Division III had a firm group of contenders that stayed intact from start to finish last season. 

 We saw an undefeated record be put to rest as Gilford toped St. Thomas in dominant fashion to be crowned champions.

 We may be in for the same kind of story this year, but many of the Final Four and Quarterfinal teams have reloaded in what should be another exciting season in Division III. 

 The top ten will consist of many familiar faces, but as always, a new team could sneak in and join the race this season. 

Today in our third of four girls' soccer previews, we take a look at Division III.

 Today's Division III Preview is brought to you by our friend and partner Kevin Shaw at Roche Realty!

 

Division III Predicted Order

1. St. Thomas 

2. Gilford 

3. Hopkinton

4. Stevens 

5. Raymond 

6. Bishop Brady

7. Derryfield

8. Campbell

9. Trinity

10. Kearsarge

 

 After coming up just one game short of their goal a season ago, St. Thomas comes into this season with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. 

 “The bad taste to a degree is gone,” said head coach Patrick Hureau. “It is still lingering as far as them wanting to compete and get back to the finals and have a successful season.” 

 Even after the losses of all-state players Elle Pottle and Abby Rayder, a good majority of the Saints’ core is back.

 “We have the squad to make it back,” said Hureau. “These girls have been playing together for so long, they certainly aren’t lacking experience.” 

 The experience and pedigree starts with all-state player Maddie Karsonovich, who led the team in scoring a season ago and also was one of the tops in assists. “It starts with her,” said Hureau. “She is probably the best player in our division, but is also a great leader.”

 The team has been working on different tactics or formations that will play well to the man-marking defense Karsonovich will inevitably see. “We have got some ideas of how we can take advantage of teams doing that.” 

 Elizabeth Flynn and Kate Burrus will take on even more expanded roles this season, especially with Pottle gone. “They were top goal scorers after Ella and Maddie last year,” said Hureau. “I expect big years out of them both. 

 The Saints backfield will be led by Maddie McMahon, Juliana Grella, and Katharine Dornan. “There is a lot of experience in our backfield,” said Hureau. 

 Transfer Samantha Neal will join that group as well and is expected to play a significant role in her first year in the program.

 Caleigh Bronson was sidelined with a foot injury most of last year but is back and ready to return to the midfield. “She has looked unbelievable,” said Hureau. “She can step in and fill that role of a playmaker that Ella played and get the offense going. She sees the field very well.” 

 This is a seasoned group that comes into the season with one main goal in mind. “The goal is to get to the finals,” said Hureau. “They know the expectations. We will have to tweak some things and get creative with our play. They feel like this is their year, and I do as well to get over that hump.” 

  The defending champs return a very solid core that should put Gilford back in the mix once again this season. 

 “In the last three years we have turned a corner,” said head coach Robert Meyers. “I have been lucky, I have had great players in the program since I took over. Not only are they great players, but we have all bought into a common style of play.” 

 Nine seniors are gone from last year’s championship team, and there are some holes to fill in certain spots on the field. “We had a big freshman class last year, and a number of them grew into their roles over the summer,” said Meyers. “Overall, we come into this year much stronger depth-wise.” 

 All-state midfielder Millie Caldon will be at the forefront of everything the Golden Eagles look to accomplish. 

 “In my opinion, she is one of the strongest players in the state,” said Meyers. “She can run the field all day long. The first five minutes, and the last five minutes, she is always there. She is a workhorse and does everything for us.” 

 Senior Maddie McKenna is known primarily for her skills on the softball field but has been a huge contributor on the pitch for Gilford. “She has turned into a rock on the field for us in the midfield and on defense,” said Meyers. 

 Gracey LeBlanc controls things defensively for the Golden Eagles, and the second-team all-state junior will be relied upon heavily in the backfield. 

 Abigail Watson proved to be a varsity player as a freshman and should be in for a strong year two with the program. “She solidified herself as a center back and now has a year of experience under her belt,” said Meyers. 

 Transfer Ariah Dewar will step in between the posts as the starting goalkeeper, and freshmen Macy Sawyer and Charlotte Cummings are showing they may be able to play valuable minutes right away. 

