The following is a team-by-team outlook of the area’s high school boys’ soccer teams in Division II and Division III. A preview for D-II and D-III girls’ soccer will be published Wednesday, while Division I and Division IV soccer previews are coming next week.
Division: II
Coach: George Pinkham (23rd year)
Last year: 11-6-2, reached semifinals
Returning players: Ethan Berrigan, sr., F; Aaron Burkett, sr., D; Brian Carter, sr., D; Spencer Cheney, sr., M; Jonathan Cook, sr., F; Matt Ferland, sr., M; Johann Fuchs, sr., M; Connor Griffin, sr., GK; Parker Van Ham, sr., M; Graham Weisberg, sr., D; Dustin Wells, sr., D; Lucas Berube, jr., M; Ryan Leonard, jr., F; Daniel Leuchtenberger, jr., M; Matt Selleck, jr., M; Connor Wachsmuth, jr., D
Outlook: The Falcons have 16 letter-winners on the roster and nine talented newcomers giving Bow plenty of options.
“I want to believe that we are the deepest that we have been in several years,” Pinkham said. “It’s D-II, 13 of our games last year were decided by one goal. All of the Concord area teams in D-II have a chance to make it to the semifinals. You better come every game ready to play. If not, you will be going home with a frown rather than a smile.”
Teams to beat: “ConVal won it last year and return about everyone. They are the clear cut favorite,” Pinkham said. “I do feel, though, that there are at least eight teams that could upset them. There is that much parity in D-II.”
Division: II
Coach: Christian Gompert (8th year)
Last year: 14-4-1, D-II runner-up
Returning starters: Patrick Bacon, jr., M; Hogan Cain, jr., GK; Riley Colby, sr., D; Cayden Donaghue, sr., M; Raymond Lapiejko, sr., D; Jarred Pelletier, sr., M; Jacob Radwan, sr., M
Top newcomers: “All our players will play an important role this season,” Gompert said.
Outlook: The Bears graduated nine seniors from last year’s team that fell just short to ConVal in the D-II championship, 3-2, so the ability of the Coe-Brown’s JV and bench players to step up and fill in the gaps will be crucial to this year’s success.
“It will be important to see how our new players adapt to the speed and physicality of varsity soccer,” Gompert said. “If they do, we will have a deep bench that will make our squad very adaptable. What has been really positive so far is how quickly the guys are coming together. They are focused, motivated and have a great mindset right now.”
Teams to beat: Pembroke, ConVal, Bow
Division: II
Coach: Gerry Allen (1st year)
Last year: 12-5-1, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Riley Brookis, F; Will Connor, M; Kayden Easter, D; Ian Combs, D; Lucas Marquardt, F; Nathan Innerfield, M; Emmet Rinehimer, F; Josh Reynolds, M
Top newcomers: Orry Murdough, jr., D; Daniel Hilyard, jr., G; CJ Brennan, jr., M
Outlook: John Stark is looking to be a top contender in Division II with a solid defense, strong group of midfielders along with dynamic forwards.
Teams to beat: ConVal
Division: II
Coach: Matt Burch (4th year)
Last year: 6-11, reached first round
Returning starters: Toby MacLeod, so., M/F; Patrick Geary, sr., M; Nate St. Pierre, sr., M; Seth Rutledge-Davis, sr., GK; Parker Root, so., M/F
Top newcomers: Sam Boulton, so., D; Matt Carr, so., M; James Greason, jr., D; Sean Tobin, sr., D/M
Outlook: The Cougars expect to have well-organized defense and to use their quickness to their advantage, but will need to work hard on the offensive side of the pitch in order to improve on last year’s first-round tournament exit.
“We have a great group of players this year that are committed, will work hard and will play quality soccer,” Burch said. “One of our goals this season is to find consistency in goal production and to bring that high work rate to each and every training session and game.”
Teams to beat: Oyster River, ConVal, Lebanon, Merrimack Valley, Coe-Brown
Division: II
Coach: Ken Fuller (5th year)
Last year: 10-7, reached first round
Returning starters: Coby Mercier, sr., F; Logan Cassin, sr., F; Dylan Campbell, sr., D; Griffin Wheeler, jr., M; Jesse Hirwa, sr., D; Mason Boudreau, jr., GK
Top newcomers: Jack Davis, Gavin Wheeler, Chase Schnipke, Bryant Heath
Outlook: The Pride has varsity-tested players all over the field, from Cassin and Mercier up top to Boudreau in the back.
