Plenty of teams eyeing a title run in D1 field hockey

In the last 10 years, there have been four programs that have made it to the top of Division I field hockey, and another four programs have advanced to the championship game in that time.

This year, all eight of those programs, and a handful of others, could have a shot at playing on the final day of the 2023 season.

Some have a better chance than others, but the gap between the teams that finish at the top of the standings and the ones going on the road to open the playoffs doesn’t seem to be as big as in years past.

Exeter enters the year as the two-time defending champion, but the Blue Hawks lost a talented senior class that was the catalyst for those titles. There’s still plenty left for them to be in the mix, along with last year’s runner-up, Winnacunnet, who also lost some key seniors.

Windham and Dover, the other two semifinalists, return strong rosters, and could take the next step back to the final. Concord, Bishop Guertin, Keene, Pinkerton, Bedford and Londonderry should also be in the mix for top-8 spots in the postseason.

Five programs have new coaches going into this year, with Dakota Bilodeau (Bishop Guertin), Abby Yerrington (Manchester Central-West), Kristen Peterson (Merrimack), Kat Simula (Nashua North) and Mikayla Ramsdell (Salem) in their first year with their respective programs.

Favorites

• Windham (13-3-1, lost to Exeter in semifinals): The Jaguars lost just three seniors from a year ago and return one of the best midfields in the state, led by seniors Sophia Ponzini, Ava Sanchez, Mia Gallinelli and Ava Pelletier. Ella Reeners (senior) and Eliza Meuse (junior) also return to start on defense while junior Sophie Manchester does the same at forward. Other returning varsity players include seniors Emma Bailey, Talia Roche and Aly Sinopoli, juniors Sedona Lee and Lilyana Micciche and sophomore Ella Gallinelli. Sophomores Abbie Petrini and Jaidyn Seitzer will also have a chance to contribute while sophomore Dana McAller and senior Juliana Vougias are splitting time in goal.
• Dover (14-4, lost to Winnacunnet in semifinals): The Green Wave enter the year with 13 seniors, their largest class in recent memory. Three of those seniors were starters a year ago and return – Audrey Carter (midfield), Rylen Gray (defense) and Hayley Tosh (goalie). Other returning starters include juniors Leyden Churchill (forward), Erin Lynch (midfield), Kaela Robins (defense) and Gaby Anderson (forward). Senior Hannah Fitzgerald and sophomores Hannah Deroy and Giana Leonardi will look to contribute at forward, while seniors Alexis Silva and Olivia Salinas will jump in at midfield. Seniors Leah Joyce and Avery Mourgenos will see increased time on defense.

Contenders

• Winnacunnet (16-2-1, lost to Exeter in final): The Warriors return a lot from last year’s runner-up, but they lost a handful of key players, including Abby Wilber, Maia Delano and Grace Vander Els. Seniors Jen Frost, Hayden Adams and Emerson Parish all return at forward while seniors Amelia McAfee and Annika Savage are joined by junior Lyla Pearlo as returning starters at midfield. Junior Dillan Sullivan is also back at midfield while juniors McKenzie Martinez and Lezi Whalen and sophomore Maddy Garrant will have a chance to contribute at forward. Juniors Regan Cink and Jordan Hurrell will look to lead the defense in front of sophomore goalie Amber Morgado. Fiona McAfee, McKinley Fowler, Reese Gandt and Brianna Brown will also look to contribute.
• Exeter (17-1-1, won championship): The Blue Hawks saw nine players graduate from a year ago, including Addison MacNeil, the two-time D1 Offensive Player of the Year, along with goalie Peyton King. Junior MarLie Macek will step into the starting role in the cage, while senior Garen Steiner and juniors Poppy Schaffer and Emma Mohns all return and will see time on defense and at midfield. Senior Izzy Steiner also returns at midfield along with junior Elsa Bishop. Juniors Alexa Zaimes and Olivia Levitsky and sophomore Dani Caron return at forward.
• Concord (12-6, lost to Windham in quarterfinals): The Crimson Tide return a strong core that should help them overcome losing nine seniors from a year ago. Junior Nadia Hanna and sophomore Amy Desrochers return at midfield, where they’ll be joined by senior Grace Smith. Juniors Ally McGonigle and Lilly Merrill return at forward, along with senior Alison Dupuis. Emma Pelletier and Lexi Magee will also have a chance to contribute.
• Bishop Guertin (11-6-1, lost to Exeter in quarterfinals): The Cardinals have a talented senior class returning, led by midfielder Taylor Guibord. Other returning starters include seniors Lauren Redfern (midfield), Jasmine Shattuck (defense) and Kamryn Schmitt (defense) and juniors Maddie Harrington (midfield) and Sophie Bilodeau (forward). Seniors Jessica Johnson, Hailey LeBlanc and Gianna Pezzetti and junior Jordan Gaebel bring varsity experience back at midfield, while senior Michaella Bowen and sophomore Addison Daddona return on defense. Senior Skylar Neftali returns at forward while Ayla Saeturn, Lola Dumont, Sophia Harrington and Gabriella Gillette will look to contribute.
• Pinkerton (7-10, lost to Bishop Guertin in prelims): The Astros have nine seniors returning this year, including captains Elise LeBlanc (goalie), Ava Bennett (midfield) and Gianna Rosa (defense). Joining LeBlanc and Rose are seniors Lark Johnson and Julia Murgo on defense while seniors Izzy Murphy, Natalie Paradzick and Abby Shawley and junior Caitlyn Lemay return at midfield. Senior Paige Murray and junior Jaelyn Crossman lead the forward group, along with juniors Hannah Lisauskas and Anna Perkins. Sophomore Jada Vasquez (forward) and freshman Meaghan Shea (midfield) will also have a chance to contribute.
• Bedford (13-4, lost to Dover in quarterfinals)

