Seacoast high school field hockey 2023: Here's a close look at every local team
Seacoast high school field hockey teams are kicking off the 2023 season with championship aspirations and goals to improve upon last year.
Here's a look at the local teams from New Hampshire and Maine:
More: Here are 29 Seacoast high school field hockey players to watch in 2023
NEW HAMPSHIRE
DIVISION I
DOVER
Coach: Sarah Michaud, eighth season
2022 result: 14-4, lost in Division I semifinals
Top returning players: Audrey Carter, sr., midfield; Rylen Gray, sr., back; Hayley Tosh, sr., goalie; Leyden Churchill, jr., forward; Erin Lynch, jr., midfield; Kaela Robins, jr., back; Gaby Anderson, jr., forward
Other key players: Hannah Deroy, soph., forward; Giana Leonardi, soph., forward; Leah Joyce, sr., back; Alexis Silva, sr., midfield; Avery Mourgenos, sr., back; Olivia Salinas, sr., midfield; Hannah Fitzgerald, sr., forward
Outlook: "This year, we have the largest class of seniors (13) since Jessi Paul and I took over the program, and we are excited to build off the success we had in 2022," Michaud said ... Dover returns a strong nucleus led by seniors Carter, Gray and Tosh, with major contributors in the junior and sophomore classes as well. The Green Wave has a great chance to build on last year's 14-win season that ended in an OT, 3-2 loss to Winnacunnet in the semifinals ... Carter and Gray were both finalists for the 2022 Seacoast Field Hockey Player of the Year award ... "We have extremely strong leadership and the team is very motivated," Michaud said. "We have a great group of athletes and can't wait to get started." ... Dover opened the season Monday with a 5-1 win at Manchester Central/West.
EXETER
Coach: Deb Grott, 21st season
2022 result: 17-1-1, won Division I state championship
Top returning Players: Izzy Steiner, sr., midfield; Garen Steiner, sr., midfield; Elsa Bishop, jr., midfield
Other key Players: Dani Caron, soph., forward/mid; Olivia Levitsky, jr., forward/mid; Emma Mohns, jr., defense; Poppy Schaffer, jr., defense; Alexa Zaimes, jr.; forward, Marlie Macek, sr., goalie
Outlook: The two-time reigning Division I state champions added the program's third plaque to the trophy case with a 2-0 win over rival Winnacunnet last October, and look to make another run this fall. ... Despite recent success, the season approach is always the same for Grott, the rest of the coaching staff and the players ... "Day by day, game by game," Grott said. "This 2023 team brings determination and hard work ethic led by their trio of captains." ... The Blue Hawks took a hit with the graduation of Seacoast Field Hockey Player of the Year Addison MacNeil, but don't overlook the returnees such as Bishop and Caron who scored important goals to lead the Blue Hawks to a quarterfinal win over Bishop Guertin in last year's tournament. ... Exeter opened the season on Monday with a 7-1 win over Nashua South.
WINNACUNNET
Coach: Heidi Hand, 14th season
2022 result: 16-2-1, lost in Division I state championship
Top returning Players: Hayden Adams, sr., forward; Jen Frost, sr., forward; Amber Morgado, soph., goalie; Lyla Pearlo, jr., midfield; Amelia McAfee, sr., forward; Annika Savage, sr., defense; Mazie Snell, sr., defense; Emerson Parish, sr., forward
Other key Players: Mckinley Fowler, fresh., forward; Fiona McAfee, fres., forward; Jordan Hurrell, jr., defense
Outlook: Though it ended in a 2-0 loss to Exeter in the state championship, Winnacunnet put together a tremendous season in 2022, and the Warriors expect to be in contention in Division I this year ... "We have a lot of key returning players who went through a tough loss last year in losing in the state championship," Hand said. "They have already brought so much energy into preseason and are ready to put the work in. Great group of coachable athletes." ... Winnacunnet boasts a plethora of senior forwards - Adams, Frost, Parish and McAfee as well as key defensive players in front of sophomore goalie Morgado, which makes the Warriors strong on both sides of the ball ... Winnacunnet opened the season on Monday with a 3-2 overtime win at home against Timberlane.
DIVISION II
OYSTER RIVER
Coach: Anne Golding, ninth season
2022 result: 7-7-1, lost in Division II first round
Top returning players: Olivia Andersen, jr., midfield; Mia Weglarz, jr., midfield; Mia Boyd, sr., mid/forward, Nora Rogers, soph., forward; Eliza Farwell, soph., forward; Maggie Aldous, soph., forward; Sadie McLeod, soph., midfield, Rowynn Pickering, soph., defense/midfield
Other key players: Rose Goldsmith, jr., forward; Brooke Edmond, jr., goalie; Harley Katchadorian, soph., goalie, Grey Bowden, fresh., defense
Outlook: With plans to build upon 2022's Division II playoff berth, Golding said the team is looking forward to this season, and "have our sights set on the tournament right out of the gate" ... "Losing only three seniors, the majority of our starting lineup has returned with a couple of additions to round out our mix," Golding said. ... Oyster River has started the season with a loss to Kennett, and a win over Souhegan.