“I think that this team brings a lot of experienced players that continue to work hard on a daily basis,” Fuller said. “The strikers will be hard to defend on a consistent basis and the defense is an experienced group that works well together. As the midfielders become more comfortable with each other, they will make things difficult for teams. I am glad to have Mason back as a starting goalie and I look forward to him leading things in the back.”
Teams to beat: ConVal, Oyster River, Hollis Brookline, Bow, Lebanon, Pembroke
Division: II
Coach: Peter Bisson (13th year)
Last year: 13-4-1, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Tyler Serafin, sr., D; Tim Griggs, sr., D; Ryan Tripp, sr., M
Outlook: The Spartans lost most of their starters from last year’s final four team, but don’t be surprised to see Pembroke make another deep tournament run.
“We are a young team with a lot of new pieces,” coach Bisson said. “It will be exciting to see us come together and hopefully get right back to where we were last year. The team is very hard working and smart, so I am excited to work with them.”
Teams to beat: ConVal, Bow, Merrimack Valley
BELMONT
Division: III
Coach: Mike Foley (20th year)
Last year: 16-1-2, reached semifinals
Returning players: Lars Major, sr., D/M; Lucas Mathieu, sr., M/F; Devin Bricknell, sr., D/M; Dylan Greer, sr., D; Ron Pesa, sr., M; David Pesa, sr., D/M; Joey Spinale, sr., D; Brice Pethic, sr., M/F; Tommy Galambos, sr., M/F; Nate Sottak, jr., M/F
Top newcomers: Kyle Whitcomb, jr., M/F; Brice Hall, jr., M; Mitchell Berry, so., M/F; Liam Waldron, fr., M/F, William Riley, fr., M/F
Outlook: The Raiders graduated 13 players from last year’s team that lost to Campbell in the semifinals on penalty kicks. Replacing that team chemistry will be the key to replicating that success.
“This group is hungry and wants to continue where we left off from a year ago,” Foley said. “We have strong leadership in Major, Matheiu, and Sottak. We will need to get the rest of the team up to speed and try to make our mark this season.”
Teams to beat: Campbell, Hopkinton, Gilford, Laconia, Prospect Mountain
Division: III
Coach: Mike Ling (4th year)
Last year: 7-8-1, reached first round
Returning starters: Paul Cunningham, Conor Raposo, Nick Laam, Evan Haas, Jon Scrivens
Top newcomers: Nate Steigmeyer, Nick Steigmeyer, Liam Masner, Chris Grimbilas, Miles Lavoir, Sam Verdi, Sal Aubin
Outlook: It should be an interesting year for the Giants, who will graduate a lot of seniors but don’t have any juniors playing. The sophomores and freshmen are encouraging and should have a bright future.
Division: III
Coach: Scott Zipke (14th year)
Last year: 10-5-4, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Mike Baer, sr., D; Steven Newton-Delgado, jr., D; Benny Madden, sr., M; Shea Dickson, jr., M; Derek West, sr., M; Andrew Beckwith, jr., M
Top newcomers: Aiden Burns, so., GK; Hunter Boissy, so., D
Outlook: The Hawks will see many changes to this season’s lineup and the process of putting all the pieces together could take “an extended period of time,” according to Zipke.
“With five upperclassmen players returning to the sport after not playing last year, we seem to have a number of options at each spot,” Zipke said. “Our new goalkeeper, sophomore Aiden Burns, has looked solid early on and should bring a lot of athleticism to complement an overhauled defensive back line.”
Teams to beat: Gilford, Campbell
Division: IV
Coach: Kevin VanGorden (5th year)
Last year: 7-10, reached first round
Returning starters: Chandler Glover, sr., M; Drew Croteau, jr., G; Danny Watts, jr., F; Aidan Collum, jr., D; Jadyn Lutz, jr., F
Outlook: Franklin has a small, young team this year but hopes to use to the momentum from last season to raise the level of play. It won’t be an easy season, but the Golden Tornadoes expect to gain experience from the challenge.
Teams to beat: Portsmouth Christian, Concord Christian