The season is starting to wind down and the teams are heating up as playoff races have begun, making each regular season match that much more important. 

 We will break own all four divisions with analysis and our Top 10 picks across the state.

Jay Manzi will bring you insight on Division I while Lance Legere will cover Division II, III, and IV.

 

 Our column today is brought to you by our great friends at York County Community College!

 

Division I 

Standings & Statistical Leaders

1. Exeter: The Bluehawks have yet to be stopped. No one in Division I has an answer for them. They saw victories this past week against Winnacunnet, and Nashua South. Big contributors of those victories being Lauren Roeder, Harper Levitsky, and Sophia Nadeau. Exeter is making it known that they are trying to finish the story this year. They want back to back undefeated regular seasons. But this time they’re looking to close out 2023 with jewelry on their fingers. They will be facing their biggest rival, and their only defeat in the past two seasons on Saturday. That team being the Bedford Bulldogs. This will be their biggest challenge of the season thus far, but I know for a fact Exeter has had this game circled on their schedule for a while. I also know the Bluehawks want nothing more than to avenge their championship defeat from last year. I will be there as well as Patrick and I are beyond excited to watch it play out.

2. Timberlane: Timberlane is hot right now. They have played three games since the last column was written and they won them all. They were on the road for all three games as well. The competition they faced was very strong. Hanover, Windham, and South have all had respectable seasons, but Timberlane still stood tall. This was a very testing week for them, especially coming off a win against BG and they played flawlessly. They had huge help offensively from Leah Morrier, Lulu Transatti, and Brooke Langlois. As well as a fantastic presence in goal from Sophia Sayers who allowed only one goal in those three games. People need to watch out for Timberlane as they have solidified themselves as one of the scariest teams to face off against in DI.

3. Bishop Guertin: BG still continues to play well. They won both their games this week against Merrimack and North. These are two teams that have struggled this year, and BG made sure to keep their winning streak alive. Martha Lord was a huge factor scoring four goals in just two games.  They do face some tougher competition in the coming week as they have Salem, and Nashua South both on the road. BG has played an almost perfect season besides a tough loss to Timberlane. This week will really push them, and they will need to maintain a very high-level style of play to remain with that one blemish. Keep your eyes on their matchup with Salem, we will be there to cover it!​​​​​​​

4. Bedford: What a very interesting week it was for the Bulldogs. First, they took on Goffstown where they were down 1-0 but a huge goal with 45 seconds left tied it up, and eventually brought it to overtime. They later buried another goal in OT to give them the win. But later in the week in a huge development we saw the defending state champion Bedford Bulldogs suffer a tough defeat to the Clippers. This one was another low-scoring 1-0 game for the Bulldogs. The only difference is they couldn’t find a way to put the ball in the net themselves. This is a big loss for them and knocks them down to the same record Timberlane, and BG share. Later this week we have the anticipated championship rematch between Bedford and Exeter. We will be in attendance for that one, and I’m very intrigued to see how Bedford takes their home field. But this just in ladies and gentlemen, Bedford is beatable.

5. Portsmouth: Last week I came at Portsmouth for suffering another tough defeat. I even wondered “What the heck is happening over there”. This week they told me what the heck is happening by securing two big victories. They began the week defeating a team in Concord that has been a challenge to all opponents they’ve faced. But then as stated above became the one behind 8-1. The Clippers defeated Bedford, off of Annie Parker’s lone goal handing them their first loss of the season. They accomplished something that no other team has done yet. This is a huge victory for them and can be just the thing they need to help push them forward and start a huge upward trend to begin the second half of the season. ​​​​​​​

6. Salem: Salem came back from having over a week off, and showed a tad bit of rust. They began the week tying with Windham on their home field. However, they did bounce back well with a solid 3-2 win in overtime against Pinkerton on the road. Aaliyah Hajaar contributed a goal, and Lily Carreiro buried two in that contest. Salem is still playing well, but they have a very intimidating schedule remaining. They have teams such as BG, Timberlane, Hanover, Exeter, and Bedford still left on their schedule. The rest of the way will be an uphill battle for sure but Salem proves time, and time again this season that they can compete. I have no doubt that they will do the same in the following games. ​​​​​​​