PORTSMOUTH
Coach: Sara Carpenter, 10th season
2022 result: 13-4, lost in Division II semifinals
Top returning players: Sam Ruel, sr., defense; Sydney Moreau, sr., midfield; Maggie Conklin, sr., midfield; Audrey Walsh, sr., midfield; Sophie Berling, jr., forward; Clara Daw, jr., forward; Emily Frank, jr., defense; Grace Lucy, sr., defense; Reese McCauley, soph., goalie
Other key players: Irie Weinstein, fresh., defense; Shiloh Weinstein, fresh., forward; Kerris Parkington, jr., defense; Julia McGeorge, jr., midfield; Hannah Pettigrew, jr., forward; Karina Beer, jr., forward/midfield
Outlook: "Although we have a core group of returning starters from last season's team, we also lost a lot to graduation," Carpenter said. "As a result, we will be looking to work together as a collective unit to put the best team we can on the field. We're lucky in that we have players moving up from the junior varsity level with a lot of skill and two incoming freshmen that will make an immediate impact." ... Carpenter added, "the goal at the beginning of every season is to make the playoffs. Our team goal is to not only make the playoffs, but advance as far as our hard work and diligent effort will take us." ... Along with the talented group of underclassmen, the Clippers' freshman duo of the Weinstein twins will be big contributions in their first year with the varsity team ... Portsmouth opened the season Wednesday against Derryfield.
DIVISION III
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
Coach: Lindsay Dobecki, second season
2022 result: 3-10-1, did not qualify for Division III tournament
Top returning players: Abbie Gaynor, jr., defense; Lacey Clark, sr., forward; Kensley Harris, jr, goalie, Kaydence Law, jr., forward; Chloe Baker, jr., defense
Other key players: Sydney Kuselias, soph., forward; Emma Massicotte, soph., midfield
Outlook: The Saints are hoping that 2023 will go differently than 2022's season and the journey started with a 2-0 loss at Newfound on Tuesday. ... "We have a lot of retuning talent from last year, and it's also a great year for our underclassmen," Dobecki said. "We have a big sophomore class so it's a great opportunity for them to kind of fill some of the roles we're missing after the class we graduated last year." .... Dobecki said the Saints have a lot of talented players who are returning who have been a part of the team for a few years. "We're excited about that," she said. "We're looking forward to build on momentum we started to gain at the end of last season."
MAINE
Class A South
MARSHWOOD
Coach: Molly Humiston, first season
2022 result: 6-9-1, lost in Class A South quarterfinals
Top returning players: Erika Parker, sr., midfield; Elle McDaniel, sr., forward/midfield; Eva Hersey, jr., forward/midfield
Other key players: Ella Holland, sr., forward; Olivia Minotti, jr., defense; Sienna Sapountisis, jr., forward; Hazel Stout, fresh., midfield; Makayle Coy, fresh., goalie; Chloe Walker, jr., defense; Elaine Doran, jr., defense/midfield; Katelynn Breton, jr., defense
Outlook: Humiston, in her first year as head coach with the Hawks, has a heavy upperclassmen roster (14 players) to start the season with. ... "The team is looking to fill a few gaps from last year's graduating class, but is otherwise very familiar with how each other plays," Humiston said. "Their chemistry is instant and the passing patterns that come from years playing together are already present." ... Humiston said with so many upperclassmen she can fiddle with positions to create new opportunities for the team, including utilizing a couple of talented underclassmen and new additions. ... The Hawks began their season against Gorham. ... "It may take a couple of games to settle into a new system, but once the girls have found their footing, we will be contenders again this season," Humiston said.
Class B SOUTH
YORK
Coach: Barb Marois, 21st season
2022 result: 15-2, lost Class B South final
Top returning players: Ava Brent, senior, forward/midfield; Olivia Coite, sr., forward; Natalie Dickson, jr., goalie; Emma Joyce, jr., midfield/back; Sophia Luchette, jr., back
Other key players: Nya Avery, soph., forward/mid; Bella Santini, soph., forward
Outlook: The Wildcats made a deep tournament run in 2022, and York has a strong group of players who are ready to lead the team to another deep run again this fall ... "This year's team will have a balance of the classes with contributions coming from all classes and all positions," Marois said. "Team is the name of the game for this group with our priority being to work together as a group to achieve our goals and grow as the season continues." ... York opened the season Thursday at Poland. The Wildcats see three of their first four games on the road, before three straight home games.
Class C South
TRAIP ACADEMY
Coach: Anna Powers, first season
2022 result: 0-8, did not qualify for tournament
Top returning players: Georgia Jackson, sr., forward; Nola Jackson, soph., mid/forward; Lillian Preston, soph., forward; Quinn Butler, sr., midfield; Cecilia Gagner, jr., defense; Acadia Dorgan, jr., defense; Noelle French, soph., defense
Other key players: Abigayle Piche Spear, jr., midfield; Riley Chase, soph., forward/mid; Saide Catalogna, soph., defense
Outlook: "Our team is eager to get our chance to really make it work this season," said Powers, in her first year with the Rangers. "We want to use the power of being underestimated to our advantage, and get some wins." ... Traip begins the season with two straight home games next week against Sacopee Valley (Wednesday) and Telstar (Friday). ... The Rangers have a rough spot midway through the schedule with four straight road games. ... "I hope to bring excitement to the community about playing field hockey, and to connect with the Kittery Middle School more to create a feeder program, and to get girls to play in the off-season as well," Powers said.
-Team capsules compiled by Brandon Brown
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast NH ME field hockey 2023: Team by team previews
