Pembroke Academy experienced some low moments last season. Coming off back-to-back championship game appearances, the Spartans experienced some poor results in 2023, sinking as low as 14th place in the Division II standings.

Hampered by multiple injuries and less experience on the pitch, it could’ve spelled disaster. Instead, the PA girls’ soccer team rattled off four straight victories to close the regular season (11-8) to earn the No. 7 seed for the playoffs, plus two more wins in the postseason tournament to extend the streak. The Spartans upset No. 2 Merrimack Valley to advance to their fourth straight semifinal before their six-game winning streak ended one round short of the final against Coe-Brown.

Now Pembroke is hoping to ride that momentum into this fall.

“We had some very humbling moments last season, and we really had to look inside ourselves,” said head coach Jess Kaufman-Desrochers, who is in her 15th year in charge of the program. “I was very proud of them. They can persevere. They can overcome.

“We have some veterans that have had a lot of that postseason success, and I can see right away that our captains want to get everybody on board, if they aren’t already, to have that same kind of success (again).”

Pembroke has two senior captains who played in championship games in both 2021 and 2022 as underclassmen, All-State Second Team midfielder Lindsey Jones and First Team forward Bailey Gatchell.

Gatchell was the second-leading scorer in D-II last year with 17 goals and five assists, and she scored a combined five goals in three playoff games.

“Defenses fear her; she knows that people are going to have her name, have her number,” Kaufman-Desrochers said. “She’s going to have to be creative and be tenacious. But she’s ready as ever.”

Jones was one of the best setup players in the division, tallying seven assists and three goals.

“She’s our anchor in the midfield; she’s been doing it since freshman year,” Kaufman-Desrochers said. “She’s proven time and again she can come through in crucial situations.”

Kaufman-Desrochers also acknowledged the role that last season’s underclassmen and bench players played on the many occasions when they had to step up due to injured teammates. She’s spent the preseason experimenting with the “ingredients” of her team, but one position that is a lock is between the posts.

Junior goalkeeper Laila Al-Shawafi, a Second Team All-State pick, stood on her head and showed poise beyond her years when she was a starter as a freshman in 2022 and has continued her stellar play between the pipes since.

“We know we can rely on her,” Kaufman-Desrochers said. “She’s so fun to watch.”

Al-Shawafi and her teammates will face First Team goalkeeper Lexi Boudreau when the Spartans host John Stark in their opener on Friday.

A noteworthy change to the Division II schedule is that with 17 teams in the league, every team plays everyone else one time, a departure from previous years where teams played opponents in their region multiple times. Most Capital Area teams hadn’t seen the two previous champions – Pelham and Hollis-Brookline – until the playoffs, but with this new format there is nowhere to hide.

The NHIAA soccer season kicks off on Thursday.

CONCORD

Division: I.

Coach: Andrew Mattarazzo (fourth year).

Last year: 13-4-1, reached quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Willa Marino, sr., D; Nevaeh Kalipinski, sr., D; Kate Dickson, so., M; Maddie Brown, sr., M; Maddie Muller, sr., M; Ella Goulas, sr., M.

Outlook: The Crimson Tide have been a reliable playoff team, reaching the quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons, and are eager to make a deeper playoff run this year.

“We have a good core returning from last year and a few newcomers that will fit in and be called upon right away,” Mattarazzo said. “I am very excited about what this group can accomplish throughout this season. We are trending in the right direction this preseason, and we will take it one week at a time. The girls are focused and bought into the year and will be fun to watch come the end of the season.”

Teams to beat: Bedford, Exeter, Timberlane, Bishop Guertin, Portsmouth.

BOW

Division: II.

Coach: Jay Vogt (21st year).

Last year: 12-4-2, reached semifinals.

Returning starters: Lexana Farr, sr., M; Abby Foote, sr., D; Lexi Insana, sr., M; Gabriella Tarsa, sr., M; Leah Gallier, jr., M; Charlotte Larochelle, jr., D; Ashley Wallen, jr., F; Cara Van Dyke, so., F.

Top newcomers: Meldina Becirovic, jr., F; Reilly Klingerman, jr., M; Gwen Barrieau, so., G; Madison Pfister, so., D; Sierra Scull, so., G; Jaedyn Kennedy, fr., F; Zoey Lupien, fr., D; Marissa Reyes, fr., M.

