Top teams chasing John Stark in D2 field hockey

Some history was made in Division II field hockey, when the John Stark Regional High School team won the first championship in program history.

By doing so, the Generals became just the fourth program in the last decade to win its first division title. Bishop Brady did the same in 2019 before winning again the next year, but before that, you have to go back to 2013, when Windham (D2) and Exeter (D1) each captured their first titles.

John Stark also has a shot at doing something that hasn’t been done in D2 since 2017 – win back-to-back titles. Windham was the last team to do that, and then moved up to D1 the following season, and since then, six different teams have finished at the top of the division.

With a lot of starters returning, and a lot of depth, the Generals go into the 2023 season as the favorite. Who is next in line may be anyone of a handful of teams: Kennett, Souhegan, Portsmouth, Goffstown, Derryfield, Oyster River and Hollis Brookline should all compete for the top spots in the division.

There are four new head coaches in the division, with Sarah Vaughn (Bow), Kathleen Bulk (Derryfield), Mallory MacKenzie (Hanover) and Samantha Romano (Sanborn).

Favorite

• John Stark (16-0-1, won championship): The Generals return seven starters from last year’s title winner, including three on defense, with juniors Adie Bolduc and Emily Fredette returning in front of senior goalie Edie Fischer. Senior Hailey Brisson and sophomore Lauryn Guevin return at midfield and they’ll be joined by senior Olivia Worthen and sophomore Claudia Dustin. Junior Jillian Fredette and sophomore Caylin Worthern return at forward, along with sophomore Ava Friberg. Sophomores Kaitlin Dennis and Ryann Telgen return on defense and sophomore goalie Addy Pelletier also returns. Paityn Niquette and Addie Decew will also be in the mix.

Contenders

• Souhegan (15-1-1, lost to John Stark in final): The Sabers graduated 10 players from last year’s runner-up but have plenty of players returning with experience. Senior captains Carolyn Davidson and Maddie Lim are back at midfield along with seniors Samantha Facques and Sophia Merenda and junior Lily Goerlich. They’ll be joined by juniors Bela Goulet, Cahlin Kilbane and Emily Facey and freshmen Eme Godin and Ella Russell. Senior Ari Goulet and junior Brooke Fallon are back at forward while juniors Caitlin Ridings and Hanalie Dykstra and freshman Ori Dart will also see time there. Junior Isabelle Brandt returns on defense, where she’ll be joined by senior Kyleigh Bonenfant, junior Elysse Bell, sophomores Vye Hodgdon-Rogers and Carly Hodgdon-Rogers and freshman Avery Wyborney. Sophomore Amelia Warecki takes over in goal.
• Kennett (11-4-1, lost to Hollis Brookline in quarterfinals): The Eagles have seven returning starters and all but one are seniors. Allie Hussey and Eliana Newton return at midfield while Sophia Hanson and Georgia Coleman are back at forward. Goalie Madison Walcott also returns along with Nora Goodman and Ava Gaudette (junior) on defense. Sophomores Raegan Armstrong (midfield) and Emma Dziedzic (forward) also return for Kennett and freshmen Izzy Fitzsimmons and Emma Gaudette will see time at midfield and forward with the varsity.
• Portsmouth (13-4, lost to Souhegan in the semifinals): The Clippers also lost 10 seniors to graduation, including three who will be playing Division I athletics in college. The strength for Portsmouth early on might be the defense, ass seniors Sydney Moreau, Sam Rule and Grace Lucy and junior Emily Frank return. They’ll be joined by freshman Irie Weinstein and sophomore goalie Reese McCauley. Seniors Audrey Walsh and Maggie Conklin return at midfield while juniors Sophie Berling and Clara Daw are back at forward. Freshman Shiloh Weinstein will also see time at forward.
• Derryfield (10-6, lost to Portsmouth in quarterfinals): The Cougars lost a lot of their offense from a year ago, including Kira Geddes, but return a solid core. Leading the way at midfield are senior Kennedy Overhoff and junior Chloe Bremberg, and they’ll be joined by junior Sarah Stonaker and sophomore Tyl-Elle Fulton. Junior goalie Jess Avalon returns along with seniors Courtney Wold and Kenzie Miller and sophomore Ava Kosakowski on defense. Senior Charlotte Smith and sophomore Shantya Singh return at forward while newcomers Sarina Punjabi and Racquel Markusic will have a chance to contribute.
• Goffstown (6-8-1, lost to Derryfield in prelims): The Grizzlies lost just three seniors from last year’s team and return seven from the starting lineup. That includes seniors Ava Jones (forward), Sam Dery (midfield), Lex Brown (midfield) and Nora Erwin (forward). Other returning starters are juniors Avery Brisiel (midfield), Rory Daniels (defense) and Molly Braica (goalie). Seniors Hannah Minnich, Kendall McCabbe and Hailey Hansen are also back at forward, while senior Hilde Hieronymus and juniors Sophia Dery and Amelia Cole return at midfield. Juniors Laura Cuddy and Maddie Brown (goalie) also return on defense while Ava Crossman, Emma Eastman and Hadley Nats will see time on varsity.
• Hollis Brookline (12-4-1, lost to John Stark in the semifinals): The Cavaliers graduated 10 players after the program’s best season since 1990. HB’s strength is on defense, where seniors Meghan Park and Ella Marcum return, along with goalie Rae Kline. Juniors Sabrina Hill and Nyah Jernberg are back at forward and will be joined by senior Katrina Lee. Junior Addison Marchant and sophomore Ashley Disco will see time at midfield.
• Oyster River (7-7-1, lost to Merrimack Valley in prelims): The Bobcats return all but three players from a season ago. Junior Olivia Andersen joins sophomore Sadi McLeod and junior Rose Goldsmith at midfield while sophomores Eliza Farwell and Maggie Aldous return at forward. Grey Bowden will step in to help out defensively.