 Junior Anna Coapland provides a sense of calmness in the midfield. “She has both great control of the ball and the ability to shoot and pass to set up her teammates,” said Meyers. 

 The Golden Eagles will certainly have a target on their back, but this group knows what it takes, and knows how long a season can be with how much can happen. 

 “We always have goals,” said Meyers. “The big goal is to get out there and play our game. We don’t want to get dragged out of our game and have someone try to dictate us. We want to force our style of play on other teams.”

 The returning group has a chance to be right back in the mix once again this season. “We are excited to keep building, but we want to keep improving,” said Meyers. “It is wide open this year. We keep telling the girls that is why we play 16 games to see where we stand.”

 After a heartbreaking loss in the quarterfinals to Stevens, the Hopkinton Hawks were left out of the Final Four for the first time in quite some time. While the feeling stung, it has certainly been motivating for a program that wants to get back to the top.

 “I have been telling everybody I think we will be a better team this year than we were last,” said head coach Micahel Zahn. 

 The Hawks graduated 10 seniors last year and brought in a lot of good youth who can make an impact right away. One of those players is freshman Avery Chase, who brings great speed up top.

 A “new” addition to the team is Keegan St. Cyr, who returns to Hopkinton for her senior year after being away at prep school the last two years. 

 “She will be a huge player for us,” said Zahn. “Probably a top two to three player in the entire division. She is a very good athlete who doesn’t back down from anything.” 

 Defensively the Hawks come in very sound. “I need to make sure our defense is good,” said Zahn. 

 Scoring the ball will be something this group can fall back on, defensively is where their focus will be. Having a shutdown defense is the key to making a run, something this program knows the importance of. 

 Lizz Holmes and Anne Pearce will be instrumental in the backfield and keeping this line intact while sophomore Avery Loew `11` will be the team’s new goalkeeper. 

 “She is pretty new to that position,” said Zahn. “But she is willing to work hard and learn. She used to be a field player so she is good with her feet which will allow us to play the ball back to her.” 

 Expect to see the Hawks back in the mix once again this fall, with several teams who feel they have a chance to take the Division III crown. 

  Stevens made a run to the Final Four a season ago and played the reigning champions to a 1-0 game in the semifinals.

 A good senior class has since moved on, but a solid core returns with intentions of making another run. 

 “We are starting over a bit, but hopefully we are reloading and not rebuilding,” said head coach Tim St. Pierre. 

 The Cardinals started a blistering 8-0, and only allowed just four goals in the regular season. St. Pierre believes the regular season caught up to them a bit at times. 

 “We want to ground ourselves a bit early on,” said St. Pierre. “The season took a toll on us. We started the season hot but didn’t have the depth to stay that way. The depth in our program is a bit lean. Quality is where we can differentiate ourselves.”

 First-team all-state forward Madalyn Minckler led the Cardinals in scoring a year ago and should be in a much similar role this season, with most likely even more attention being thrown her way.

 That attention is what hurt this team down the stretch and stopped them from getting over the semifinal hump. “We have a couple options we are pursuing and going forward with on the offensive side of the ball,” said St. Pierre.

 Isabella Bovell was an all-stater in her own right on the defensive end of the field and will lead a Stevens defense that was tough to get by last year. 

 The youth of this team is the key to a postseason run. “We have some younger players who will have to play like older players,” said St. Pierre. “I think we may start a little slower, but we will finish better. Once we get it right it will be good for years to come. We don’t duck anything. We have a lot of work to do and we will show we can do that.”

 Raymond is yet another Final Four team from a season ago that should find themselves in the mix once again this season. 

 Head coach Tim Brusso likes the squad that he returns, even after the loss of six core players to graduation. “It is a very good group of athletes,” said Brusso. “We want to be that team that nobody will want to play in the playoffs. 

 Captains Oceanna Palmer, Aynalem Levesque, and Delaney O’Neil are four-year varsity players who will lead a Rams team with hopes of another playoff run. 

 “The three of them are very athletic,” said Brusso. “They are intelligent players as well. I think they are going to be our bread and butter.” 

 17 players make up the roster and are looking to be a good mixture of talent and knowledge. “Right now we are looking to get fit and get our heads on straight,” said Brusso. “They have been an excellent group.” 

