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The White Mountains Community College Thursday Thoughts for 9/22/2022

By Lance Legere, 09/22/22, 6:00AM EDT

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Sidney Roberge and Bow remain atop the Division II Top 10 this week (photo by NH Sports Photography)

 The competition is starting to heat up across the state and we are already approaching the midway point of the soccer season in the granite state.

 Each week we will rank teams from all four divisions and share thoughts on the games ahead. 

 Today's column is brought to you by our friends at partners at White Mountains Community College! 

 

Division I

Division II Standings and Statistical Leaders
 

1. Exeter: Exeter did what no one has done to Bedford all season long last Friday, and they did it twice, scoring two goals to defeat the Bulldogs 2-1 in a thriller. That performance certainly warranted the jump to the top spot for the Blue Hawks. 

2. Bedford: The Bulldogs suffered their first loss, but certainly have some chances to bounce back in the coming week. Two quality opponents in Goffstown and Portsmouth await in two big games in Division I over the next week.

3. Portsmouth: The Clippers have been quietly cruising seven games. No goals allowed in their last three games which have included two convincing wins over Pinkerton and Merrimack. Haley Coombs has been as tough as they come in between the posts in Division I. 

4. Timberlane: Last week I said it was tough to leave Timberlane outside of the top four. Well, they changed that with a huge 2-1 win over Bishop Guertin last Thursday. This offense is one of the best in Division I and seems to be getting even better with time. 

5. Bishop Guertin: The Cardinals lost their first contest of the year to a very good Timberlane team. BG has been sharing the wealth offensively, with Brooke Paquette, Martha Lord, and Katie Boudreau all getting in on the action. 

6. Concord: The Tide played a grudge match in a game we covered against Goffstown and battled to the end with a very strong Bedford team. It feels like Concord is going to be right in the mix all year. A stretch of Portsmouth and Bishop Guertin back-to-back to end the week will be telling for Concord.

7. Goffstown: A rivalry matchup with Bedford this Saturday will be the biggest test of the season for a Grizzles' team on the rise. 

8. Nashua South: Nashua South has won the games they should, and have battled in the ones against Division I's best. A signature win is looming for the Purple Panthers. 

9. Pinkerton: The Astros went through the wringer last week facing off with Bishop Guertin and Portsmouth. A full week of rest and a big game with Londonderry on Saturday will be a good way to rebound. 

10. Merrimack: Yet another big-time Saturday game for a team looking to make a jump up the standings. The Tomahawks travel to take on BG in what should be a fun one.

 

 

Division II

Division II Standings and Statistical Leaders

1. Bow: The Falcons suffered their first loss in a thriller to rival Pembroke. While there is a loss in the win column, the talent this team posses keeps them in the top spot this week. 

2. Pelham: The Pythons have been quite the show to watch offensively. A 2-2 tie with Milford is their first real "blemish" if you even consider that one, but besides that have been playing very good soccer. 

3. Hollis-Brookline: Hollis-Brookline goes on the road to face a very good Pelham team on Saturday which could be yet another thriller in Division II. 

4. Pembroke: The Spartans said it themselves, they needed that win against Bow on Tuesday. A huge morale boost will go a long way for a Pembroke team set to face Lebanon on Saturday. 

5. Lebanon: No one in Division II has played a tougher schedule than Lebanon so far. To be sitting at 3-3 is very good considering the competition they have played. 

6. Milford: It has been a season of ups and downs for the Spartans, but a 2-2 tie with Pelham was a nice reminder that Milford is right in the mix.

7. John Stark: The Generals have been hit with the injury bug as of late, and have taken a big hit in the loss column. A game with Coe-Brown will be a good opportunity for John Stark to bounce back.

8. Oyster River: The undefeated run continues for the Bobcats, and this team is starting to look like they are for real. A big second-half stretch with lots of tough competition will be telling for this young Oyster River team.

9. Coe-Brown: The Bears are always going to be a tough out and could surprise you on any given day. They showed that in a game we covered against Pembroke. John Stark and Bow await Coe-Brown in what should be a big two-game stretch.

10. Kennett: The Eagles had a rough stretch, dropping three of their last four after a strong start to the year. Kennett will look to bounce back with Laconia and Berlin over the next week. 