7. Concord: The Crimson Tide is a team that has been competing very well in DI this season. This week they had a tough outing against Portsmouth where they lost 2-1 and ended up picking up a victory against Manchester Central. I’m personally curious to see where the Crimson Tide goes in the coming weeks. Their schedule varies from really tough challenges to some competitive matchups, and then games they should easily walk out on top. Their future is very much up in the air. One thing is for certain, and that is the Crimson Tide knows how to compete and challenge anyone they face. ​​​​​​​

8. Goffstown: Goffstown has had a rough go of it recently. Since their loss to Concord, they have been defeated by Bedford, and Nashua North since the last column. These were all games that they lost by a single goal. They proved the fight was still there but they just had a hard time sealing the deal. They did gain some momentum back when they got a whopping 11-0 victory against Alvirne. This hopefully can provide them with confidence to be used in their following games. Goffstown is capable of gaining a lot more wins to add to their record, but they need to make their adjustments now.

9. Nashua South: What a difference a week makes. South has been playing great all year until they lost against rival Nashua North. Since then they have yet to add a W to the win column. They had the tough task of facing Timberlane, and the undefeated Exeter. This week could’ve been a season-defining week for South, but they fell short. South has scored one goal in the past three games, and that can’t happen when playing against some of the premier competition in  DI. South has a lot of hard games ahead of them. By the time I write again for next week, they will have played BG, Goffstown, and Bedford. This is a second chance for South. Collecting wins against any of those three teams will speak volumes to them as a unit. ​​​​​​​

10. Winnacunnet: There is one word to describe the issue I see when I take a look at a team such as Winnacunnet. That word is consistency. They have had issues winning games consecutively, and that is something that needs to change. They have won games, and have proven that they are able to compete, but they haven’t been consistently. Winnacunnet has a tough schedule ahead with names such as Concord, Timberlane, Portsmouth, and Goffstown all on the horizon. They need to accumulate some Ws if they want into the playoffs. They’re fully capable of adding some wins to their name and competing but we will have to wait to see if they can get it done. ​​​​​​​

 

Division II

Standings & Statistical Leaders

1. Hollis-Brookline: The lone undefeated team in Division II continues to head in the right direction. A 10-0 win over Pelham last Friday felt like a bit of a statement to the rest of the division that this offense will be tough to contain come playoff time. 

2. Coe-Brown: After a 1-2 start, the Bears have rattled off five wins and a tie against a team on the rise in John Stark. Three consecutive 3-1 wins over Lebanon, Pembroke, and Oyster River, followed by a big-time 4-1 win over Bow has the Bears feeling good heading into the second half of the season. This lethal offense is playing the best it has all season with Bella Lapierre, Sommer Loto, Ellie Escabi, Lily Wolf, and Jennifer Noni all contributing game-to-game. Coe-Brown has responded in a big way.

3. Bow: The Falcons dropped their first contest since the beginning of September to Coe-Brown on Tuesday afternoon. This team has been consistent for the most part this season. The physicality they possess in the midfield can be the difference-maker on both ends of the pitch. A trip to John Stark should be a telling one as Bow looks to get back on track and continue on pace for a Top 4 seed. 

4. Merrimack Valley: The Pride followed up a 2-0 loss to Bow with a 1-0 win over John Stark and a  commanding 9-0 win over Plymouth. This team is known for winning close games, and this Saturday should be one of their closest yet when Pembroke comes to town.

5. John Stark: The Generals get a much-deserved bump up to the five spot this week. They have shown up against the contenders in this division and are proving to be a contender of their own. A 2-2 tie against a Coe-Brown team that has been clicking on all cylinders proves their defense is legit and can play with the top-scoring teams in this division. The schedule doesn't get easier with Bow coming to town in a game that will certainly have a say in what seed they get in a few weeks.

