Next week marks the end of the regular season for girls' soccer. We have seen a lot of stunners and some very tight games over the last week, and we are here to break it all down in this week's edition of Thursday Thoughts.
Will Manzi will share his thoughts on Division I, while Lance Legere has you covered for Divisions II, III, and IV.
Our column today is brought to you by our friends and partners at Great Bay Community College!
Make sure to check out their open house on Saturday, October 26th!
Division I
Standings and Statistical Leaders
1. Bishop Guertin: The way the Cardinals were playing, Exeter had a slim margin of error to maintain the top spot on this list, and they did indeed forfeit it to BG. The Cardinals tied with Timberlane on Monday in a makeup game then had to turn around the next day and face Nashua South. They defeated South 3-0, making it eleven games since their last loss. Their depth this season is unrivaled. Everyone seems to contribute and score routinely. They don’t have subs, they have reinforcements. Against South: three different scorers (Kelsey Ackerman, Ava Seuch, Emerson Brown). Up next for BG: A big one against Nashua North on 10/19.
2. Winnacunnet: The Warriors made good use of their screen time during our Seacoast Showdown game of the week against Portsmouth, grinding out a 1-0 win. Isla Christie scored the lone goal. Christie is a problem out there. She’s tall and skilled, and only a sophomore. Winnacunnet looks really good. They have multiple weapons. Their only loss this season: a 0-1 heartbreaker against BG because of a goal in the final minutes. They have a strong case for #1 on this list. Next up is a mouth-watering matchup against Hanover on 10/17. It should be a good one.
3. Goffstown: Goffstown has looked better more and more every week. You get the sense they’re really well coached, and they have a strong core of scorers in Elle Lavalierre (15 goals), Ari Girzone (10 goals), and Rose Houde (6 goals). They have been playing even better lately, enjoying a six-game win streak that has seen them outscore opponents 26-5 during that span. Lavalierre’s 15 goals are tied for second-best in the division. The Grizzlies will take on Windham this afternoon.
4. Nashua North: North followed up the big win against Bedford with an impressive showing against Alvrine, winning 6-0. Sarah Frye had a hat trick. Her uptick in scoring has made North all the more dangerous as we near playoff time. Up next for North: 10/19 against Bishop Guertin.
5. Bedford: The Bulldogs responded to the Nashua North loss with a big 6-0 win over Spaulding. Anna Diaz and Libby Foxx each had two goals apiece. Their next game will be a grind-it-out contest with Portsmouth on October 18th.
6. Exeter: The Blue Hawks slipped in the rankings with a tough week, tying with Dover and dropping their first decision of the season to Portsmouth, falling 1-0. It was their first time being shut out this season. They've only scored three goals in their last three games. Their next game is against Timberlane next week, 10/22.
7. Hanover: Hanover tied with Pinkerton, then won 5-0 against Concord. That’s a strong win for the Bears. They are firmly entrenched in the tier of teams not worthy of a top five ranking based on resume but can compete with any team in the state. There’s no ignoring early season losses, but since back-to-back defeats in early September, Hanover has only lost one game, going 7-1-1 in that span. They have four games left, the first coming today against mighty Winnacunnet.
8. Portsmouth: One thing about Portsmouth is they love those 1-0 ballgames. They finally saw one end in their favor with a highlight win over Exeter, ending a streak of four consecutive 0-1 losses. Morgan Ruhnke scored an unassisted goal for the Clippers in the Exeter game. The volatility involved with a crop of low-scoring games can mislead you. I think they’ve been a bit unlucky, and don’t think this is a team you want to see in the playoffs. Nobody has scored more than one goal in a game against them this year. Up next: 10/18 vs Bedford, and 10/22 vs Pinkerton.
9. Pinkerton: Pinkerton got it done against Dover, winning 4-0. They also tied with Hanover 0-0, proving they are closely matched up as the rankings suggest. Bella Sippel continued a strong season with two goals against Dover. The Astros' defense has been stout this season especially as of late. They have yet to allow more than four goals in a game this season.