 Raymond can find themselves on the same stage they were on last year, but they know that it takes time and development to get there. “We have a chance,” said Brusso. “We will hopefully be somewhere in the mix. It looks good so far.”

 Bishop Brady returns a strong defensive core that should lead to success for the Giants this season. “They seem to know where to be this year,” said head coach Joe Levesque.”We want to be consistent in our play, and are hoping that translates in games.” 

 A great group of seniors will lead the way and their availability along with the rest of the team will be key moving forward. “If we stay healthy, we should be able to defend and score,” said Levesque. 

 Last year was spent implementing a system and culture, and with that in place, this group can make more steps forward this season. 

 “They are playing more free this year,” said Levesque. “We worked on not worrying about making a mistake. We would like to build on what we had last year.” 

 Gwen O’Keefe, Caroline Michaud, and Abby Crowdes headline a defense that was tough to get by in the first half of last season.

 Lydia Tremblay will be a featured option for the Giants after leading the team in scoring a season ago. Levesque is still reviewing options on who to pair with the go-to option to round out the offense. “We need some more scoring punch with her up there.” 

 The freshman class has impressed early on and looks like they could provide real minutes in year one. “The moment is too big for them,” said Levesque. “They can fill in some of the gaps for us.” 

 Bishop Brady hopes to improve on what was a solid season a year ago and go a step further in postseason play. 

 “We would like to build on what we had last year,” said Levesque. “Our defensive core is intact which is comforting for a coach. Now we need to build forward in front of that.”

 After a quarterfinal appearance a season ago, Derryfield is back and ready for me. “It is unfinished business for them,” said head coach Joel Hatin. “You can see it in their faces and in the way they play. It feels like there is a different vibe with this particular group.” 

 Lilly Losey missed all of last season with an ACL injury, and unfortunately, this season will be the same after tearing her other ACL this past spring. While the Cougars will miss her contributions on the field, she will be stepping up on the sideline alongside coach Hatin. 

 “It is invaluable to have a player not sit out and rather take on another role and help this team compete,” said Hatin. “She is running drills, running practices, and showing the younger girls how to be confident in certain citations and win on the ball. It is something the girls react to well.” 

 Captaining the Cougars will be Sam Chappell, Katie Nguyen, and Alex Benson. “Sam is an absolute threat on the ball in the midfield,” said Hatin. “She is someone who is a great leader and coach on the field.” 

 Nguyen and Benson will help control things on the defensive side of the ball. “The three of them are very serious about taking the team forward,” said Hatin. 

 Freshman Maddie Paolino will be added to the defensive line as an outside back for the Cougars. “She is very fast, very attack-minded, and a great distributor,” said Hatin. “You can tell she is a fierce competitor.”

 Bri McCabe will step in right away as the team’s starting goalkeeper. “She can cover the goal side-to-side,” said Hatin. “One thing she brings to the game is that she is not afraid to come out and attack the ball and challenge strikers. Seeing that in the preseason and having that be the backbone of the team made us excited about our chances.” 

 It is a mix of youth and experience for Derryfield, but that could be just the formula they are looking for. “Our job is to make sure we are prepared for every game and know what we need to do to be successful,” said Hatin. “If we compete in every second of every match, we feel like we have enough to break teams down over time.” 

 The Campbell Cougars return a hard-nosed group that was a top-eight seed and quarterfinal team a year ago. 

 Allen Lajoie takes over in his first year at the varsity level. “I am moving up to the big leagues now,” said Lajoie, who coached most of the team in middle school. 

 The Cougars graduated eight seniors, so they will be a bit younger and have a bit of a new identity. 

 Seven freshmen make up the roster of 16, so a lot will be asked of them early on. “We will need those seven to be impactful,” said Lajoie. “If they can hold their own we will do very well.”

 Of that young core, Lilli Wilson will step in right away as an impact defender. “She will be a stallworth on defense,” said Lajoie. “She really wants it back there.”

 Senior Sam Roche returns for her second year as the starting goalkeeper. “She is adding a lot of leadership back there,” said Lajoie. “She is a great communicator.” 

