Defending-champ Mascoma Valley among teams battling for D3 field hockey supremacy

The Mascoma Valley Regional High School field hockey team won a title last season for the first time in 35 years.

According to some of the other coaches in Division III, the Royals could be poised to win their second in as many seasons in 2019.

If Mascoma is going to make it back-to-back championships, it will have to overcome some big losses to a defense that was tops in the division last year in goals allowed. And there is no shortage of teams looking to take the Royals down.

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Bishop Brady, which returns a young, experienced roster, and Gilford, which has a young roster with a handful of experienced seniors, should also be in the mix. Newfound, which is two years removed from a title, returns a strong lineup that should be keep the Bears among the top teams.

White Mountains, Winnisquam, Berlin and Stevens could also be in the mix for top seeds in the division. And last year’s runner-up, Hopkinton, will also be reloading for another run at a title.

Here’s a look at the teams in D3 as they head into the 2019 season.

• Berlin (8-7-1): The Mountaineers lost three all-state performers from a team that reached the quarterfinals last year. Berlin a small group of seniors, including Natalie Williams, Kaelyn Blais and Maddie Cordwell, but has a large junior class that gained experience last year.
• Bishop Brady (13-3): The Giants were a young team last season, with 14 sophomores and freshmen. Bishop Brady will look to juniors Ashlyn Toupin and Halle Laramie, who were all-state selections last year, to lead the way.
• Conant (5-10): Gone are two all-state selections in midfielder Mariah Chamberlain and goalie Stephanie Barney, but the Orioles return junior Elizabeth Gonyea. Conant had 11 freshmen on the varsity roster last season.
• ConVal (6-10): The Cougars return six seniors from last year’s varsity team, with forwards Cruz Dellsanta and Jacquelin Madeja leading the offense. Midfielder Shannon Allen will look to provide support at both ends, while Tessa Doherty, Tracie Dailey and Ashlie Chanlder will solidify the defensive end. ConVal has an even mix of juniors, sophomores and freshmen to fill out its varsity roster.
• Franklin (0-14): The Golden Tornadoes rebuild begins with Emma Lapierre, a four-year varsity player who was second-team all-state last year. Juniors Jada Lapierre, Ryleigh Seufert, Alyssa Cornell and Elizabeth Guillotte also return, as does goalie Jasmyn Long. Franklin will also get a boost from three freshmen coming up and a pair of exchange students.
• Gilford (11-6): While the Golden Eagles will have a young roster this season, they return one of the top defenders in the division in Randi Byars, who was first-team all-state last year. Other four-year starters returning including Jenna DeLucca, Syd Leher, Emily O’Connor and Laurel Gingrich, all of whom will be looked upon to provide leadership on the field.
• Hopkinton (14-3): The Hawks graduated eight seniors, including last year’s D3 Player of the Year Amelia Thomas, first-team all-state performer Chloe Wood and goalie Maddie McCluskey. But Hopkinton has a strong core of returners, including seniors Kate Meserve and Avery Barrett and sophomore Katelyn Bouchard.
• Kearsarge (7-7-1): The Cougars lost a handful of talented seniors, but will be strong in the back with senior goalie Marissa Pickman returning. Kearsarge had 13 combined sophomores and freshmen on the roster last season.
• Laconia (1-12): The Sachems will try to rebound from a tough season behind senior goalie Sierra Keets, who was first-team all-state last year.
• Lebanon (11-4-2): The Raiders return their top two leading scorers from a year ago in senior Sydney Brochu and junior Sydney Gonyea, but they’ll have to figure out how to replace five seniors, including first-team all-state goalie Hope Brown. Sophomores Sally Tretter and Clara Smyrski will be new additions looking to give the varsity team a spark.
• Littleton (2-12): Alexis Sparks, a first-team all-state selection last year, returns to help lead the Crusaders.
• Mascenic (7-8): The Vikings have six seniors returning this year, including Emma Knisley and Alannah Johnson, who were first-team all-state selections last year and have led Mascenic in scoring the last two seasons. The defense will be led by senior Molly Caron while freshmen Alexis Vautour and Jade Traffie are expected to see a lot of time.
• Mascoma Valley (16-1): The Royals have some big holes to fill from last year’s team, which won the program’s first title since 1983. Returning for Mascoma are seniors Amelia Wilson,  Mackenzie Labrie, Nikki Williams and Michaela Dowd
• Monadnock (2-12): The Huskies return a handful of players who gained valuable experience last season, including all-state performers Carly Ayotte and Carly Bernard. Also returning are Caitlin Stearns, Page Beede and Izzy Sutton while newcomers Cassidy Purrington, Haley Haddock and Bella LeClair will also look to contribute this season for Monadnock.
• Newfound (11-3-1): The Bears will look to bounce back from last year’s opening-round upset loss and be right back in the mix in D3. Leading the way will be all-state selections senior Caroline Marchand and junior Tiffany Doan.
• Newport (8-8): The Tigers were sophomore-heavy last year, with 12 on the roster last year, including first-team all-state selection Eliza Bates.
• Stevens (6-7-2): The Cardinals have a big returning group of juniors, but Stevens will look to sophomore Bri Frisbee, who was second-team all state last year, to lead the offense.
• St. Thomas (4-9-1): The Saints will call upon seniors Molly Connor, Isabel Predaris, Sarah Walsh and Reagan Williams to lead the way this season.
• White Mountains (4-9-1): The Spartans will look to senior forward Aviara Challinor, a first-team all-state selection last year, to lead the way. Sophomore goalie Jen Fowler gained experience as a freshman starter while Mallory Chessman and Isabella Cronin will be asked to control the midfield.
• Winnisquam (9-6): The Bears have a young roster with a lot of talent, including juniors Madison House and Eveline Auger and sophomore Alexis Poole.

Playoff Schedule

• Preliminary round: Home of higher seed, Oct. 23.
• Quarterfinals: Home of higher seed, Oct. 26.
• Semifinals: Bill Ball Stadium, Exeter, Oct. 30.
• Championship: Bedford High School, 11 a.m., Nov. 3.