10. Timberlane: Timberlane has the edge over Salem for the final spot because they beat them 3-1 on 9/27. The resumes are closed otherwise. They tied 0-0 with BG on Monday, which earned them a spot on this list because BG has only been shut out one other time this season. The Owls then lost to Manchester Central / West 1-2 the next day, but most teams struggled in the second game of a back-to-back. I won’t dock them too much for that. Allison Harb has been terrific, tied for second-best in the division with 15 goals.
Division II
Standings and Statistical Leaders
1. Hollis-Brookline: The Cavaliers are the clear-cut favorite heading into the postseason. They play a clean possession game and have outscored opponents 75-3, the second-best mark in the entire state.
2. Coe-Brown: It was a grudge match as we expected, but the Bears went on the road and earned a 1-0 win behind the winner from Bella Lapiere and nine big saves from Sadie Scruton. The Bears will get a playoff tune-up with back-to-back games against ConVal and John Stark, starting with the Cougars coming to town on Friday.
3. John Stark: The Generals will carry a three-game win streak into Friday as they face off with MV. This could be another low-scoring affair, so having a goalie like Alexis Boudreau in net should have John Stark feeling confident heading into this matchup.
4. Bow: The Falcons snapped a two-game skid with a 3-2 win over ConVal, marking head coach Jay Vogt's 300th career win. Bow will look to finish out the season strong and earn two home playoff games, starting with a home game against Kennett on Friday.
5. Oyster River: Oyster River got are winners of two straight-after shutouts against Laconia (2-0) and Pelham (4-0). Alyska Alcocer was a factor on Tuesday against the Pythons with a goal in two assists in the winning effort. They will take on Souhegan under the lights tonight in a game we will have all the highlights of tomorrow morning.
6. Kingswood: The Knights could use a strong finish to the season. This team has shown the ability to play with the best this division has to offer, but they have also had some games they wish they could have back. They lead the division with six ties but will look to get back in the win column when they play Laconia on Saturday.
7. ConVal: The Cougars battled to the very end with a very good Bow team in a 3-2 defeat on Tuesday. Another test will be thrown their way when they travel to Coe-Brown on Friday. This is a seasoned group that could use another momentum boost heading into the playoffs.
8. Merrimack Valley: The Pride defense limited a dangerous Coe-Brown offense to just one goal, but again were unable to find the back of the net themselves. John Stark will be another team they will look to contain on Friday, but it will be the MV offense that will be the biggest factor in this one.
9. Milford: The Spartans have tied in two straight contests, both by a score of 1-1 and now turn their attention to the Pembroke Spartans on Friday night. Molly Miles may be active once again and will need to try and slow down a group that has hit their stride as of late.
10. Pembroke: The Spartans will look to get back to .500 as they travel to take on Milford this Friday. This offense has scored five goals in two of their last three games and will need all the firepower to try and get by a very sound Milford squad.
Division III
Standings and Statistical Leaders
1. Gilford: If you were wondering who had the best goal differential mark in the state, it is the Gilford Golden Eagles with 78 goals for and just two goals against. Ariah Dewar has made the necessary saves when called upon, but this offense has kept the ball on the attacking front in most games this season. A championship rematch with St. Thomas looms in what should be a great regular-season finale.
2. Campbell: The Cougars picked up a statement 1-0 win over previously undefeated Raymond on Tuesday. Ashlynn Guay found the back of the net just 10 minutes into the contest and Campbell never looked back. To come out of a stretch at 1-1 after facing Gilford and Raymond was the best outcome this group could have asked for. We have seen how explosive this offense has been all year, but it was their defense, and Hannah Pimentel who was a brick wall in net all afternoon, that kept a Raymond team that had netted 62 goals coming into that game scoreless for 80 minutes.
3. Raymond: The Rams suffered their first defeat of the year to Campbell on Tuesday, but this is a team that is still young but also very experienced with just one loss on the year. They are still in the mix for a top-four seed but will need to possibly win out to get two home playoff games.
4. Hopkinton: The Hawks will head down to Dover to face a battle-tested St. Thomas team in what could be a potential playoff preview this afternoon. Isabella and Sadie Serzans combined for all three goals in a bounce-back 3-0 win over Mascoma Valley last Friday and have this group on track for a top-four seed.