 The junior class has really matured and brought a lot to the table during the preseason, two of those players being Abby Guerrette and Myleigh Pomerleau, who look to be big contributors for the Cougars this season. 

 The mix of experience and youth may take time to gel, but when it does it could lead to another top-eight finish for Campbell who can be a threat down the stretch of the season.

 Trinity hopes to be right back in the mix of a competitive bunch atop Divison III. Head coach Mike Martinez is excited with how things have looked through the preseason. 

 “Our numbers are up a little from last year,” said Martinez. “Adding some good depth is a big help.” 

 The Pioneers return two all-state defenders in Ava Houde and Isabella Skogland who have been very impactful for this Trinity program the last few years.” They are our two focal points,” said Martinez.

 Skogland will see time in the backfield with Houde but will have some opportunities in the midfield as well.

 “We return a bunch of other starters that have really developed over the offseason,” said Martinez. 

 Addi Bosworth will be a center-mid for Trinity and joining her in the midfield will be Mallory Hobausz. Junior Mackenzie Goldstein will be a scoring threat in the striker position. 

 The wildcard for this group will be Kayla Sisson who will be making the transition from goalie to striker this season. “She is probably our second-best athlete on the field,” said Martinez. “If we can get Kayla out on the field she can give us that scoring pop we have missed the last few years.” 

 It will be a bit of a philosophy change for Trinity season as they look to play more of an uptempo style. “We are going from more of a skill and possession-based team to a more athletic and fast-paced approach. The high pressure and high tempo style could lead to some fun games.” 

 This is a team that has tasted playoff success before, and the hope is to get back to that stage again this season. 

 “The first goal is to simply make the playoffs,” said Martinez. “Once you get in there it is anyone’s ball game. We should hopefully be able to improve on where we finished last year. Top five or six is the hope.” 

 It will be a veteran-heavy presence in the backfield and a young up-and-coming offense for Kearsarge this season.

 ”It should be an interesting one,” said head coach Dave Smith. 

 After a 7-7-2 season a year ago, the hope is an experienced defense can help keep the Cougars afloat amidst a competitive Divison III schedule.

 Reese Lacombe and Tessa Marinello will lead the charge on that end of the field. “They will anchor our defense,” said Smith. 

 Adra Boucher will be the full-time goalkeeper after splitting time with Jenna Wheeler last season. 

 Junior Carly Grant will be the focal point of what the Cougars hope to accomplish on offense in the midfield. “She really builds our offense up,” said Smith. “Carly is a good centerpiece for the attack build-up.” 

 The sophomore class will fill up most of the forward spots, and that is a group that Smith hopes can develop over time. 

 “The expectation is to keep where we were last year,” said Smith. “We want to make the playoffs and build on that. We want to build and grow from where we finished.”

 The Conant Orioles return a smaller team in numbers but are a group that showed great fight down the stretch last season and was one of the more conditioned teams in the division. 

 “In some ways, it works in our favor,” said head coach Devon Spirka. “I felt like our girls were well-conditioned and able to go longer at 100 percent than some other teams. We got used to playing that way.” 

 Conant will have to fill the hole of five key seniors but is gaining four incoming freshmen and a junior who is new to the team. 

 The returning core is solid and should help the Orioles hit the ground running early on. Sophomore Riley Vitello is primed for a big year after leading the team in scoring a season ago. 

 “She will keep getting better and keep building confidence,” said Spirka. 

 Irelynd AuCoin is the lone senior returning for the orange and black and is still working her way into form after an injury she suffered last winter.

 “She is not at full strength but regardless we will look to her to be what a senior should be,” said Spirka. “She needs to set the tone for everybody. We are looking for her to make sure everyone keeps their standards high, which is the culture we set last year.” 

 Izabelle Rollins and Rachel DeWees will hold shape in the backfield leading the Oriole defense. “We need leadership from them,” said Spirka. 

 Rhianna Aho and Lola Hayes will hold down the center midfield spot. “They work so well together on offense and defense,” said Spirka. “They are kind of the heartbeat of the team.” 

