A way-too-early look at the 2023 field hockey season

It seemed like there were two kinds of field hockey teams throughout the 2022 - teams that had a lot of upperclassmen and teams that didn't.

That might be simplifying things a little too much; of course there were teams that had a mix of both. But take a deeper look at the rosters of the teams that made the final four in all three divisions, and there were clearly teams that were senior-laden and others who were led by the youth.

Things change quickly in high school sports, with graduation turning over rosters completely every four years. Add in transfers and coaching changes, and there's a lot of unknowns from year to year, so these predictions are based off what we know now.

One thing we do know, as the 2023 season will be the second year of the NHIAA's two-year cycle, there likely won't be any movement between divisions or changes to the number of playoff teams in each one. So with that said, here is a way-too-early look at the 2023 field hockey season.

Division I

Exeter has won the last two division championships behind a core group that will be graduating, including two-time D1 Offensive Player of the Year Addison MacNeil. But while the Blue Hawks will have big holes to fill, the depth the program has built up over the years should keep it among the top teams in the division.

This year's runner-up, Winnacunnet, loses just five seniors, but they played a huge role in the Warriors' return to the final. They'll have key players back, but like Exeter, will have to full big holes in the lineup.

The other two teams that made the final four - Dover and Windham - could go into the preseason as co-favorites. Dover loses four seniors, but should have key players Audrey Carter, Rylen Gray and Hayley Tosh returning to lead the way. Windham graduates three seniors who were contributors, but returns a handful of players who have been a key part of the program for three years.

Bishop Guertin, Keene, Londonderry and Pinkerton will also see key players graduate, but all should be in the mix to contend for a top spot in the division. Concord and Bedford both lose talented senior classes, but should have enough returning to compete for a playoff spot, while Merrimack, Salem and Nashua South had a talented collection of underclassman to be in the mix next year.

Too-early predictions for 2023 playoff teams (11): Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Keene, Londonderry, Pinkerton, Salem, Windham, Winnacunnet.

Players to watch: Amelia MacDonald, Bedford; Eloise Montagano, Bedford; Taylor Guibord, Bishop Guertin; Lauren Redfern, Bishop Guertin; Kamrynn Schmitt, Bishop Guertin; Amy Desrochers, Concord; Alyssa McGonigle, Concord; Nadia Hanna, Concord; Audrey Carter, Dover; Rylen Gray, Dover; Erin Lynch, Dover; Hayley Tosh, Dover; Leyden Churchill, Dover; Izzy Steiner, Exeter; Garen Steiner, Exeter; Danica Caron, Exeter; Trinity Williamson, Keene; Tessa Pearson, Keene; Taylor McKinnon, Londonderry; Alison Chamberst, Londonderry; Ashleigh Leone, Londonderry; Keira Strike, Londonderry; Ava Naar, Londonderry; Chloe Gilroy, Manchester Central-West; Collen Stankiewicz, Manchester Central-West; Brooklynn Finkfelt, Manchester Memorial; Jackie Hayes, Merrimack; Ava Martin, Merrimack; Maren Lowell, Nashua South; Karina O'Donnell, Nashua South; Wylie Hart, Nashua South; Elise LeBlanc, Pinkerton; Jaelyn Crossman, Pinkerton; Natalie Paradzick, Pinkerton; Ava Bennett, Pinkerton;  Lyndsay Troisi, Salem; Jennifer Olson, Salem; Ella Mosto, Salem; Brandi Garand, Timberlane; Sophia Ponzini, Windham; Ava Sanchez, Windham; Annie Mitchell, Windham; Sophie Manchester, Windham; Ella Reeners, Windham; Amber Morgado, Winnacunnet; Jennifer Frost, Winnacunnet.

Division II

John Stark won its first title with a roster that had five seniors, so the Generals will have holes to fill, but many of the players doing so were a big part of the title run. With that kind of experience under their collective belts, and with graduation hitting most of the other perennial contenders harder, the Generals look to be the favorite going into the 2023 season.

Final-four teams Souhegan and Portsmouth will lose key players to graduation, but both programs are established enough, they have enough talented returners to keep both near the top of the standings. Hollis Brookline, which made the semifinals for the first time in recent memory, loses 10 seniors who helped the Cavaliers get there. Still, there are enough key returners to think HB will be in the upper half of the division in 2023.

The four other teams that reached the quarterfinals - Derryfield, Kennett, Merrimack Valley and Hanover - all have what look to be a strong core of returners to be in contention again. The Cougars have the biggest shoes to fill with senior Kira Geddes graduating,

Goffstown, Oyster River and Bow will both have most of their teams returning after each loses just three seniors, and after each made the playoffs this season, steps forward can be expected. Lebanon will have to find a way to replace goalie Ashlee Blashock and defender Mikayla Thornton. Pembroke made its first playoff appearance in a long time, but the Spartans lose 10 seniors, while Pelham and Kingswood could bounce back from missing the playoffs this year.

