Division: II
Coach: George Pinkham (20th year)
Last year: 16-2, reached quarterfinals (in D-III)
Returning starters: Noah Bult, sr., GK; Chase Chamberlain, sr., D/MF; Jean-Paul Merchan, sr., MID/F; Chris Gallier, jr., MID; Ben Guertin, jr., MID/D; Max Elsasser, so., F
Top newcomers: Ryan Andrews, jr., F; Jake Andrews, jr., MID/D; Ethan Paige, jr., D; Joseph Rychwalski, so., GK; Graham Weisberg, fr., D
Outlook: A consistent championship threat in Division III, the Falcons face the challenge this season of moving up to D-II. They’re prepared for the task with six players back from a team that was one of D-III’s best last fall, but against a new field of opponents, Pinkham said the goal will be to try to compete throughout the year.
Division: II
Coach: Christian Gompert (5th year)
Last year: 10-6-1, reached first round
Returning starters: Ethan Barbeau, sr., D; Colin Cain, sr., D; Alex Gray, sr., MID; Corbin LeBlanc, sr., GK/F; Mike Mulligan, sr., MID/F; Noah Wojtkowski, sr., MID; Ben Heyliger, jr., D; Mitchell Wade, jr., MID
Top newcomers: Ben Watson, jr., MID; Tanner Bane, so., MID; Ben Healey, so., MID; Lucciano Minasalli, so., MID
Outlook: “Our five newcomers augment an already strong team from last year. Our been bench will allow us to play high tempo and pressure because there isn’t a noticeable drop-off in ability (off the bench),” said Coach Gompert, adding that, “once we get an understanding of our offensive and defensive systems and commit fully to each other, we should be formidable.”
Teams to beat: “With the new teams from D-III making (the D-II) table larger, it is difficult to tell at this point,” according to Gompert.
Division: II
Coach: Jeff Vogt (7th year)
Last year: 11-7, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Tim Currier, sr., D; Ryan Nelson, sr., F; Isaiah Lovering, sr., MID; Jake Reynolds, jr., MID; Jared Peterson, so., MID; Chase Patterson, jr., GK
Top newcomers: Patrick Kalob, jr., F; Kayden Easter, fr., D; Tyler Restuccia, jr., D; Adam Tower, sr., MID; Aiden Moser, so., D; Timothy McComish, jr., D; Jonathan Rizzitano, so., F
Outlook: After a breakthrough season that resulted in home-field advantage in the playoffs, the Generals are looking to take the next step and take their year into the later rounds of the Division II tournament. Nelson returns as a second-team All-State nod, and hell lead an experienced, poised group that Vogt said should be “an exciting team to watch.”
Teams to beat: Oyster River
Division: II
Coach: Ken Fuller (2nd year)
Last year: 4-12, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Chase Mercier, sr., D; Ben Davis, sr., D; James Shattuck, sr., F; Zac Laroche, jr., GK; Pedro Godio, so., F; Caleb Willet, sr., MID; Jared Sylvester, so., MID
Top newcomers: Ryan Heath, jr., D; Matt Therrin, jr., MID; Dillon Arrant, so., MID; Joe Derby, so., MID; Hunter Edwards, so., MID; Logan Cassin, fr., MID; Coby Mercier, fr., MID; Isaiah Shedd, jr., MID; John Barger, jr., D
Outlook: The Pride returns its entire back line and all of its forwards from last year and only have some slight changes to the midfield. The Pride allow has a deeper bench to work with this season and the depth plus the returning talent gives MV the pieces to improve on last year’s 4-12 mark. “The team this year has a lot of talent and if they can trhough tough games they will be very successful,” said Coach Fuller, adding that, “We are still a young team and learning things everyday.”
Teams to beat: Pembroke, Windham, Lebanon
Division: II
Coach: Peter Bisson (10th year)
Last year: 9-8-1, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Cole Sporcic, sr.; Glenn Dion, sr.; AJ Gagnon, sr.; Justin Smith, jr.; Damon Smith, jr.
Top newcomers: Tyler Smith, jr.; Matt Ferguson, jr.
Outlook: “I think we will be a good team. We have a of skill,” said Coach Bisson, adding that the Spartans are quicker than most teams, making up for what they lack in size.
Teams to beat: Lebanon, Windham, Oyster River
Division: III
Coach: Michael Foley (17th year)
Last year: 15-3, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Eli Allman, sr., MID; Cole Contigiani, sr., F; Corey Derosier, sr., MID; Tyler Fleming, sr., D; Ryan Gelinas, sr., F; Hunter Kenney, sr., D/F; Jonny Leclair, sr., GK; Nick Mackes, sr., MID; Chris Marden, sr., F; Doug Price, sr., MID; Max Schott, sr., MID; Logan Wilder, sr., F; River Mathieu, jr., D; Caleb Burke, so., D; Zach Ennis, so., MID; Nolan Gagnon, so., MID
Top newcomers: Colby Brown, jr., F; Griffen Embree, so., MID/F; Derek Stevens, so., D
Outlook: The Raiders return 16 players from last year’s team that had an impressive regular season, but suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in the quarterfinals to Campbell. Belmont’s senior-laden squad is hoping to make a deeper run in the playoffs this year. “(We have) high expectations for this group of players with so many returning veterans. Experience is going to be an advantage for us,” Coach Foley said.