Dark Horse

• Merrimack Valley (10-6, lost to Souhegan in the quarterfinals): The Pride have a dozen returning varsity players this year, including seven starters. Seniors Kayla Cole, Julianne Guertin and Grace Thompson and junior Alyssa Brodeur return at forward while junior Kaiya Mercier and sophomores Lauren Bailey and Julia Michael are back at midfield. Sophomore goalie Taylor Gionet is also back to lead a defense that includes seniors Kiarra Blankenship and Sara Doody, junior Caroline Wheeler and sophomore Abbey Thompson.

Playoff Potential

• Bow (5-8, lost to Kennett in prelims): The Falcons have just two seniors, Maia Kimball and Sabrina Bernard, who both return to lead the midfield. They’ll be joined by junior Kylie McKee while juniors Sophie Coombs and Ella Gray and sophomore Josie Johnson are back at forward. Juniors Caly Poitras and Ashe McKeen return on defense, along with junior goalie Kayla Croscut. Freshmen Shire Kelley, Kaylee Jacques, Madelyn Hebery and Aubrey Merril (goalie) will also contribute for the varsity.
• Lebanon (7-7-1, lost to Hanover in prelims): The Raiders lost eight players to graduation from last year and will look to five returning starters to help them get back to the playoffs. Senior Sophia Salo and junior Mackenzie Ray return to their starting roles at forward and will be joined by juniors Hannah Barton and Norah Burns and freshman Summer Crowell. Senior Lindsey Stark and sophomore Harper Rancourt are back at midfield along with junior American Carmona and sophomores Savannah Therriault and Gabby Mayhew. Junior Abigail Gallagher leads the defense and will be joined by goalies Meghanne Cheevers (junior) and MJ Cass (freshman).
• Pembroke (6-8-1, lost to Hollis Brookline in prelims): The Spartans are coming off their first playoff appearance in quite some time, and despite losing a lot to graduation, have a good core returning. Seniors Treic Thomas-Guerzon and Bria LePage and sophomores Ava Strazzeri and Carlee LePage return to lead the defense along with junior goalie Annika Jawidzik. Senior midfielder Meredith Kiander and junior forward Leah Dugas also return while Anne Phillips, Ashlyn Barker and Phoebe Morris will see time on varsity.
• Pelham (3-10-1): The Pythons return nine starters from a year ago, including senior midfielder Jessica Bevens and senior forwards Molly Coakley, Lauren Lacoss and Lydia Ouellette. Junior goalie Addie Breault and junior Sarah Bellahrossi return to lead the defense, while Emily Vincent, Kylie Almeida and Jordan Robito also return. They’re joined by returning varsity players Irelynn Curran, Morghan Swiniarski, Allison Bodenrader, Alexis Breault and Sarah Coppinger. Sophomores Cassidy Harrington and Makenzie Comtois will have a chance to contribute.
• Milford (1-10-3): The Spartans enter the year with plenty of leadership, as seven seniors are on the roster. That includes forwards Mairead Kirby and Maura St. Onge and Addyson Pare, who will see time at forward and midfield. They’ll also be joined by sophomore Willa Audley at forward. Junior Lauren Jasper returns at midfield while juniors Katherine Seale and Chloe Marchand (goalie) will lead the defense. Sophomore goalie Violet Renda will also see time on varsity while freshmen Paige Bernier (midfield), Bailey Wells (forward) and Arianna Wales (defense/goalie) could contribute.
• Plymouth (2-12): The Bobcats have a roster loaded with seniors this year, with eight, including captains Brooke Austin (forward), Anya Barach (forward) and Hailey Guilbert (midfield). Seniors Lily O’Brien and Eren Yee are also back at forward and Elizabeth Means is back at midfield. Seniors Avery Noyes and goalie Olive Rose return to lead the defense and will be joined by juniors Carys Mitchell and Abigain Avery. Juniors Morgan Gilpatric, Margaret Roper and Mackenzie Welch and sophomore Amelia Avery will also see time at forward. Juniors Aubrey Brunt and Paige VanSickle and sophomore Lucia Sakin and Amanda Ahearn will help out at midfield. Junior Alexis Lucas could also se time in goal for Plymouth.
• Hanover (9-6-1, lost to John Stark in quarterfinals)

Rest of Field

• Kingswood (4-9-1)
• Sanborn (3-8-3, lost to Portsmouth in prelims)
• ConVal (1-13)
• Laconia (3-11)

Postseason Predictions

• Playoff teams: Bow, Derryfield, Goffstown, Hollis Brookline, Hanover, John Stark, Kennett, Lebanon, Merrimack Valley, Oyster River, Pelham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Souhegan.
• Final four: Goffstown, Kennett, John Stark, Souhegan.
• Championship: John Stark over Kennett.
• Offensive POY: Maia Kimball, Bow.
• Defensive POY: Adie Bolduc, John Stark.