Hopkinton was unbeatable last season. The Hawks earned 15 wins and one draw in the regular season to get the first seed and steamroll through the competition to win the Division III championship.
This season, the goal is to win it all again. The title of undefeated champions can weigh heavily on the minds of the winners and opponents alike, with little room for error to achieve that goal.
Head coach Scott Zipke has a large task ahead of him. The team graduated two first-team all-state defenders, Noah Aframe and Nate Windhurst, and two of its outside midfielders. Finding ways to fill those gaps will be crucial for continued success.
But that’s the job every coach is tasked with every season.
“I think these guys understand that we’re going to face the best of every team. So I think they get it. I think they get it, I think they understand it’s going to be a very difficult season,” he said.
Fortunately for the Hawks, the team is retaining multiple starters.
Player of the Year, senior Fin Murphy, will return to the midfield, coming off a season where he scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists. He accounted for 45% of the team’s goals, which does not account for the scoring chances he created and key passes that led to goals.
Murphy will be joined by returning second-team all-state seniors Kristof Cauley and Nolan Linstad, who finished second and third in points behind Murphy last season.
The high-powered offense should continue rolling into this year, but figuring out the team’s defensive composition might take time as the team finds a new shape.
“It’s just that having that mentality that we play good soccer and we’ll, we’ll have good build up, and we’ll create dangerous chances all the ways we know how,” Zipke said.
In goal, the team will see senior Hunter Eckner-Taylor return after suffering a season-ending injury last year.
Defensively, even though the team lost some top players, it’s by no means depleted. Seniors Reed DeWitt and Shane Smith will slot in alongside some younger defenders to fill out the squad.
The seniors have taken the program from the middle of the pack to the top of the division. In 2022, the team scraped into the playoffs, and now, defending a title, the team knows the ups and downs of high school soccer.
The tournament pedigree will go a long way, but perhaps not as much as the composed leadership of its seniors in the face of adversity.
Concord
Division: I
Coach: Scott Dunlop (31st year)
Last year: 2-13-1
Returning starters: Dean Ayotte, sr., F; Dedieu Lukuse, so., M; Sumaili Ramadhani, so., D; Noah Wyatt, sr.
Top newcomers: Kevin Mbonimpa, fr., D; Asher Hertier, fr., F; Paul Byage, so., M/F; Ami Gadi, so. M/F; Mehran Asif, so., D
Outlook: “To improve and progress each day and game to return to the Division 1 tournament. Young team that is hungry to make a statement.”
Teams to beat: Exeter, Bedford, Hanover, Londonderry.
Bow
Division: II
Coach: Josh Smith (third year)
Last year: 8-7-3, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Ben Reardon, so., G; Ryan Dolder, sr., D; Clayton Nadzan, jr., D; Rowan Schlosser, jr., M; Carter Hall, jr., M; Milo Cocola, jr., F; Ciarán Duffy, sr., M.
Top newcomers: Eli Ordway, so., M; Caden Bechtold, so., M; Isaac Roz, so., F; Ethan Hall, fr., D; Matei Botha, sr., F.
Outlook: “With a solid mix of returning players and quality newcomers, we are looking forward to building a team that plays good soccer and build on our quarterfinal appearance last season.”
Teams to beat: Oyster River, Lebanon, Hollis-Brookline, Merrimack Valley.
Coe-Brown
Division: II
Coach: Christian Gompert (14th year)
Last year: 9-7-2, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Brady Colgan, sr., CM; Spencer Conway, sr., W; Oliver Ford, sr., CM; Alex Loftus, sr., CB; Tommy Maskwa, jr., F; Steve Phillips, sr., G; Kasey Siering, sr., F.
Top newcomers: Hayden Covill, so., CM; Jackson Doran, so., W; Tyler Fuller, sr., CB; Johnathan Hooper, jr., F; Grady Mulligan, so., CM; Tucker Pevear, so., W; Tucker Raymond, jr., CB; Lucas Riley, so., F; Blake Spina, sr., CB; Abel Szatko, so., CB.
Outlook: “We have only seven players returned from last year’s team, and six sophomores currently on our 17-player roster. We are lean, and we are young, but we have a very motivated and talented group. We expect some early inconsistencies, but we see tremendous growth potential for this group. We expect an exciting season ahead.”
Teams to beat: Oyster River, Lebanon.
John Stark
Division: II
Coach: Mark Boucher (first year)
Last year: 1-13-2
Returning starters: Buddy Maxwell, sr., M; Blake Maxwell, so., M; Myles Morette, sr., M; Owen Gitchell, so., M; James Conklin, jr., D; Ben Gosselin, jr., D; Lucas Bell, sr., M; Connor Brooks, jr., F; Zach Morrison, jr., G; Avery Grolljahn, jr., M; Kenan Podzic, so., D.
Top newcomers: Enrique Valladares, fr., F; Tanner Bell, fr., D; Owen Hammond, jr., G.
Outlook: “The boys have worked hard all summer to get better and have a positive outlook on the season. After a tough season last year, the team is motivated to have success and sights set on making the playoffs.”
Strengths: “Many returning players that continue to gel and improve. Multiple players who can finish and share the work.”
Weaknesses: “Overall team defense needs improvement.”
Teams to beat: Oyster River, Campbell, Hollis-Brookline.
Merrimack Valley
Division: II
Coach: Ken Fuller (11th year)
Last year: 8-8-1, reached prelims
Returning starters: Rutger Gilliland, sr., M; Greg Dawson, sr., M; Jason Mullen, jr., D; Carter Lankhorst, jr., D; Jacob Baggett, sr., G; Riley Moore-Jahn, so., M; Davian Loiselle, sr., M.
