With playoffs to begin, NHHSSports Field Hockey Coaches Poll gets another shakeup
The postseason is here for field hockey, and now that the regular season is done, the dust has settled on another shakeup in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll.
The postseason is here for field hockey, and now that the regular season is done, the dust has settled on another shakeup in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll.
Keene held on to the top spot for the fifth week in a row, as the Blackbirds were the only team in the top 10 to not change its spot from last week. They received all 12 first-place votes after finish the regular season unbeaten and will host a Division I quarterfinal game Saturday against either Timberlane or Bishop Guertin.
Dover and Exeter traded spots, with the Green Wave moving up to No. 2 and the Blue Hawks taking third. Dover will host a D1 quarterfinal on Saturday against either Concord or Windham while Exeter will face either Bedford or Londonderry, also in a D1 quarterfinal Saturday.
Pinkerton jumped three spots to No. 4 in this week’s poll and the Astros will host either Salem or Winnacunnet in the D1 quarterfinals on Saturday. Bedford dropped a spot to round out the top five; the Bulldogs will take on Londonderry in the D1 preliminary round on Wednesday.
Winnacunnet moved up two spots to No. 6, as the Warriors will host Salem in the D1 prelims on Wednesday. Hollis Brookline, which is the No. 1 seed in D2, climbed up to No. 7 this week; the Cavaliers will host a D2 quarterfinal on Friday against either Kingswood or Plymouth.
Oyster River also moved up two spots, jumping up after spending the last two weeks at 10th. The Bobcats will host a D2 quarterfinal on Friday, with either Pembroke or Hanover coming to town.
Concord and Bishop Guertin each dropped four spots to round out the poll at Nos. 9 and 10, respectively. The Crimson Tide will host a D1 prelim against Windham on Wednesday, while the Cardinals will do the same against Timberlane.
Here is this week’s NHHSSports Field Hockey Coaches Poll. These are the top 10 field hockey teams in the state, with record, first-place votes/points (T=tie), and last week’s ranking.
- Keene (15-0-1), 12/120, 1st
- Dover (13-2-1), 99, 3rd
- Exeter (13-3), 94, 2nd
- Pinkerton (12-3-1), 67, 7th
- Bedford (12-3-1), 61, 4th
- Winnacunnet (12-3-1), 46, 8th
- Hollis Brookline (15-1), 45, 9th
- Oyster River (15-1), 38, 10th
- Concord (12-4), 34, 5th
- Bishop Guertin (11-4-1), 50, 6th
Dropped out: None.
Others receiving votes: John Stark (13-3), 10; Bow (12-3-1), 4; Gilford (14-0), 4; Souhegan (11-5), 3; Salem (6-10), 2; Timberlane (6-10), 1.
The coaches poll is voted on by field hockey coaches from around the state and members of the media. There will be no poll next week and the final poll will be posted on Monday, Nov. 4.