5. Stevens: The red-hot Cardinals added another big-time win to their resume, avenging an early season loss to Fall Mountain with a 4-0 win on Tuesday. Payton Ferland leads the division with 23 goals, but on Tuesday it was four different Cardinals that found the back of the net. This team has real firepower and is peaking at just the right time.
6. St. Thomas: The Saints are back on track, riding a three-game win streak and holding a 15-0 goal differential during this stretch. That will be put to the test when they take on Hopkinton this afternoon. Genna Bolduc will be involved a lot with a pesky Hopkinton attack in the box today.
7. Fall Mountain: 10 days off didn't do the Wildcats any favors as one bad stretch of play saw them give up three goals to Stevens in a 4-0 loss on Tuesday. They will look to get things corrected when they go to Newfound this afternoon.
8. Kearsarge: The Cougars snapped a two-game skid with a 6-1 win over Mascoma Valley and are staying alive in the top-eight race. Carly Grant and Ociee Ilg put away five of the six goals on Tuesday and they will need more of the same from them when they take on Bishop Brady this Friday.
9. Trinity: The Pioneers have quietly won four straight and are playing their best at just the right time, something head coach Michael Martinez was hoping would be the case back in the preseason. They haven't allowed a goal in October and will look to keep that streak alive when they travel to Derryfield on Friday.
10. Conant: The tough stretch of the schedule for the Orioles continues as they will face a hungry Raymond team on Friday. They were unable to get on the scoreboard in a 3-0 loss to St Thomas on Tuesday, so getting the offense back in rhythm will be task number one.
Division IV
Standings and Statistical Leaders
1. Concord Christian: The Kingsmen added yet another dominant victory to their tally last Friday when they got the best of PCA 4-0. Poise has been the biggest difference for CCA this season and they have passed every test with flying colors so far.
2. Profile: The Patriots won a classic grind-it-out North Country game over Woodsville 1-0 on Tuesday (and so did everyone else in the North Country with all the 1-0 results we saw). Ella McPhaul netted the winner and kept the Patriots in a race for the top seed.
3. Newmarket: The Mules will wrap up the regular season on the road with trips to Pittsfield and Portsmouth Christian after having a full week off with no games.
4. Portsmouth Christian: The Eagles will get another crack at Concord Christian today after a 4-0 loss to the Kingsmen less than a week ago. Only Profile has been able to hold CCA to just one goal, so it will be interesting to see what head coach Derek Summers can scheme out for round two this afternoon.
5. Sunapee: Clare Tuhoy eclipsed the 100-point mark with a five-goal performance in a 12-0 win over Hinsdale on Tuesday. Tuhoy leads the division by a fair margin with 29 goals and gives opposing defenses a headache every time out on the field. The Lakers will face Woodsville for the second time this season, this time on the road, in a game that could be the difference between one or two home playoff games.
6. Lin-Wood: Brianna Blood scored the lone goal as the Lumberjacks swept the season series against Littleton in a 1-0 win on Tuesday. Lin-Wood is closing in on another double-digit win season, but Pittsburg-Canaan stands in their way in a game that could have seeding implications.
7. Woodsville: Outside of CCA, the Engineers gave Profile one of their toughest games of the season, holding the Patriots to a 1-0 score. A trip to rival Littleton begins a stretch of back-to-back games as Woodsville has southern powerhouse Sunapee coming to town on Friday. Makayla Walker and Katie Houston will need to try and jumpstart the offense this afternoon.
8. Pittsburg-Canaan: Sienna Grondin surpassed to 1,000 save mark with 20 stops in a 2-1 win over rival Colebrook. Ella Gilbert scored both goals in the victory and will hope to carry over some of that offensive production when they take on the Lumberjacks today.
9. Lisbon: Ellie Wilcox found the back of the net off an assist from Arya Kimball to help the Panthers sneak out a 1-0 win on the road at Gorham on Tuesday. Lisbon will have a week off the prep for a big regular-season finale with Colebrook next Tuesday.
10. Colebrook: The Mohawks have dropped two straight 2-1 contests after winning their previous four games. They will take on Gorham this Friday and Lila Perry will look to limit the Huskies in net to try and get back in the win column.
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