6. Pembroke: Two straight much-needed wins gets the Spartans a game over the .500 mark at 5-4. Two of the tougher tests of the season await with Merrimack Valley and Coe-Brown slated on the schedule. Can this offense get enough by these teams to hold on? Bailey Gatchell and company will certainly be up for the challenge. 

7. Oyster River: The Bobcat offense has run a bit dry as of late. Oyster River is 1-2-1 in their last four contests and has scored just three goals. A trip to Pelham on Saturday afternoon is a chance to play against a seasoned group and get prepared for a big game with Hollis-Brookline next Tuesday. 

8. Lebanon: Lebanon has had a week off to prepare for Souhegan on Saturday and Merrimack Valley next Monday. Following a 3-0 loss to Pembroke, the emphasis for this group is to see one go in the back of the net and find a rhythm for a competitive end-of-the-season stretch coming up. Maezie Angles has held her ground in net and will be called upon to give the Red Raiders a fighting chance as they try and find their offensive groove. 

9. Laconia: A thrilling 3-2 overtime victory behind a three-goal performance from Kate Carmignani has the Sachems sitting at 6-3. They followed that game up with a close 1-0 loss to an Oyster River team that finds themselves right in the mix with Laconia and many others. This group has been eye-opening, especially after the season they had last year. They are essentially learning on the fly on how to pull out close wins and for the most part they have done just that. It will be two measuring stick games in a row with Coe-Brown this afternoon and Merrimack Valley next Wednesday, arguably their toughest stretch of the season.

10. ConVal: The team that seems to play everyone tough has a ringer of a schedule ahead of them, starting with Hollis-Brookline this Friday and John Stark next Tuesday. This team will be a playoff threat, but they also have playoff teams waiting to play them over their final six games of the regular season. This team has been gritty and will need to show even more over these next three weeks.

 

 

Division III

Standings & Statistical Leaders

1. St. Thomas: The Saints continue to roll after another week of wins, scoring four goals in each contest. Their focus now turns to a Trinity team that has one of the better defenses in the division. A much-anticipated game with Hopkinton awaits and is one we plan to be at next Tuesday. 

2. Gilford: The same goes for the Golden Eagles, as they have not allowed a goal in nearly a month. They get another crack at Kearsarge this afternoon and look to continue their eight-game win streak.

3. Hopkinton: Hopkinton has continued their prolific offensive production, as they are tied with Stevens for a division-best 51 goals on the season. They will look to add to that tally in a rematch with Derryfield today. Their offensive duo has been joined by Elizabeth Holmes, Belle Serzans, and Avery Chase as the Hawks continue to spread things out and attack the net at will.

4. Stevens: Faith Norton played hero Saturday night with a game-winning goal in double overtime in a 1-0 victory over Kearsarge. The physicality certainly showed between those two squads, but the Cardinals looked motivated to avenge their early season loss to the Cougars. They held an early 1-0 lead against St. Thomas before the Saints ran away with the game in the final 18 minutes. They showed themselves they can compete with the best team in the division, but they know they have another level to go up before playoff time. 

5. Trinity: The Pioneers are riding a four-game win streak and recently took down Campbell 3-1 to avenge an early season loss. The mantra with this group has been their defense, and that has shined bright, allowing just two goals over their last four contests. 

6. Campbell: We are very excited to get our first in-person look at Campbell on Friday when they take on Conant this Friday. This a group that has found different ways to win each time out, let's see what they have in store on Friday. 

7. Derryfield: Derryfield finds themselves a game below the .500 mark. An 0-2 start to the season was followed by a four-game win streak, and now a three-game losing streak that brings them to their matchup with Hopkinton this afternoon. Finding the back of the net has been the issue in both of the Cougars' losing streaks this season. The season can take a turn for the better or worse over the next three weeks, let's see what Derryfield can do with their playoff destiny. 

