Dover makes a jump in NHHSSports Field Hockey Coaches Poll heading into playoffs
The regular season is done and the playoffs begin on Tuesday and the NHHSSports Field Hockey Coaches Poll had a little bit of a shakeup.
The regular season is done and the playoffs begin on Tuesday and the NHHSSports Field Hockey Coaches Poll had a little bit of a shakeup.
Dover made a big jump going into the postseason, going from seventh in the poll last week to fourth, matching the Green Wave’s highest ranking of the season. They were tied for fourth in the preseason poll.
Winnacunnet was a unanimous choice for the top spot for the third week in a row. The Warriors earned the No. 1 seed in Division I and will host a quarterfinal game Sunday against either Keene or Londonderry.
Exeter moved up a spot to No. 2 this week and will be the two seed in the D1 playoffs, as the Blue Hawks will host either Pinkerton or Bishop Guertin in the quarterfinals. Windham moved down to No. 3 and the Jaguars will be the three seed in the playoffs, hosting either Timberlane or Concord in the quarterfinals.
Dover also finished fourth in the D1 standings and will host Bedford, which was seventh in this week’s poll, in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
A single point separated John Stark and Souhegan this week, with the Generals moving down a spot to No. 5 and Souhegan doing the same to No. 6. John Stark will be the No. 1 seed in the D2 playoffs while Souhegan will be the No. 2 seed, with both getting a bye into Saturday’s quarterfinals.
Portsmouth stayed at No. 8 and will be the three seed in the D2 tournament, hosting Sanborn in the preliminary round on Wednesday. Kennett was ninth in the poll and earned the No. 4 seed in D2; the Eagles will host Bow in the preliminary round.
Gilford, which is the only undefeated and untied team left in the state, came in 10th again this week and will be the No. 1 seed in D3. The Golden Eagles will host a quarterfinal on Friday.
Here is the NHHSS Field Hockey Coaches Poll for this week. These are the top 10 field hockey teams in the state, with first-place votes/points (T=tie), record and last week’s ranking.
- Winnacunnet (14-1-1), 6/60, 1st
- Exeter (14-1-1), 53, 3rd
- Windham (13-2-1), 44, 2nd
- Dover (13-3), 36, 7th
- John Stark (13-0-1), 33, 4th
- Souhegan (13-0-1), 32, 5th
- Bedford (13-3), 22, 6th
- Portsmouth (11-3), 21, 8th
- Kennett (10-3-1), 10, 9th
- Gilford (14-0), 7, 10th
Others receiving votes: Concord (11-5), 5; Bishop Guertin (10-5-1), 4; Newfound (12-2), 1.
There will be no poll during the playoffs and a final poll will be released on Nov. 1.
