Portsmouth field hockey looks to defend D2 title against several challengers

It’s a new season and a new outlook going in for the Portsmouth High School field hockey team.

A year ago, the Clippers were a team that was loaded with talent but hadn’t been able to capitalize on it. But it all came together in 2021, with Portsmouth winning the program’s first title since 1982.

Now the Clippers go into the year with the bull’s eye on their backs, with no shortage of teams looking to knock them off.

Souhegan, John Stark and Goffstown each have enough coming back to put them in position to challenge Portsmouth, while others like Oyster River, Bow, Lebanon, Hollis Brookline and Hanover could also play themselves into the mix.

The division now has 20 teams, with Laconia moving up from Division III, and looks to be deep from top to bottom. Here is a look at D2 field hockey for 2022.

Favorite

• Portsmouth (16-1, won D2 title): The Clippers lost just three players to graduation and they return two of the top players on either end of the field in senior Mia Edwards, the reigning D2 Defensive Player of the Year, and senior Charlotte Martson, who had 19 goals last season. Also back are senior forward Darla Mahoney and junior midfielder Sam Ruel. Joining Edwards on defense are seniors Samara Buck (goalie) and Tali Burke and juniors Maggie Conklin and Sydney Moreau.

Challengers

• Souhegan (13-2-1, lost in semifinals): The Sabers are annually one of the top teams in the division but are still looking for a way to the top. This year’s group of returning players could get Souhegan there. Leading the way are senior forwards Ella Barrett and McKenzie Berry, senior midfielders Annika Madeja and Chloe Luongo and senior goalie Annie Raduazzo. Also back on defense are senior Brielle Berube and junior Sophia Merenda and they’ll be joined by seniors Meri Beatty and Maggie Kunish, sophomore Isabelle Brandt and senior goalie Margo Hinspeter. Junior Ari Goulet returns at forward while sophomore Brooke Fallon will have a chance to step in on offense. Juniors Allison Jordan, Maddie Lim and Sami Facques are back at midfield and will be joined by junior Carolyn Davidson and sophomore Lily Goerlich.
• John Stark (11-3-1, lost in quarterfinals): Coming off the program’s best season, the Generals are returning a lot of talent up and down the field. Leading the defense will be seniors Reagan Fischer and Jackie O’Donnell, junior Olivia Worthen and sophomores Adie Bolduc and Emily Fredette. Senior goalie Helen Connor is back, as is junior goalie Edie Fischer, who missed last season with an injury. Senior Aubrey Fischer and junior Hailey Brisson are back at midfield while senior Courtney Cranshaw and sophomore Jillian Fredette return at forward. Freshman Lauryn Guevin, Addy Pelletier, Cailyn Worthen, Claudia Dustin, Kaitlin Dennis and Ava Friberg will also have a chance to contribute.
• Goffstown (12-7, lost in final): The Grizzlies have a few big holes to fill after losing eight seniors to graduation. While this year’s senior class is smaller, many of the younger returning players were on the field during Goffstown’s run to the title game. Defense looks to be the team’s strength, with juniors Sam Dery, Alexis Brown and Ava Jones all returning along with sophomore goalies Molly Braica and Maddie Brown. Seniors Kendall Dubois and Sophia Christinakis return at midfield and will be joined by junior Nora Erwin. Sophomore Avery Brisiel will look to lead the offense while sophomore Sophia Dery could play a key role for the Grizzlies.

Contenders

• Lebanon (12-3-2, lost in semifinals): The Raiders graduated seven starters from last year’s final four team and will have some young players trying to step up to fill the holes. Senior goalie Ashlee Blashock returns to lead the Lebanon defense while seniors Mikayla Thornton and Keira Houdegbe will see time at midfield and defense. Sophomore McKenzie Ray also returns at forward, while freshman Harper Rancourt, Savannah Therriault and Payson Fowler-Thorsen will see time for the Raiders.
• Oyster River (9-6, lost in prelims): The Bobcats took a hit from graduation, losing eight players, but they have a solid core returning. Leading the way will be senior captains Annika Baumgardt (forward), Jordyn March (forward) and Clio Grondahl (midfield). Also back is sophomore goalie Brooke Emond, and she’ll be joined on defense by sophomore Olivia Andersen. Sophomore Mia Weglarz joins the forward group while freshmen Maggie Aldous and Nora Rogers will see time on the varsity.
• Hollis Brookline (6-9, lost in quarterfinals): The Cavaliers have a new coach, as Greg Cochrane takes over, and a strong core of seniors returning. Seniors Hailey Arseneau and Meghan King are back on defense while senior Alyssa Hill returns at midfield. Seniors Bella Haytayan and Lindsey Dattis look to lead the offense whole sophomores Nyah Jernberg and Addison Marchant will also have a chance to contribute.
• Hanover (13-1-1, lost in quarterfinals): The Bears have a smaller varsity group than in years past, but return a strong core of players. That includes senior captains Janina Li (forward/midfield), Reilly Loughman (goalie) and Emily Perras (defense). Also back are seniors Grace Coughlin (defense), Caroline Healy (midfield) and Sadie Higgins (midfield/defense). Sophomores Maggie Higgins (forward) and Evan Bell (midfield/forward) return as well and Josie Laabs, a German exchange student, will give Hanover depth on offense.
• Kennett (10-5-1, lost in quarterfinals): The Eagles go into the year with a new head coach, Amanda Werner, and a lot of returning players. That list includes seniors Tessa Capozzoli (forward) and Remi Snowden (defense). Juniors Vivian Rober-Carpenter and Allie Hussy are also back at forward while junior Ava Gaudette joins junior goalie Madison Walcott on defense. Newcomers Raegan Armstrong and Emma Dziedzic will have a chance to help out on varsity.
• Derryfield (5-10, lost in prelims): The Cougars return all but three starters from last year’s team, including midfielders Kira Geddes (senior) and Kennedy Overhoff (junior). Freshman Ava Kosakowski should be able to contribute for the varsity as well.
• Kingswood (10-6, lost in quarterfinals)

