Last year the Bow High boys’ soccer team were as close to a title as they possibly could be, going 8-1-3 and advancing all the way to the Division II championship game, losing 1-0 in double overtime to Oyster River.
George Pinkham has been with the Falcons for 25 years – the entire history of the program – and his teams have been to four consecutive final fours, but he doesn’t expect that kind of success to come easily.
“We have a chance but there are about 10-12 other D-II teams that do also,” Pinkham said. “You have to bring your ‘A’ game every match. There are no walkovers … Any team can be a winner on any given day.”
Bow has the depth and experience to make it five-straight appearances in the semifinals or better. Thirteen of the 22 players are letter winners and more than a majority of the roster started at least one match last season.
All-State Second Team back Nate Dolder is one of several seniors on the Falcons’ roster, including Zachary Anderson (forward/midfield), Graham Jacques (back), Noah Leuchtenberger (midfield/back), Kyle Martin (goalkeeper), John Salerno (forward), Jurgen Stich (back) and Brayden Wesler (back).
Coach: Scott Dunlop (27th year)
2020: 6-3-1, lost in D-I preliminary round
Outlook: The Tide have “a young skillful team that is looking to develop their style of play early in the season,” according to coach Dunlop. “Our experience is in up the middle with (junior captain) Nicholas DiBuono organizing the defense, (senior captain) Alejo Caceres and (junior) Jacque Tunguru running the play in the midfield. We have two solid junior goalkeepers in Max Leahy and Nathaniel Wachter. Many newcomers are wanting to establish themselves. The young players are hungry to make their mark at the varsity level.”
Teams to beat: Hanover, Bedford, Manchester Central, Windham, Londonderry, Manchester Memorial
Coach: Christian Gompert (10th year)
2020: 6-4, lost in D-II preliminary round
Outlook: “We have a large number of returning players who are already showing great character and leadership,” coach Gompert said. “We also have a number of new players that will all compete for minutes. This is an exciting team because on any given day, any of these players can be pivotal for us. It will be exciting to be able to bring on waves of players to keep the energy high. Their chemistry is already fantastic. Everyone wants everyone else to succeed.”
Teams to beat: Lebanon, Oyster River, Bow
Coach: Gerry Allen (3rd year)
2020: 6-1-3, lost in D-II preliminary round
Outlook: “We are a young team this year with a lot of developing talent,” coach Allen said. “The team is very coachable and works hard. With continued training throughout the season it will be fun to watch the players grow, develop and improve their skills/talent. Our seniors provide great leadership for our young players.”
Some players to keep an eye on for the Generals are seniors Nathan Innerfield and Jackson Souther, and sophomores Anthony Bencosme and Ethan Sinclair in the midfield; junior backs Jason Crean and Kaiden Hunter, and sophomore Nathan Restuccia; and junior goalkeeper Miles Lanier.
Innerfield and Hunter are the only two who started last season, but the young Generals are “eager and look forward to the challenge this year competing in our well-stacked division.”
Teams to beat: Oyster River, Bow, Lebanon
Coach: Ken Fuller (7th year)
2020: 6-7-1, lost in D-II semifinals
Outlook: Junior midfielders Gavin Wheeler, Lucas Godoi, and Michael Mullen, sophomore midfielder Brady Turgen, senior defender Jackson Mercer and junior defender Andrew Baldwin provide a solid group of returning players for the Pride to work with, while the addition of senior goalkeeper Jack Wormald and defender Maverick Thivierge bolster the defense.
“We have a lot of great potential this year,” coach Fuller said. “If we play our game and continue to improve we could really make a good run. It’s going to be important that we focus on our playing style and come together as a team.”
Teams to beat: Lebanon, ConVal, Bow, Oyster River, Milford
Coach: Peter Bisson (15th year)
2020: 2-7, had to forfeit D-II preliminary game due to COVID-19
Outlook: Seniors Nolan Smagula, Colin Willis, Stephen St. Laurent and Nick Chabot, and juniors Jaxson Potter and Nolan Curran are returning to the starting 11 for the Spartans, with new sophomores Colby Pepka and Abdalla Faiad making appearances in the starting lineup.
“I think we have some great potential and have a chance to be pretty good,” coach Bisson said. “We are going to have to rely on some newcomers to play big roles. Our season will depend on players growing quickly and improving as we go.”
Teams to beat: Oyster River, Merrimack Valley, Lebanon
Coach: Mike Foley (22nd year)
2020: 5-5-1, lost in D-II quarterfinals
Outlook: “We are going to be young and a tested team by the end of the season,” coach Foley said. “We have to find our strengths quickly this season and health will determine a lot for us this year. We have some strong leadership and guys that want to compete everyday. We will need to rely on our limited experience to start the season and grow from there.”
Teams to beat: “Everyone. It’s going to be a balanced division this year,” according to Foley.