Outlook: The Falcons have played in 14 consecutive final fours and are eager to get back onto the pitch after ending last season in the semifinals on penalty kicks.

“We have a very good mix of returning players and newcomers,” Vogt said. “They have all worked very hard over the summer and throughout the year to improve as individuals and as a team. So far, we have been very happy with the progress, work ethic and how well this team enjoys being around each other. We have a lot of work to do, with the goal to be peaking when the playoffs come around.”

Teams to beat: “There are a lot of very good teams this year who will all be chasing (defending champions) Hollis,” according to Vogt.

COE-BROWN

Division: II.

Coach: Josh Hils (20th year).

Last year: 14-4-1, D-II runner-up.

Returning starters: Maggie Escabi, sr., M; Bella Lapierre, jr., F; Jennifer Noni, sr., M; Sadie Scruton, jr., G; Abbey Franke, sr., M; Amanda Thomas, sr., D.

Top newcomers: Lizzy Joy, fr., D; Mallory Carri, so., D; Morgan Readel, so., F.

Outlook: The Bears bring back 13 players from last year’s squad that reached the D-II championship game for the first time in program history. Those players include three honorable mention All-State picks – Escabi, Lapierre and Franke. Coe-Brown’s roster is deep and experienced and should be in the mix for another long playoff run.

According to Hils, Noni and Thomas anchor the middle of the field, while sophomores Jaelyn Demers and Ellie Escabi give Coe-Brown “unlimited options up front” with Lapierre, who led D-II with 18 goals last year. Scruton is one of the top goalies in the division. Seniors Cam Buchanan and Sammy Parron and junior Jaydyn Spearin will lead the defense, while Joy adds some depth in the back.

“Last season we started off the season 0-2 and figured out our identity,” Hils said. “Division II girls’ soccer could be the most competitive division in all of New Hampshire soccer, so every game will be huge. Playing every team once this season will be a welcomed change to see the division play out evenly.”

Teams to beat: Hollis-Brookline, Bow, Pembroke, John Stark.

JOHN STARK

Division: II.

Coach: Eddie Marceau (second year).

Last year: 12-4-1, reached quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Lexi Boudreau, sr., G; Chloe Caron, jr., D; Madison Lamothe, so., F/M; Ava Rivers, sr., M/D; Haley Stafford, sr., M.

Outlook: “Our program graduated 11 seniors last season, so we are looking to fill in some pieces to our lineup,” Marceau said. “Our philosophy is to take the season one match at a time and to be consistent with hard work and high energy.”

The Generals will be backstopped by Boudreau, a two-time First Team All-State goalkeeper.

Teams to beat: Bow, Coe-Brown, Hollis-Brookline, Pembroke, Merrimack Valley.

MERRIMACK VALLEY

Division: II.

Coach: Kylee Yam (fourth year).

Last year: 13-3-1, reached quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Ellie Andrews, sr., D; Searra Andrews, sr., F; Sydney Bailey, sr., D/F; Grace Corliss, sr., D; Ashlyn Fortier, jr., F; Lila Gray, so., M; Abby James Bentzler, sr., D; Nikola Longver, sr., M; Jada Lucas, jr., D; Ella Mercer, jr., D; Izzy Navoy, jr., F; Corinne Palhof, sr., F; Taiylor Stinson, sr., M.

Top newcomers: Jordan Monaghan, jr., G.

Outlook: “With 13 returning players, we are hoping to use the experience and start the season more organized,” Yam said. “Our center three should be a relative strength for us. Always a weakness is getting into the attacking third more often.”

Teams to beat: Hollis-Brookline, Bow.

BELMONT

Division: III.

Coach: Jeff Malcolm (fourth year).

Last year: 8-8-1, reached prelims.

Returning starters: Maddy Carrier, sr., G; Hannah Young, jr., F; Jaelyn Nialetz, sr., F; Kate Walker, sr., D; Ella Stevens, so., M; Falyn Sicard, so., M.

Top newcomers: Mia Ellis, fr.

Outlook: The Raiders had a .500 record, good enough for a playoff spot in 2023, but are looking to improve over the course of autumn.

“Increasing our speed of play will be one of our clear goals this season,” Malcolm said.

BISHOP BRADY

Division: III.

Coach: Steven D’Agati (first year).