 Hannah Manley will be taking her talents from the basketball court to the pitch to start the school year as she will be in the backfield for Conant this fall. “She will help the energy of our team,” said Spirka. “She is a newcomer, but still has a lot of years of experience under her belt with basketball.”

 The freshman class has been adapting well throughout the preseason. “I am excited about them because they are not afraid,” said Spirka. “They aren’t nervous around the ball or afraid to make contact with people. This group is into it and is stepping in at the right time.” 

 After losing Kelly Williams to graduation, the Orioles are still tinkering with who they will put in net. “We will have to be creative,” said Spirka. “It will be a lot more game management but I am excited.” 

 The Orioles played some of their best soccer down the stretch of last season, and the hope is that momentum can carry over into the start of this year with the hopes of a playoff berth in their sights. “They don’t feel like they are starting from scratch,” said Spirka. “You can see a lot of the carryover from last year just from the mindset and skillset. The goal for the girls’ is to make the playoffs and make it beyond the first round.”

  It was another season of growth for Fall Mountain who will again be a bit on the younger side, but a year more experienced. 

 Head coach George Tsitsonis is excited with the progress made a season ago. “The outlook is promising with a lot of potential,” said Tsitsonis. “I think we can rebound and respond from last season.” 

 With a challenging schedule ahead, the Wildcats will learn early what this season may have in store for them. 

 “This season is the first test to where our potential might be,” said Tsitsonis. “The girls are optimistic. We know we have to earn everything every single game.” 

 Mariella Tsitsonis comes into this year healthy as can be after dealing with an ankle injury a season ago. 

 “She is a really creative force for us in the midfield,” said coach Tsitsonis. “Mariella is a hard worker that will cover a lot of ground in the center for us.” 

 Joining her in the midfield will be Sophie Grillone. “Their distribution will be key for us,” said Tsitsonis. “We have players who can get behind opposing midlines and boost our production from last year.”

 Creating some of that production will be Selah Fredrick, who will have a lot of chances to put the ball in the back of the net. 

 “Her individual improvement has been remarkable,” said Tsitsonis. “She has a vicious shot and her finishing and movement have taken a leap.”

 Charlotte Reilly and Aubrey Thomas will fill the wings and hopefully create havoc on the outside. “I believe we can do some really good things offensively with both of those players,” said Tsitsonis.

 The Wildcats have some injuries to overcome already, the biggest one being Clara Stewart. “She was an incredible sweeper for us last year and had a chance to be one of the top defenders in the state this season,” said Tsitsonis. “We will have to reshuffle and get our new defenders comfortable.” 

 There will be roadblocks, but there is a good foundation set for this season. “Our starting goal is to get into the postseason again,” said Tsitsonis. “From there, how much can we do after that? I believe in them to push past last season’s finish. We have the pieces that can come together and do so.”

 After a five-year drought, Monadnock found themselves in the playoffs. This was a big step for a program that has been looking to change its fortunes. The senior class last season played a big part in the berth, now this year’s team will have to carry the torch. 

 “I am hoping the team can continue the momentum,” said head coach Richard Hirtle. “We will not look too far ahead and keep our expectations manageable. It will be one game at a time.”

 Regan Kidney and Shaylee Branon headline a group of veteran players for the Huskies. “They both bring knowledge, strength, and leadership,” said Hirtle. 

 Joining that bunch are Jilianna Koslyn, Arianna Drouin, Cainen Avery, and Tiannah Hull who all bring experience and skill to the pitch. 

 “I would say the key players will have to be those veterans,” said Hirtle. “All of them will be required to be essential players to the team.”

 Freshman Gracie Dean will be stepping into the net right away. “We’re really excited about her,” said Hirtle. “She is solid between the pipes and brings a natural ability to the position.” 

 The youth on this team will need to take a step forward quickly for the Huskies to be successful. “I really hope those young players rise up, meet the challenge, and stay competitive as it can be a long season,” said Hirtle. 

 The foundation that was built last year can have another layer added to it with another playoff trip in sight for the Huskies.

The Belmont Red Raiders are coming off a near .500 season and playoff appearance. With just four seniors returning and a younger core returning, things may look a bit different out of the gate. 