Top newcomers: Jonas Weed, sr., D; Gavin Anderson, jr., F; Cameron Lounsbury, sr., F; Kobe Amonor, jr., F; Bennett Harrison, so., D; Chace Noonan, so., D; Eli Tibbetts, so., M; Milo Weed, so., M; Connor Arsenault, so., M.
Outlook: “We have a lot of young guys that are going to have to step up and fill some big shoes of the guys that graduated last year. There are some great leaders on this team that are really pushing their teammates to put out their full potential. We have some things to work on, but hope that we are ready to go as we prepare for our opening game against Plymouth.”
Teams to beat: Bow, Oyster River, Lebanon, Hollis-Brookline.
Pembroke
Division: II
Coach: Drou Goff (third year)
Last year: 4-10-2
Returning starters: Dylan Hawkins, sr., G; Brandon Lurvey, sr., D; Amadu Diallo, jr., D; Chuckie Braga, sr., D; Dom Davis, sr., M; Brody Ricci, jr., M; Jake Hanson, sr., F; Sean Murphy, sr., F; Jake Watts, sr., F
Top newcomers: Jacob Wilson, fr., D/M
Outlook: “After a disappointing 2024 season, Pembroke is optimistic for 2025 with so many returning players and starters. But know our success will only come from a combination of staying organized, and most importantly, staying focused and committed to competing day in and day out.”
Belmont
Division: III
Coach: Mike Foley (26th year)
Last year: 7-7-4, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Wyatt Carroll, sr., D/M; Ryan Cribbie, jr., D/M; Andy Cryans, sr., D/M; Brady Fysh, sr., D; Brock Smith, sr., D; Wyatt Bamford, jr., M; Christian Edgren, jr., M; Brody Ennis, jr., M; Kyle Waldron, jr., F/M; Aaryn Durand, so., M; Brennen Geoffrey, so., D.
Top newcomers: Evan Martinez, fr., F; Bronson Glines, fr., F.
Outlook: “Belmont is replacing 10 players from last year, which means we have a lot of team building to do in the early part of the season. I feel our strength will be with Brody Ennis, who is moving from an All-State defensive position to the midfield. Our defense will have to work together in order to be competitive this season. Lots of good things so far this preseason, now we just need to get ready for the season to start.”
Teams to beat: Hopkinton, Gilford, Kearsarge, Mascoma
Bishop Brady
Division: III
Coach: Carlos Fuertes (second year)
Last year: 5-12-0, reached prelims
Returning starters: Ethan Henry, sr.; Jake Blanchette, sr.; David Cameron, jr.; Andrew King, jr.; Matthew-Stephen Bissah, jr.; Henry Thresher, jr.; Ryan Casey, sr.
Top newcomers: Max Richards, jr.; Jack Davis, fr.; Sebastian Wilcox, fr.,
Outlook: “The team is smaller than last year but the team has been working hard during preseason as they understand that substitutions are going to be very limited. The team does believe we will be stronger than last year and our goal is to be above .500.”
Hillsboro-Deering
Division: III
Coach: Joseph Gillett (fourth year)
Last year: 8-8-1, reached prelims
Returning starters: Alex Crowe, sr., M; Noah Harrington, sr., M; Isaiah Gildea, sr., F; Ryan Shortt, jr., F; Braden Savoy, jr., G
Top newcomers: Quinn Coombs, so. F; Logan Czyzweski, fr., F.
Outlook: “After losing a great deal of seniors last year, we have some big shoes to fill. I am confident that once we get some wind under our sales, and the new starters find their footing, we will be able to look forward to a successful season!”
Teams to beat: St. Thomas Aquinas, Manchester West, Hopkinton.
Kearsarge
Division: III
Coach: Couper Gunn (fourth year)
Last year: 8-6-4, reached quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Trenton Judkins, sr.; Jacob Messer, sr.; Cooper Russell, jr.; Bryce Selby, so.; Eli Cooper, sr.; Mason Christensen, sr.
Top newcomers: Grady Burch, so.
Outlook: “The team goal has been the same as the last 4 years, a state championship. This team has the best culture and approach of any group I’ve had, which was only made possible by the work put in by those that came before. We have ability in every position on the field and off the bench as well. I expect people to underestimate us due to the players that we lost, but we’re ok with that.”
Teams to beat: St. Thomas Aquinas.
Winnisquam
Division: III
Coach: Thomas Osmer (sixth year)
Last year: 11-4-2
Returning starters: Taber Haggett, sr.; Xavier Mondesir, sr.; Carl Edwardson sr.; Braedan Perrault, jr.; Brady Nelson, jr.
Outlook: “After graduating 10 seniors, this team has some serious work cut out for themselves. With new players all over the field our first task is to find our identity and tactical approach to the game. Several top players return from last year but most will be at new positions as we rework our formation.”
Pittsfield
Division: IV
Coach: Logan LaRoche (third year)
Last year: 5-8-3
Returning starters: Jacob Cassin, jr.; Owen Clark, so.; Mason Weldon, so.; Gavin Martin, so.; Trevor Danton, so.
Top newcomers: Cam Thurston, 8th grade
Outlook: “The varsity Panthers are a young group this year. With no seniors and a team of primarily 9th and 10th graders, the future is looking bright for our program. While we are young, several of our players have been playing soccer year-round, and you can tell these boys love the sport. Our biggest strengths include what will end up being a strong midfield, and goalkeeper Trevor Danton has really impressed in practice. The young Panthers are going to surprise some people this year with their play.”
Teams to beat: Concord Christian, Portsmouth Christian.