Too-early predictions for 2023 playoff teams (14): Bow, Derryfield, Goffstown, Hanover, Hollis Brookline, John Stark, Kennett, Kingswood, Lebanon, Merrimack Valley, Oyster River, Pelham, Portsmouth, Souhegan.

Players to watch: Sabrina Bernard, Bow; Ella Gray, Bow; Chloe Bremberg, Derryfield, Kennedy Overhoff, Derryfield; Jess Avalon, Derryfield; Alexis Brown, Goffstown, Ava Jones, Goffstown; Sam Dery, Goffstown; Eva Bell, Hanover; Maggie Higgins, Hanover; Sabrina Hill, Hollis Brookline; Nyah Jernberg, Hollis Brookline; Adie Bolduc, John Stark; Lauryn Guevin, John Stark; Jillian Fredette, John Stark; Hailey Brisson, John Stark; Edie Fischer, John Stark; Caylin Worthen, John Stark; Georgia Coleman, Kennett; Allie Hussey, Kennett; Ava Gaudette, Kennett; Carrigain Williams, Kingswood; Mackenzie Ray, Lebanon; Payson Fowler-Thorsen, Lebanon; Kaiya Merceir, Merrimack Valley; Addyson Pare, Milford, Mairead Kirby, Milford; Willa Audley, Milford; Olivia Andersen, Oyster River; Nora Rogers, Oyster River; Rowynn Pickering, Oyster River; Brooke Emond, Oyster River; Jessica Bevens, Pelham; Molly Coakley, Pelham; Camdyn Despres, Pembroke; Treic Thomas-Guerzon, Pembroke; Sydney Moreau, Portsmouth; Sam Ruel, Portsmouth; Allison Jordan, Souhegan; Maddie Lim, Souhegan; Brooke Fallon, Souhegan.

Division III

Gilford completed its undefeated season behind a senior class that been knocking on the door for the previous three years, but with eight players graduating, the Golden Eagles have a lot of holes to fill. It will help to have midfielder Olivia Keenan and goalie Lilly Winward returning, and they will help Gilford remaining at or near the top of the division.

Bishop Brady went on another playoff run to reach the final for the fourth time in a row, and with a strong group of underclassmen returning, the Giants should be in position to make one more push for a title. Newport, which lost to Bishop Brady in overtime in the semifinals, returns all but two players, including midfielder Katie Sharron, and will have a shot at returning to the final four.

With seven seniors graduating, Mascenic could take a step back from its semifinal appearance, but the team the Vikings beat in the quarterfinals, Conant, should be a contender for that spot. The Orioles return nine juniors while losing just one senior from this year's team.

Newfound, which was upset in the quarterfinals, loses just one senior as well, but it's Matti Douville, the D3 Defensive Player of the Year, so the Bears will have big shoes to fill on defense.

Mascoma Valley, Berlin, Stevens and White Mountains will each lose a handful of seniors from playoff teams, but each looks to have a enough of a returning core to contend for spots near the top of the division in 2023. St. Thomas missed the playoffs in 2022, but played a lot of the top teams close, and could make a jump into the postseason next year.

Too-early predictions for 2023 playoff teams (11): Berlin, Bishop Brady, Conant, Gilford, Mascenic, Mascoma Valley, Newfound, Newport, Stevens, St. Thomas, White Mountains.

Players to watch: Ava Archambault, Bishop Brady; Laura Yap, Bishop Brady; Kimble Rose, Bishop Brady; Maddie Bergeron, Conant; Sophia Spingola, Conant; Gracean Kirby, Conant; Abby Pittman, Franklin; Olivia Keenan, Gilford; Lilly Windward, Gilford; Jazz Lee, Hopkinton; Marlyn Valentine, Littleton; Rebecca Colby, Littleton; Makenna Reed, Littleton; Kylie Rogers, Mascoma Valley; Kara Miller, Mascoma Valley; Hailey Miller, Mascoma Valley; Gabby Pierce, Mascoma Valley; Ann Buffington, Mascoma Valley; Makayla Harwood, Monadnock; Elle MacDonald, Newfound; Isabelle LaPlume, Newfound; Addie Dolloff, Newfound; Allie Normandin, Newfound; Katie Sharron, Newport; Taylor Fellows, Newport; Maddox Lovely, Newport; Lacey Clark, St. Thomas; Kensley Harris, St. Thomas; Kadence Law, St. Thomas; Cameron Ferland, Stevens; Daniella Varela, Stevens; Sarah Wheeler, Stevens; Ciera Challinor, White Mountains; Adrianna Dami, White Mountains.

Only 36 weeks until the start of the 2023 field hockey preseason.