arianna Nole-Millen will also be in the mix for Alvirne.

ConVal (5-10, lost in preliminary round)

Manchester Central (6-10)

Keene-Monadnock (7-9)

Kennett (7-8, lost in preliminary round)

Postseason Predictions

Teams (12): Goffstown, Hanover, Hollis Brookline, John Stark/Hillsboro-Deering, Kingswood, Manchester Memorial-West, Merrimack Valley, Oyster River-Newmarket, Pembroke, Timberlane, Windham, Winnacunnet.

Final four: Goffstown, Hanover, Windham, Winnacunnet.

Championship: Windham over Winnacunnet.