Dark Horses

• Bow (6-9, lost in prelims): The Falcons have a talented core returning, led by seniors Alexandra Larrabee (midfield), Elena Roy (defense) and Trista Day (forward). Juniors Maia Kimball and Sabrina Bernard will play key roles at midfield and sophomore Sophia Coombs will be one to watch on offense. Kylie McKee and Josephine Johnson will also be looked to to contribute on varsity.
• Sanborn (4-10): The Indians have a group of eight seniors returning who will look to lead them this season. That includes forwards Olivia Dwyer, Shayla Gillis, Hannah Mullen and Katelyn Talarico. Sophia Borgest and Abbie Lucas return at midfield, along with junior Kate Boutin while Alexa Flanagan and Kate Lussier are back on defense. Juniors Alexandra Bezanson and Chloe Tersolo, sophomore Alyssa Radjavitch and freshman Phoebe Hood also join the forward group while freshman Jacqueline Lampron will see time at midfield. Freshman goalie Jade Dutton will join the defense along with junior Jolena Flanagan.
• Merrimack Valley (5-10, lost in prelims): The Pride have 10 returning varsity players, including seven starters from a year ago. That includes senior midfielders Abby Forbes and Alliya Eddy and senior forwards Amanda Parrotto and Kalee Keyser. Junior Grace Thompson is also back at forward, along with sophomore Alyssa Brodeur. Sophomore Kaiya Mercier returns at midfield, along with sophomore Caroline Wheeler. Senior Liberty Spaulding and junior Julianne Guertin return on defense while freshmen Julia Michael, Abbey Thompson and Lauren Bailey will play roles on the varsity.

Rest of the Field

• Plymouth (4-10): While the Bobcats have a large number of freshmen and sophomores in the program, they do return a number of juniors and seniors. Leading the way will be senior captains Ashley Bennett (forward), Chloe Bouchard (midfield) and Madison Hershey (defense). Also returning on offense are seniors Kaitlyn Ashe and Grace Clogston and juniors Brooke Auston, Anya Barach and Lily O’Brien. Bouchard will be joined at midfield by senior Margaret Boyd and juniors Hailey Guilbert and Elizabeth Means. Junior Lilah Rose and sophomore Alexis Lucas both return at goalie while senior Grace Bannon and junior Avery Noyes are also returning on defense.
• ConVal (3-11): The Cougars have nine seniors returning this year, including starters Laramie Wilson, Hayden Kaltsas, Eliza Harris and Makennah McPherson. ConVal will also look to underclassmen Ellie Rupp, Elsa Hubbard-Lemay, Abby Peters and Emily Vanderpool to contribute at the varsity level.
• Pelham (2-12): The Pythons welcome in a new coach, as Stefani Day takes over the program. Pelham has a strong trio of returners to build on, including senior Brooke Slaton (midfield/forward), junior Jess Bevens (midfield) and sophomore goalie Addie Breault.
• Milford (1-13): The Spartans have nine players returning to varsity, including six seniors. Senior goalie Heather Whittier leads a defense that also includes seniors Cameron Hopkins and Shelby Miles while senior Kassandra Sickler could see time at defense and midfield. Seniors Gabriella Forrence and Amaya Torres return at forward while juniors Mairead Kirby and Maura St. Onge will see time at forward and midfield. Sophomore Lauren Jasper also returns at midfield while freshmen Willa Audley (forward), Hanna Lowy (defense) and Violet Renda (defense) will also see time on varsity.
• Pembroke (1-13): The Spartans have a lot of players returning to try to improve on last year’s record. That list includes senior midfielders Natalie Longacre, Zoe Wall and Rachael Curtis and junior Meredith Kiander. Senior Leila Thomas-Guerzon returns at forward and will be joined by sophomore Camdyn Despres, who may also see time at midfield. Senior goalie Lillian Corbitt returns to lead the defense along with senior Kelsey Montambeault and juniors Treic Thomas-Guerzon and Brianna LePage. Freshman Ava Strazzeri should also see time on defense.
• Laconia (3-11 in D3)

Playoff Predictions

• Playoff teams: Bow, Derryfield, Goffstown, Hanover, Hollis Brookline, John Stark, Kennett, Kingswood, Lebanon, Merrimack Valley, Oyster River, Portsmouth, Sanborn, Souhegan.
• Final four: John Stark, Kennett, Portsmouth, Souhegan.
• Championship: Portsmouth over John Stark.