Playoff Potential

• Londonderry (7-11, lost to Keene in prelims): The Lancers have smaller numbers this season, but have a strong core returning to make up for it. Seniors Ashleigh Leone (midfield) and Taylor McKinnon (defense) return as starters, along with seniors Ava Griffin (forward) and Natalie Washington (midfield). Juniors Ava Naar (defense) and Keira Strike (forward) and sophomore Alison Chambers (midfield) also are returning starters. Juniors Maya Silvestro and Ava Windisch return up front while junior Sara Daniels and sophomore Lindsey McKinnon return at midfield. Sophomore Abbigail Cook steps in at goalie and Abigail Austen will see time on defense while Lily Lemay returns from an injury to bolster the defense and midfield. April Edmunds, Samantha Daniels and Kira Collins will also have a chance to contribute.
• Timberlane (6-10-1, lost to Concord in prelims): The Owls have eight starters returning, led by senior captains Alexa Salafia (forward), Brandi Garand (goalie), Brooke Morin (defense) and Charlotte Caldwell (defense). Seniors Kirsten Patti and Bella Hughes are also back at midfield while junior Keely Johnston and Taylor Alperin return at forward. Senior Jordyn Friel will see a bigger role on defense this year, as will senior Morgan McNeil at midfield. Sophomore Kasidee Castro will look to contribute at midfield and forward while freshman Aubrey Fitzgerald will see time at midfield.
• Keene (9-9-1, lost to Winnacunnet in quarterfinals): The Blackbirds took the Warriors down to the wire in last year’s playoffs, but they lost seven seniors, three of whom are playing at the next level. Keene returns its leading scorer from a year ago in senior midfielder Tessa Pearson while juniors Sophia Miller and Cece Walier return at forward. Senior goalie Trinity Williamson also returns along with junior Avery Allaire on defense. Sophomores Harper Zalaski, McKenna Nelson, Olive Thatcher and Emily Antosiewicz will have a chance to contribute.
• Manchester Central-West (6-10): Eight varsity players return from a year ago for Central-West, including senior goalie Chloe Gilroy. Also back are seniors Colleen and Grace Stankiewicz, Sophia Piccolo, Hattie Barber and Armani Holmes. Makayla Desilets, Madelyn Diers and Julia Bouthot also return while Nancy Apollo and Rosie Tague-Bleau will have a chance to contribute.

Dark Horse

• Salem (5-10-1): The Blue Devils return a dozen players with varsity experience, including seniors Jennifer Olson (forward), Emerson Poulin (defense), Fareedah Adigun (forward) and goalie Lyndsay Troisi. Juniors Gabriella Mosto and Emily Young return at midfield along with sophomores Abigail Beeley and Alexi Whipple. Junior Madeline Beeley and sophomores Caroline Case and Molly Mosto return on defense while sophomore Avery Aliberti returns at forward. Others looking to contribute on varsity are Piper Dexan, Kelsey McGibbon, Emma Michaud, Nichole Ringdahl, Olivia Schoenrock, Heather Lee O’Rourke and Samantha Romeo.

Rest of Field

• Nashua South (3-12-1): The Panthers return five starts from last season, including midfielders Nyah Musa (senior) and Maren Lowell (junior) while sophomores Meenu Dwaraka and Caroline Kelly also have varsity experience. Senior Erin Flaherty and junior Karina O’Donnell will look to lead the forwards and they’ll be joined by senior Roseanna Shiju and sophomore Keegan Dolan while junior Saige Devins could also contribute. Junior Emily Richard and sophomore Wylie Hart return to lead the defense in front of senior goalie Xiadani DelaLima. Senior Keira Walsh and junior Ava Dergarabedian also join the defense.
• Merrimack (1-15): The Tomahawks have five seniors – Avery Hui, Hannah Daddona, Maya Stubbs, Ella Fong and Emma Shorette – who will be looking to bounce back this season. Juniors Summer Dalbec-Joyal and Ava Martin return to the starting lineup while Morgan Bellemore also returns and Maeve LaRock (defense) and Brooklyn Hilyard (midfield) will contribute as well. Sophomores Jackie Hayes and Olivia Mitchell return and will be joined by Mia Flores. Freshman Cam Bellen will step in at goalie while Madi Weldon, Kelsey Ledoux and Kyleigh Perella will also see time on varsity.
• Manchester Memorial (2-14): The Crusaders will be led by senior Brooklynn Flinkfelt  on defense and juniors Grey McDonald and Maddie McCaffrey, who both return at midfield. Sophomore Rylee Donovan, junior Hannah Rodrigues and senior Vivian Sanni will all see increased roles on the varsity this season.
• Nashua North (0-16): The Titans return 13 varsity players from a year ago, including junior midfielder Molly Ducharme and senior goalie Abby O’Malley. Seniors Rachel Riddell (forward) and Sarah Weintraub (midfield) also return to the starting lineup for North while seniors Anabelle Watt and Katlin Frye are back. Other returners include senior Aari Roy, junior Julia Saucier and sophomores Alexa Farrell, Katelin Munroe, Savanna Basford, Leah Flannery and Zoha Noufal. Freshmen Jordi Lopez (forward), Maddie Dratch (midfield) and Sam Nardone (midfield) will also have a chance to contribute.

Postseason Predictions

• Playoff teams: Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Londonderry, Pinkerton, Salem, Timberlane, Windham, Winnacunnet.
• Final four: Dover, Pinkerton, Windham, Winnacunnet.
• Championship: Windham over Dover.
• Offensive POY: Audrey Carter, Dover.
• Defensive POY: Lyndsay Troisi, Salem.