Race for D2 girls lacrosse title looks wide open at start of season

There wasn’t much that was going to stop the Winnacunnet High School girls lacrosse team last season.

The Warriors have been dominant in Division II the last two seasons, going unbeaten against division opponents during the regular season, but after finishing as the runner-up in 2024, they had their sights set on taking the title last year.

This year, while Winnacunnet will be one of the top teams in division, there are plenty of challengers to keeping the Warriors from making it back-to-back titles. Merrimack and Hanover return solid rosters from teams that made the final four, while Timberlane, Goffstown, Oyster River-Newmarket and Hollis Brookline should all be in the mix.

Challengers

Winnacunnet (18-1 in 2025, won title): After years of coming close, the Warriors finally broke through last year to win their first title since 2006. Winnacunnet graduated seven seniors and return six starters from 2025.

Senior Elle Emery and junior McKinley Fowler are both back to start on attack while sophomore Ari Rizzo and senior Addy McErlain will koin them. Senior Reese Gandt and Annika Jacques, a junior, will return at midfield along with sophomore Emily Arlington. Freshman Hannah Curtain will also be looked to to contribute.

The defense will be led by seniors Taylor Burness and Izzy Needham while sophomores Olive Needham and Benten Lyford (goalie) are also back.

Merrimack (14-2, lost in semifinal): The Tomahawks lost just six seniors from a team that was a game short of the program’s first final appearance since 2012. Merrimack will look to go on another run behind a mix of seniors and sophomores who return from last season.

Leading the way are seniors Jackie Hayes and Liv Mitchell at midfield, along with sophomore Riley Taylor. Sophomore Lyla Carls returns on attack, where she’ll be joined by senior Lily Palmer and sophomores Ava Woods and Syd Capen. Sophomore Emily Duque and freshman Liv Dine will also be in the mix at attack.

Seniors Kyleigh Perella and Natalie Williams return on defense along with sophomore goalie Sophia Richard. Junior Avery Gauthier is also back on defense while junior Maddy Hardy and freshman Vivienne Torres will have a chance to contribute.

Hanover (11-7, lost in semifinal): The Bears graduated just four seniors from last year’s final four team, and this year, they have none on the roster.

But despite that youth, there is a lot of experience, with eight starters returning, including juniors Cassidy Loughman, Maeve Bradley and Sage Fargher at midfield. They’ll be joined by a group of freshmen that includes Clare Higgins, Campbell McCorkle, Sally Gaughan and Lexi Fox.

Juniors Joia Collins, Casey Wilkinson and Iris Chesnut return to starting roles on attack, while junior Sophie Hopkins is also back.

The defense will be led by junior Lily Tine and sophomore Pauline Rudd with junior Isa Hartridge-Beam and sophomore Maya Antonelli also back. Freshman Rainy Fisher will step in at goalie while freshman Beya Kelley will also see time on defense.

Contenders

Timberlane (10-7, lost in quarterfinal): The Owls lost some key players among the eight seniors who graduated, but there are enough retuners to make the transition a smooth one for Timberlane.

The Owls have a solid group returning on attack, led by junior Aubrey Fitzgerald and senior Ava Paul, while senior Grace Gerhard and junior Aria Lobao are also back. Senior Lila Fitzgerald returns from injury to join the attack and sophomore Hannah Ahern will also be in the mix.

Senior MiaRose Morrier and junior Julia Johnson return at midfield while junior Rylee Donahue is also back at midfield after missing last year with an injury.

The defense will be led by junior goalie Kayla Apitz while senior Brooke Stasio and junior Mackenzie Laschi will be joined by sophomore Kayla Geary. Juniors Alexa Ring, Anita Scibelli and Kasey Fitzgerald and sophomores Mackenzie Norcott and Elle Sarcione will see time on defense and at midfield.

Goffstown (6-11): The Grizzlies look to bounce back after missing the postseason last year, and they have a the returning core to do it.

Leading the way will be senior midfielders Mia Brissette and Gabby Milas, along with senior Paige Winters at attack and senior Emma Bird on defense. Joining Bird will be juniors Mackenna Fischer, Thea Soucy and Jenna Shannon.

Juniors Sydney Lavoie and Ella Colletti are also returning at midfield while junior Trinity Lunn returns at attack. Juniors Lili Connor, Stella Enman and Lily LeClerc will also see time on attack.

Oyster River-Newmarket (9-7, lost in quarterfinal): The Bobcats lost seven seniors to graduation but have a good mix of experience and youth returing to be in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Leading the way for Oyster River-Newmarket are a pair of seniors, with Grace Royal heading up the midfield and Eliza Farwell at goalie. Junior Caroline DeSantis is also back on defense while freshman Iris Skoglung will see time there as well.

Sophomores Gwen Dulac and Ashlyn Szelog are also returning at midfield while freshman Lucy Birkel will be looked to to contribute at attack.

Hollis Brookline (9-9, lost in quarterfinal): The Cavaliers graduated nine seniors and have low numbers, as Eric Broadhurst takes over as head coach, the program’s third in three years.

Still, there is a talented core returning, led by senior midfielder Elise Broadhurst and seniors Olivia Laub and Hayden McElveen, who will be starting on defense. Junior goalie Lillian Hamilton will step into the starting role as well.

Sophomore Lulu Dunsmoor will look to lead the attack while freshmen Cecilia Dufoe, Jayne Kump and sisters Anna and Lexi Kinney will have a chance to contribute.

Others who will be in the mix include seniors Arwen Feng, Brooke Laberis and Sash Waltrous; junior Lila Medling; sophomores Scarlett Villegas-Garcia and Charlotte Waltrous and freshman Kay Hamilton.

Kingswood (6-10, lost in quarterfinal)

Kennett (6-9, lost in prelim)

Rest of Field

Merrimack Valley (12-5, lost in final): The Pride made history in 2025, reaching the championship time for the first time as a program, but they graduated seven seniors from a roster of just 14.

Merrimack Valley has a talented senior class returning, but depth could be an issue early on, as a strong freshmen class gets aclimated, and new head coach Heather Frink steps in for the Pride.

The defense will be led by senior Izzy Tucker and sophomore Kalli Snow, while sisters Ella and Quinn Frink will pace the midfield. Junior Lilly Jones returns to lead the offense along with seniors Abbey Thompson and Lauren Bailey.

Alvirne (1-14): The Broncos have a solid group of returning players to go with 13 freshmen as new head coach Molly Norton takes over the program.

Senior midfielders Cadence Bice and Olivia Baptista will serve as captains for Alvirne while seniors Alanna Tardiff and Arianna Millen also return and will see time at midfield and attack. Sophomore Exadria Gannon also returns at attack while freshmen Charlianna Downey, Piper Stedman and Brooke Carter will have a chance to contribute at midfield.

Sophomore Fiona Duggan is back at goalie and she’ll be joined on defense by returners Kolbie Gosselin (sophomore) and Mackenzie Alger (senior).

Keene-Monadnock (4-9)

Spaulding (1-15)

Manchester Memorial (1-15)

Postseason Predictions

• Teams (nine): Goffstown, Hanover, Hollis Brookline, Kennett, Kingswood, Merrimack, Oyster River-Newmarket, Timberlane, Winnacunnet.
• Final four: Hanover, Timberlane, Merrimack, Winnacunnet.
• Championship: Merrimack over Hanover.