List of contenders long as D3 field hockey gets underway

The Division III high school field hockey season is getting underway and there are a lot of questions to be asked about the division.

Will Gilford have enough returning to defend its championship from a year ago? Will Bishop Brady find a way to make it to a fifth-straight title game? Can Newfound or Mascoma Valley return to the final after making multiple appearances not long ago? How much will new coaches – there are five in D3 – have an affect this season?

All those questions will be answered for sure in a little more than two months. But until then, here are the best guesses as to what could happen this season.

Contenders

• Bishop Brady (11-7, lost to Gilford in championship): The Giants have been on a run, playing for the division championship in each of the last four season, but dropping the last two titles games. They have a shot to make it five with a lineup full of returning players that includes sophomore goalie Ava Archambault and senior Kylee Potter on defense. They’ll be joined by seniors Maddie Cole-Tucker and Helen Gendron. Senior Carly Fuller and juniors Kimble Rose and Madison Noel return at forward along with senior Hannah Poirier and junior Olivia Lazear. Senior Laura Yap and junior Payton Bryson are back at midfield, where they’ll be joined by junior Camdyn Despres, who transferred from Pembroke. Bishop Brady also has a handful of sophomores who should contribute, including Kate Farley, Macella Tonge, Josie Whitson and Lauren Howe.
• Gilford (17-0, won championship): The Golden Eagles have a dozen returning varsity players this season, including five starters, and four freshmen who will see time on varsity.
• Newfound (12-3, lost to Bishop Brady in quarterfinals): The Bears lost just two players from a year ago but return a strong core. Leading the way will be senior Isa LaPlume (midfield) and junior forwards Addie Dollof and Elle MacDonald. Senior forward Savannah Bradley will join them up front. Junior goalie Allie Normandin also returns along with senior defender Electra Heath while junior Cora Sanschargrin and sophomore Annabel Smolenski will look to contribute. Casey Bush (junior) will join LaPlume at midfield while junior Kat Egan and freshmen Jayden Gilpatric, Hannah Upperman and Lauren Mahoney will have a chance to contribute.
• Mascoma Valley (8-7-1, lost to Gilford in quarterfinals): The Royals return almost all of their starting lineup from a year ago. That includes on defense, where seniors Hailey Miller, junior Jillian Ballou and sophomores Aubrey Meyveagaci and Georgia Kondi are back, along with senior goalie Gabby Pierce. Seniors Kylie Rogers and Kara Miller return at midfield, as does sophomore Ellie McGrody. Junior Anna Buffington and sophomore Makenna Houston are joined by senior Bryanna Thurston and sophomores Myah Crandall and Anna Emerson at forward. Sophomore goalie Samantha Harkins is also back while freshmen Aaliya Muzzey and Evie Bennett will look to contribute.
• Mascenic (12-4, lost to Gilford in semifinals): The Vikings saw seven seniors graduate from last year’s final four team, but return a solid group. Leading the way are seniors Ella Pearson (midfield/defense) and Angelina McCabe (midfield/defense) and senior goalie Emma Cargill. Juniors Lorelai Shippee (midfield defense) and Ella Keating (forward) also return, along with seniors Corinne Griffis (midfield) and Lexi Caron (forward), junior Faith Wooster (forward) and sophomore Brielle Krook (forward).
• Newport (13-3, lost to Bishop Brady in semifinals)

Dark Horse

• Conant (10-5, lost to Mascenic in quarterfinals): The Orioles lost just one player from last year’s team and have nine seniors on this year’s roster. Leading the way are senior captains Maddie Bergeron (forward) and Graecen Kirby (defense). Also returning on defense are seniors Natalie Lambert, Haley Dubuis, Katie Weidner and goalie Abby Quill, and they’ll be joined by sophomore Chloe Kirby. Senior Megan Newton and sophomore Violet Bennett return at forward while seniors Maicee Peard and Emma Weinhold are joined by junior Emily Battisti at midfield.

Playoff Potential

• Berlin (9-7, lost to Newport in quarterfinals): The Mountaineers lost six seniors to graduation, including their starting goalie, from a year ago. Four starters return, including senior Olivia Clorite and sophomore Lilly Kelley on defense. They’ll be joined by juniors Jaiden Laflamme and Arayanna Bedard. Senior Audrey Lefebvre is back at midfield with senior Leliah Horne, junior Gabby Poulin and sophomores Emma Rancloes and Olivia Richard seeing time there as well. Junior Madison Valerino returns to lead the offense with help from sophomore Emily Smith.
• White Mountains (4-8-3, lost to Berlin in prelims): The Spartans have 12 players returning, including eight seniors, from last year’s playoff team. Senior Adri Dami will lead the defense while seniors Madison Savoy, Savannah Stone and Hallie Wright will see time on defense and at midfield. Senior Ciera Challinor will return at midfield while senior Marjorie Young will be at midfield and forward, along with senior Jocelyn Wyman. Goalies Averey Harris (senior) and Kadyn White (sophomore) are both back while junior Sophie Marceau and sophomore KaYa Nkwen-Tamo return at forward. Sophomore Jaydah Sullivan returns at midfield while freshmen Isabella Antonucci, Chloe Gagnon, Audrey Carrier and Pari Patel will have a chance to contribute.
• Kearsarge (5-9): The Cougars have seven varsity players returning from a team that just missed out on the playoffs last season. Seniors Gracyee Foster (midfield/forward), Tori Montagna (forward) and Lily Hoegler (defense) return to lead the way. They’re joined by juniors Ava Valle and Tori Wooten at midfield and juniors Ella Dumais and goalie Luna Landers on defense. Freshmen Stella Syversten (midfield/forward) and Ava Nolan-Waddell (defense) will also have a chance to contribute.
• Stevens (8-7, lost to Mascoma Valley in prelims)

Rest of Field

• Littleton (2-12): The Crusaders have a new coach in Sam Carberry and she has a good core of seniors returning, including Rebecca Colby, Claire Hennessey, Makenna Reed and Isabella Silva. Junior Natalia Pleischl also returns while junior Molly Donahue, sophomore Caitlyn McCarson and freshman Ashley Timmins will also be in the mix. Littleton will also look to a handful of middle school players to fill out its roster.
• Monadnock (2-12): The Huskies will look to Charleigh Bohannon and Eliza Harwood to lead the team this season. Goalie Makayla Harwood will be relied on along with Kaylee Cotnoir and Serenity Mapes in front of her. Bryanna Lacoste, Hannah Mapes, Abigail Murray and Brianna Ellis also return for Monadnock while six freshmen will join the varsity.
• Winnsiquam (5-7-2, lost to Bishop Brady in prelims)
• Hopkinton (2-11-1)
• St. Thomas (3-10-1)
• Franklin (0-12)

Postseason Predictions

• Playoff teams: Berlin, Bishop Brady, Conant, Gilford, Kearsarge, Mascenic, Mascoma Valley, Newfound, Newport, Stevens, White Mountains.
• Final four: Bishop Brady, Conant, Mascoma Valley, Newfound.
• Championship: Bishop Brady over Newfound.