 “We have an interesting dynamic,” said head coach Jeff Malcom. “The team is looking good so far.” 

 Darci Stone returns after a near 20-goal season and is an immediate offensive threat for this group.

 “I feel like she is in store for another breakout season,” said Malcom. “She will have a target on her back, but she will be a really good option for us.” 

 Fellow seniors Helena Papadopoulos, Lilly Vaughn, and Quinn Jewell will all be relied upon heavily.  “My four seniors will be the key to success,” said Malcom. “Having them spread out on the field, we will need them to be vocal. They know what I want and I know what they can do.”

 The midfield will have a new look, with freshman Ella Stevens and Falyn Sicard looking at starting positions right away. 

 Sophomore Lindsey Peterson will get her shot in between the posts for Belmont. “She is a bull back there,” said Malcom.

 The Red Raiders are looking to get away from the “kick it and run” mentality. “When our backs are pressed we fall back on that,” said Malcom. “We want to be more in control on the pitch and move the ball efficiently.” 

 Getting a step ahead of opponents early will be what Belmont is focused on when starting out games this season. 

 “Get a goal early and rely on our good defensive crew to protect that lead,” said Malcom. “We want to be selective with our attacks and take advantage of our speed.”

 The playoffs are at the top of the list for what Belmont hopes to accomplish this season, and that should be a goal they have the ability to obtain if they play to their potential. 

 Sanborn is ready to get the ball rolling for their second year at the Division III level. The big loss early on will be Sydney O’Toole, the leading goal scorer from a season ago, who will be sidelined with an ACL injury.

 “She will still be a major part of our team,” said head coach Kerrie Alley. “She is still helping out and doing small stuff with us.”

 The leadership she can bring to this group will be valuable, but Sanborn will need to fill the void she leaves offensively. 

 Caitlyne Bobsein will be a prime candidate to be a top goal scorer for this group. Bobsein went down with an ACL injury of her own last year in the first game of the season, but is back and better than ever.

 Tessa Donigan will be a striker up front while Julie Gates and Maya Thompson will be creators in the midfield.

 Senior Tori Gibson will bring a lot of experience in net and will have a bit of a restructured defense in front of her. 

 “We will be doing a little rebuilding in our defense,” said Alley after losing three of four starters in the backfield to graduation. 

 The lone returner on the defensive side of the ball is Kylie O’Connell who will be joined in the middle by Hannah Lesiczka. Jessica Addorisio and sophomore Fiona Abromowitz will be joining that core as well.

 Alley is expecting solid contributions out of in the midfield from juniors Hanna Tomane, Sabrina Gaspar, and Neilly Chiacchia.

 Emma Gillis stood out as a freshman and is expected to take another step forward in year two. “I expect her to get a lot of time with a year under her belt,” said Alley. 

 The freshman group brings a lot of excitement. Kaylee Fortin, Ellie Rankin, Jada Sanchez, Sophie Thurlow, and Mackenzie White all could see significant time this season. “We are still feeling out that group,” said Alley. “We want to see where they will be most impactful.”

 Sanborn wants to continue to build chemistry and good habits this season. “Our goal is to progress and get better each game,” said Alley. “We want to gel together, develop our skills, and become one unit.”

 Mark Rockwood hopes this is another step in the right direction for a Mascoma Valley program that is only four years old. 

 “Already out of the gate we are in a much better position this year,” said Rockwood. “We went from barely enough players last year to having a roster of 19 this season.”

  Senior Emily Seiler returns as a captain and the leading goal scorer from a season ago. “She is a great leader with the younger players,” said Rockwood. “She is one of our most skilled players as well.” 

 Freshman Karley Hollis has made an impression early on. “She is pretty phenomenal,” said Rockwood. “She is someone to look out for.” 

 With seven returners and some impact freshmen coming in, the Royals have hopes of capturing the first playoff berth in program history. 

 “The goal is playoffs,” said Rockwood. “But we also want to continue to create culture, identity, and continue to build our numbers as a program.”

 Head coach Ray Curren takes over for his first year at Newfound. “We are trying to grow the program,” said Curren, who has 17 players coming out for the roster this season. 