Note: Huge shoutout to ConVal goalie Abigail Lussier. There was a mixup on the stat sheet with who was in net for ConVal's big 2-1 win over John Stark, so we wanted to make sure Abbi got the credit she deserves. In only her second game in net at the varsity level, she helped the Cougars earn their biggest win on the season to date. 

 

Division III 

Division III Standings and Statistical Leaders

1. St. Thomas: The Saints continue to look like one of the teams to beat in Division III. The schedule has begun to get tougher, with games against Prospect Mountain, Stevens, Trinity, Hopkinton, Campbell, and Raymond all ahead. While they will take it one game at a time, there is a lot to look forward to with this group.

2. Stevens: The Cardinals are still yet to be scored on and that streak could continue for a bit here. Madalyn Minckler has continued her scoring tear. A big game with St. Thomas next Tuesday will be a result everyone is waiting to see. 

3. Raymond: Raymond battling St. Thomas to a scoreless tie gives them the boost into the top three this week. Playing that well and poised against a high-caliber team like that should go a long way into deciding how the season ends up for Raymond.

4. Gilford: The Golden Eagles haven't let a goal by them in over two weeks and end this week with a much-anticpated matchup with Prospect Mountain.

5. Campbell: What we have learned since last week is that Campbell is for real. A 1-0 win over Derryfield was a great stepping stone for a team that is on the rise. Trinity awaits the Cougars for a big game on Friday.

6. Bishop Brady: The Generals have played exactly how they want to, to start the season. Defense has been the key and has kept them in games with Trinity, Fall Mountain, and Hillsboro-Deering. 

7. Derryfield: The Cougars get Hopkinton and a chance for revenge with Sanborn in their next two games, as they look to get back on track after a tough 1-0 loss to Campbell. 

8. Hopkinton: Offense has been hard to come by for the Hawks. Just five goals in six games, including two 0-0 contests, has been interesting to say the least. A big game with Derryfield could be a turning point in either direction for Hopkinton.

9. Prospect Mountain: Prospect Mountain played two of Division III's best in Raymond and Stevens in the last week, and now get two games with Gilford and one with St. Thomas over the next week. The gauntlet continues and could be a big stretch in terms of playoff implications. 

10. Trinity: The Pioneers haven't been able to find much consistency to start the year. A Campbell team that has been playing some of their best soccer awaits Trinity on Friday. The two played to a 1-0 game earlier in the season, and Friday should be an even closer contest. 

 

Division IV

Division IV Standings and Statistical Leaders

1. Newmarket: The Mules continue to roll and don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. A Friday night matchup with Concord Christian will be a pivotal one in Division IV.

2. Sunapee: Sunapee responded to a loss against Newmarket with two big-time wins over Portsmouth Christian and Concord Christian. The tests will continue with a game against Woodsville this afternoon. 

3. Profile: The Patriots have looked crisp through eight games. A rivalry matchup with Littleton on Saturday morning always proves to be a good one, and this year should be no different. 

4. Woodsville: The Engineers are primed for a game with Sunapee this afternoon. A rematch of last year's quarterfinal should prove to be one of the better games of the Division IV regular season. This will be Woodsville's biggest test to date. Certainly, a score to keep an eye out for. 

5. Concord Christian: The Kingsmen took Sunapee to overtime with a great second-half performance and now get Newmarket on Friday and PCA to start next week. Concord Christian could use a signature win, and these next two have great chances to be just that.

6. Portsmouth Christian: Much like Concord Christian, PCA has battled Newmarket and Sunapee, but is still searching for a key win. Derek Summers has done a great job with this team and should be in contention all fall.

7. Littleton: The Crusaders have looked really good through even games. They have taken care of business up to this point and get another crack at an elite Profile team that has had their number the last few years. 

8. Lin-Wood: Lin-Wood didn't have the strongest of weeks dropping two straight, but a homecoming game with Lisbon and a visit from Pittsburg-Canaan should be a good chance to bounce back.

9. Gorham: The Huskies are in an identical situation as the Lumberjacks are, going 1-2 over the last week. A rematch with a strong Moultonborough team and a homecoming matchup with Pittsburg-Canaan is a good opportunity for a young Gorham team looking to improve this season.

10. Moultonborough: The Panthers playing Profile the toughest (2-1) out of anyone this season is eye-opening. Moultonborough will look for revenge in Gorham this afternoon. 

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