8. Kearsarge: The Kearsarge defense has answered the call over the last four games, but all four have resulted in no wins, three losses, and a tie to be exact. You could see in the Stevens game how seasoned this group is on that end of the field. Reese Lacombe and Tessa Marinello have done a terrific job being the anchors of the Cougar defense. Their young offense has shown over the last week, but after this team's start to the season, it would not surprise me if they turned things back around quickly. 

9. Fall Mountain: Putting two goals in the back of the net in a 5-2 loss to Hopkinton can be seen as a confidence booster for a Wildcat team that has risen to the occasion this season. They take on Newport this afternoon and have a big one with Kearsarge this Saturday in a game they should feel they have a chance to take on the road. 

10. Raymond: The Rams find themselves hovering around .500. There are winnable games that this group hopes to take advantage of as they look to be the sneaky upset pick come playoff time. 

 

 

Division IV

Standings & Statistical Leaders

1. Newmarket: The Mules faced their toughest test yet in Concord Christian last Friday, playing to a 1-1 draw. A clean, physical, and intense game went all the way to double overtime with AJ Mulligan finding the back of the net for Newmarket. This could be a preview of what is to come within the next few weeks.

2. Concord Christian: What a week for Concord Christian. A tie with the Mules and a 2-1 win at home over Woodsville, this group has found its identity. The workload is spread out evenly. Emma Smith, Ella Baker, Lilli Carlile, and Makayla Baglio all have had their fair share of moments for this team. Let's see if they can have a repeat performance from two weeks ago with Sunapee on the schedule this afternoon. 

3. Profile: A dominant second half was the difference maker in a 4-0 win over rival Littleton this past Saturday. They followed that up with a 10-0 win over Colebrook. 68 goals scored, two allowed, a 9-0 record, everything is looking up for the Patriots. This has been a program in the mix the last few seasons, but this team has a different feel to it. 

4. Portsmouth Christian: The Eagles picked up their best win of the season Wednesday afternoon, 2-1 over Sunapee in overtime. Tatum Smith continued her strong season with both goals in the contest and PCA got a marquee win to solidify themselves as a true contender. The makeup of this group is a bit different than last, but they have the same kind of integrity that last year's runner-up possessed. 

5. Sunapee: It has been an up-and-down few weeks for Sunapee. They have responded after losses, so I expect them to do the same this afternoon against Concord Christian. Clare Tuohy and Sophie Bourque have been a terrific one-two punch for the Lakers, something they will need to rely on against a possession-dominant team in CCA.

6. Woodsville: The Engineers have now dropped three straight after a perfect 7-0 start to the season. While these losses have come to tough opponents, this team will need a near-perfect end to the season for a chance at a top-four seed, something that is very beneficial for where they are located and the field they play on.

7. Lin-Wood: Hello Lumberjacks! Arguably one of the best wins not only this season but in program history, taking down Littleton 4-2 behind a hat trick from Abishai Corey. This was a huge bounce back after a 2-1 loss to Pittsburg-Canaan earlier in the week. Now a streaking Groveton team awaits a team with high hopes for a playoff run. 

8. Littleton: It has been a tough stretch for a still somewhat young Crusaders team. Taytum Adams did her best to give Littleton a chance on Saturday, but Profile's offense proved to be too much. This is the first time we have seen this offense struggle, and now they will have to see what they can bring to the field on Saturday in a rematch with the Patriots.

9. Groveton: The Eagles came back to earth a bit with a 2-0 loss to rival Colebrook (HUGE win for the Mohawks). Records go out the window when these two teams play, but that was a game Groveton was hoping to continue the momentum with. Linwood comes to town this Friday in a game both teams will be clawing for to stay afloat in the top eight.

10. Gorham: The Huskies have won three straight, snapping.a three-game losing streak. Consistency has been the issue for this group. A stretch of Colebrook, Woodsville, and Profile awaits Gorham. If they can come out of that with at least two wins this group should be feeling good about themselves.