Coach: Jordan Misiri (1st year)
2020: 6-4, lost in D-III preliminary round
Outlook: When the preseason started on Aug. 16, the Giants didn’t have a coach, but Misiri stepped into the role and is impressed with what the team has shown.
“So far the team is looking very good, technically sound with great field awareness and speed upfront,” Misiri said.
Coach: Glenn Winters (5th year)
2020: 1-7, lost in D-III round one
Outlook: The Hillcats return their entire starting lineup from last year – junior forward Griffin Cassidy, sophomore forward Mason Ferwerda, senior midfielders Joel Gould and Evan Winters, senior midfield/back Riley Jones, junior midfield/back Brad O’Brien, sophmore midfielders Dylan Braun and Brady Curly, senior back Ayden Butler and sophomore back Logan Miller.
H-D is anchored by returning All-State First Team keeper Logan Clough, “for sure the best keeper we’ve had,” according to coach Winters.
“We have a solid team for this season,” Winters added. “We have more strengths than past years and a group of solid players so we should be pretty competitive. Our younger players have some talent and they’re looking good at this point.”
Teams to beat: “I’d put everyone on an even plane right now,” coach Winters said.
Coach: Scott Zipke (16th year)
2020: 7-6-1, lost in D-III semifinals
Outlook: “We have a bunch of seniors on our roster that are hungry to get back to a ‘normal’ D-III schedule,” said coach Zipke. “With a couple underclassmen playing in key positions, we will need people to take that next step and get it done if we want to be competitive in the biggest games.”
Seniors Aidan Burns, Peyton Marshall, Josh Duval, Bryce Charron, Garrett Fitzgerald, Ethan Molnar and Quinn Whitehead give the Hawks a battle-tested core of players, while senior Andrew Zankel and sophomore Gavin Nestler are new players filling in key areas.
Teams to beat: Gilford, Kearsarge, Campbell, Trinity
Coach: Matt Burch (6th year)
2020: 2-2, lost in D-III quarterfinals
Outlook: “This is the most well-rounded team that I have seen in my 12 years involved with the program,” coach Burch said. “I am looking forward to seeing a season of quality soccer that’s fast paced and exciting to watch.”
Coach: Thomas Osmer (2nd year)
2020: 3-8-1, lost in D-III preliminary round
Outlook: The Bears have an experience group of returners, including senior goalkeeper Jacob Holt, senior midfielders Lucas Robdau and Pat Goodwin, junior forward Ayden Cushing, junior defenders Carter Fredette and Noel Licata, sophomore defender Wade Fournier and sophomore midfielder Zach St. Onge.
Winnisquam hopes to use that experience to “improve the team and put years of bad results firmly behind us,” coach Osmer said, who is joined by assistant John Subukino this year. “The expectation is to play hard every minute of every game. If we do that, we can be proud of our effort. However, in order to get the results we want, we will need to do more, a lot more.”
Teams to beat: “I don’t expect anything to be easy for us,” Osmer said. “Every team we face is our equal or better, and everybody wants to win.”
Coach: Craig Anthony (5th year)
2020: 8-3, lost in D-IV quarterfinals
Outlook: The Kingsmen are looking to build off of last year’s playoff run with a solid group of returning players that includes Colby Carlise, Levi Campbell, Aiden Duffy, Nate Manha, Wilson Rose, Austin Spurr, Ethan Young, Gavin Ross and Shane Wang.
Coach: Charlie Chapple (1st year)
2020: 0-5, lost in D-IV round one
Outlook: The Tornadoes are a small roster of just 11 players, but “this team is enthusiastic,” according to coach Chapple. “Every day they work harder to be better soccer players and teammates.”
Senior defender Kolbe Bunker, senior midfielder Asher Graves, junior midfielders Marcus Marland and Alexis Mango, junior striker Nick Gammel, sophomore defender Savannah Lucero and junior goalie Pierre Guillot are Franklin’s returning players.
Junior midfielder Lily Johnson and a trio of freshmen – Cole Johnson (midfield), Matthew Nason (defense) and Jacinda Tyrell (defense) – are newcomers to the squad.
Teams to beat: Concord Christian, Pittsfield
Coach: Derek Hamilton (14th year)
2020: 5-6, lost in D-IV semifinals
Outlook: The Panthers return six starters from last year’s team, including All-State midfielder Parker Clark (junior) and senior goalkeeper Decota Maura-Giddis.
“We expect to have a strong defensive core in front of Maura-Giddis,” coach Hamilton said. “The development of the midfield and attack will be a focus of ours throughout the season.”
Senior backs David Cote, Joseph Cote and Dalton Swenson, and junior midfielder Abraham Marcotte are the other returning starters, while freshmen Caleb Cassin (back) and Brayden Pelletier (forward) will make an immediate impact.
Teams to beat: Sunapee, Epping, Concord Christian