Last year: 5-9-2, reached prelims.

Returning starters: Hayley Cochrane, sr., M; Claire Jackson, sr., G; Abby Crowdes, sr., D; Maddie Nicholls, sr., M; Natalie Brooks, so., M.

Top newcomers: Caeleigh Roach, sr., F.

Outlook: The Giants won just enough games to grab the 16th seed and the final playoff spot last year. The returning starters provide experience and strength in the middle of the field but are overall a young team with seven freshman on the 17-player roster.

“It will require time for our players to develop some chemistry on the field,” D’Agati said. “We look forward to being competitive in a division that is filled with many good teams.”

HILLSBORO-DEERING

Division: III.

Coach: Jenna Rheault (first year).

Last year: 0-16, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Kathryn Thyng, Natalie Auger, Alexis Laporte, Emery Greene, Stacia Murdough, Molly Smart, Faith Daley, Megan Ferguson.

Top newcomers: Lily Valley, Alison Smart, Isabelle Johnson, Ava Bennett, Chloe Macey, Addison Brown, Kyle Crowe, Aleena Velazquez, Penelope Bows.

Outlook: The Hillcats are coming off a winless season where they were outscored 62-5, netting goals in just three games, but nine of their losses were decided by two goals or fewer, and H-D has eight players returning from last season. Thyng, Greene and Auger bring power and experience to the offense, while Smart, Ferguson, Laporte and Murdough will lead the defense and goalkeeping.

“All of our returners have a lot of heart and experience, and we hope that our newer athletes can see them as role models for the season,” Rheault said. “We have six freshmen who have some great skills and (some new additions), and we expect them to make our team stronger defensively. Our team is young, but we have some strong leadership. We are extremely excited about the talent that we are seeing so far and we look forward to seeing what they accomplish together.”

Teams to beat: Hopkinton.

HOPKINTON

Division: III.

Coach: Mike Zahn (seventh year).

Last year: 14-3-2, reached semifinals.

Returning starters: Isabella Serzans, sr.; Kennedy Mark, sr.; Annie Morrall, jr.; Paige Prisco-Nelson, jr.; Maeve Owens, jr.; Avery Loew, jr.; Paige Boudette, jr.

Top newcomers: Sadie Serzans, fr.

Outlook: The Hawks are a fast and scrappy group but have a shorter bench due to injuries and lower turnout at tryouts this year. However, the Hawks do return seven players from last year’s final four run, including Loew, the starting goalie.

Teams to beat: St. Thomas, Gilford, Campbell, Fall Mountain, Derryfield.

KEARSARGE

Division: III.

Coach: Dave Smith (fourth year).

Last year: 11-5-2, reached quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Carly Grant, sr., M; Ellie Wimer, sr., M; Nadia Spiegel, sr., D; Ava Shapiro, sr., M; Jada Kendrigan, sr., D; Joleigh Root, sr., F; Chloe Hasey, jr., F; Ociee Ilg, jr., M; Addie Place, sr., D.

Top newcomers: Bella Collins, so., D; Addy Rossi, jr., M; Brooke Aiken, fr., M; Madden Huff, fr., D; Katie Walkinshaw, fr., F.

Outlook: “We have a good mix of experience and youth,” Smith said. “We have a solid senior group in the midfield that sets the tone for the team and can control the game. Even with the new additions, we have a great group of seniors helping them and they have made huge strides already. Even though we are starting a little rough around the edges, I am excited about the potential this team has.”

Teams to beat: St. Thomas, Stevens, Fall Mountain.

 

PITTSFIELD

Division: IV.

Coach: Doug Cheney (fourth year).

Last year: 2-13, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Mabel Johnson, sr.; Addie Clark, sr.; Adelia Stopyro, sr.; Helene Flores, sr.; Chelsee Chagnon, fr.; Savannah Chagnon, fr.; Carl y Griffin, sr.

Top newcomers: Natalie Cruz, eighth grade.

Outlook: With eight seniors on the roste r, five of them starters, the Panthers have matured and are a much more experienced roster than in recent years.

“The team is small in size, but they have the heart of a lion,” Cheney said. “We also have a new (schedule) this year with new teams to face, and we have high hopes to make the playoffs. Our returning starters will be the backbone of our squad .”

Teams to beat: Portsmouth Christian, Newmarket, Sunapee.