Teams to beat: Gilford, Hopkinton, Campbell
Division: III
Coach: Kevin VanGorden (2nd year)
Last year: 0-16, did not make tournament
Returning Players: Paul Dunham, sr., MID; Jon Daniel, sr., D; Luis Hernandez, sr., D; Giovanni Lemon, sr., F; Bryan Sweet, sr., F; Chandler Barnes, jr., MID/F; David Girtman, jr., GK; Christian Shepard, jr., MID; James Steele-Grafeo, jr., D; Zach Dunham, so., MID; Piper Collum, so., D; Kyan Graves, so., D/GK; Garrett Pelletier, so., MID; Shawn Gerlarneau, so., MID; Jacob Weaver, so., F
Outlook: The Golden Tornadoes return 15 players from last year to a program that is still building and improving. “There are a lot of aspects to the game we are working to improve in every one of them,” Coach VanGorden said.
Teams to beat: “We see every team as a team to beat,” according to VanGorden.
Division: III
Coach: Joe Donnelly (2nd year)
Last year: 13-6-1, D-III runner-up
Top newcomers: “Everyone is important, we will need all players to make a difference this year,” Donnelly said.
Outlook: After losing 12 of 16 players from last year’s D-III runner-up squad, the Hillcats will look to a talented freshman class to keep them among the class’s top teams.
Teams to beat: Hopkinton, Gilford, Campbell
Division: III
Coach: Scott Zipke (11th year)
Last year: 16-3, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Jacob Rockwood, Tucker Windhurst, Dustin Rose, Max Rossignol, Joe Cullinan, Tim Meserve, Gerry Donahue
Top newcomers: Derek West, Paul Molnar
Outlook: The Hawks lost a First Team All-State defender and midfielder to graduation, but returns Rockwood, a First Team forward and Windhurst, an All-State defender. The Hawks face the challenge of finding players to fill the gaps in the lineup with players from the smallest school in D-III, but this is not a new challenge for Coach Zipke. “We have a strong group of sophomores that will swing between JV and varsity and have been competing strongly for playing time.” Other key returners are Donahue at striker and Meserve at goalkeeper. “Donahue is a big, strong, athletic player and is looking to flourish at striker after finishing the year well last season. Meserve is taking a leadership role this year. All in all, it looks like it will take a while to develop, but we hope to be in the mix by the end of the season,” Zipke said.
Teams to beat: Gilford, Campbell, Stevens, Belmont, Derryfield
Division: III
Coach: Matt Burch (1st year)
Last year: 13-5, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Gunnar Nurme, sr., MID; Elijah Westerberg, sr., MID/D; Michael Geary, jr., MID/D; Sam Lick, jr., MID/D; Bo Underhill, jr., D; Brad Underhill, jr., F
Top newcomers: Gabe Benedict, so., MID/F; Levi Wilson, jr., GK; Leyland Heckel, sr., F; Craig Berube, sr., D; Brendan MacDonald, sr., MID
Outlook: In his first year at the helm after six as an assistant, Burch takes over a team that has nine seniors returning from a trip to the quarterfinals. The team lost its All-State selections and honorable mentions, however, so the Cougars will need some new players and starters to step up to stay among the division’s top contenders.
Teams to beat: Lebanon, Souhegan, Oyster River, Bow, Pembroke
Division: III
Coach: Nick D’Agostino (3rd year)
Last year: 7-9-1, reached first round
Returning starters: Scott Hinds, D, sr.; Caiden Gamble, MID, jr.; Trenton Kennett, F, jr.; Trevor Gray, G, so.; Hunter Hinxman, MID, so.; Patrick Welch, D, so.
Outlook: Experience is in Winnisquam’s favor as the Bears bring back six starters, though Gray will take over in goal after playing midfield last year. A large influx of young players will help patch up the holes from graduation losses as Winnisquam seeks a return trip to the playoffs – and a few wins once there.
Teams to beat: Hopkinton, Derryfield, Belmont, Stevens, Gilford, Prospect Mtn.
Division: IV
Coach: Phil Tuttle (2nd year)
Last year: 10-7, reached first round
Returning starters: Rusty Risteen, so.; Dylan Daigneault, so.; Nolan Ritchie, so.; Jacob Taylor, so.
Top newcomers: Luke Ramsey, fr.; Nick Ritchie, fr.
Outlook: Despite losing a large senior class, the Kingsmen have enough coming back to think playoffs again. Risteen was the team’s lone All-State selection as a second-teamer, and a strong sophomore class ensures this team is built to continue challenging for the next few years. “(We) still have a solid core of our team coming back this year,” Tuttle said. “Our freshman class has plenty of promise. They fit into our team nicely. We’re looking forward to a great season.”
Teams to beat: Moultonborough, Epping
Division: IV
Coach: Derek Hamilton (9th year)
Last year: 9-8, reached first round
Returning starters: Gabe Anthony, sr., D; Eli Johnson, sr., MID; Noah MacGlashing, sr., D; Casey Clark, jr., F; Cameron Darrah, jr., F; Matt St. George, jr., MID; Gavin Knight, jr., GK; Colby Wolfe, so., MID
Top newcomers: Garrett Guerrero-Hadley, jr., MID; Dylan Bocash, so. D; Cody Hodgdon, fr., D; Tyler Prentice, fr., MID; Jesse MacGlashing, 8th grade, MID
Outlook: With 15 returning players the Panthers are experienced and relatively deep. Seniors Anthony, Johnson, and MacGlashing form a strong defensive unit in front of junior goalkeeper Knight (1.52 goals against average as a sophomore). Juniors Clark and Darrah (14 goals in his sophomore year) lead the attack. “We are focused on solidifying our defense and midfield play in the early going, with the aim of forming a balanced and creative attack as the season progresses,” Coach Hamilton said.
Teams to beat: Moultonborough, Epping, Newmarket, Littleton