 The senior class will be relied upon heavily this season. “This is a pretty good senior class,” said Curren. “They will help us get through this year.”

 Rylee Barney will be a threat atop the field for Newfound. “She will probably be the go-to striker,” said Curren. 

 Joining Barney will be Soraya Gidden who will look to make plays for the Bears at the striker position. 

 Mika Austin will play in goal while Hannah Bassit controls the defensive front. Emily Avery and Izzy Braley will command play in the midfield. 

 One newcomer to the team is softball pitcher Sarah Buchanan who will prove to be a versatile option, as Curren plans to use her all around the field. 

 “The seniors set the goal to make the playoffs,” said Curren. “With the class we have that is not an unreasonable goal to have.” 

 Newfound squandered chances last year to put away and win games, and that has been a focus going into this season. 

 “We need to beat the teams we can beat,” said Curren. “We need to hang in there, stay together, and get the wins we can get.” 

 Berlin looks to get back into the playoff mix this season behind the leadership of 11 seniors and the guidance of head coach Holly Munce. 

 After a summer of working on skills and conditioning, Munce is excited with how her group has come into the season. 

 “The girls really took initiative this summer to host pick up and go on runs,” said Munce. “A lot of the girls are coming in, in better shape.” 

 Chemistry has been an emphasis early on, and with a majority of this group playing together since middle school, that has helped the Mountaineers hit the ground running to start the year. 

 “These girls are really crafty with the ball,” said Munce. “It has been neat to see how they gel together. It is like they can almost read each other’s minds at times.” 

 Ava Bartoli returns as a leading goal scorer for the Mountaineers, and putting the ball in the back of the net has been an emphasis for the whole team.

 “We have had trouble with finishing in the past,” said Munce. “We have added finishing drills into every practice and it is starting to pay off.” 

 Redyn Munce and Lily Brungot will be the sweeper-stopper duo in the backfield for Berlin. “They both help control the middle of the field on defense for us,” said coach Munce. 

 Lena Caouette has made great strides from last season and will be a key player for the Mountaineers this fall. “She has practiced all summer long on her long balls and her corner kicks are looking fantastic,” said Munce. “Her confidence is boosting.” 

 After an early-season knee injury that sidelined her for the whole season,  Julia Colombe is set to make a big impact. “She is a standout no matter where we put her on the field,” said Munce. 

 Aliyah Paquette and Abby Blais are two seniors who will help in a multitude of ways for the Mountaineers. “They are key to our ever-evolving team,” said Munce. “They shift and adapt to our needs.” 

 The hope is to get into the postseason for Berlin, where anything can happen. “They are anxious to show their skills,” said Munce. “We should be a strong force, I am very hopeful.”

 The Newport Tigers will be young once again, but a lot of promising pieces return under head coach Gary McCall. 

 “If we can find the right combinations and formations to play, I think we can be alright,” said McCall. 

 Junior Torrence Williams returns as a prominent option for the Tigers' attack. “I think she will have a breakout year,” said McCall. 

 Brooklyn Ranney got injured just three games into last season. With her healthy and in the lineup, she is expected to make an immediate impact. “She has good speed and instincts,” said McCall. “She has a lot of promise up front.”

 The Tigers were more of a defensive-minded team last season, but with Ranney back in the lineup, they will have a legitimate scoring punch. 

 There will be some new wrinkles to work out with seven incoming freshmen and three first-time sophomores joining the team, but there is a lot of athleticism that this team can build off of. 

 “I am hoping we can get them to meld and gel together quickly,” said McCall. “What I really want to do is play a good brand of soccer and start to compete at a high level in Division III.”

 The White Mountains Spartans will be a very young team under head coach Brad Willey. With only a few seniors, the incoming freshman class and returning players will be called upon early to contribute. 

 “We will rely heavily on our younger core to step up,” said Willey. 

 Speed will be the name of the game for this group. “We want to work on being a fast team and a disciplined defensive team,” said Willeu. “We need to capitalize on our changes to score with our speed up front.”

 The head coaches of Hillsboro-Deering, Inter-Lakes, and Prospect Mountain were all contacted but unable to respond in time for the purpose of this preview.

 

Coming tomorrow: Division IV