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# D2 girls lacrosse chasing two-time defending champion Portsmouth again
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/d2-girls-lacrosse-chasing-two-time-defending-champion-portsmouth-again/
- Published: 2019-04-06T12:00:53.000Z
- Updated: 2019-04-06T12:00:53.000Z
- Description: Three straight years in the final, winning the last two titles, and still, the Portsmouth High School girls lacrosse team might not be done. The Clippers certainly enter the 2019 season as the favorite to make it three Division II championships in a row, but there is no shortage of teams lining up t
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, girls lacrosse, preview, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

Three straight years in the final, winning the last two titles, and still, the Portsmouth High School girls lacrosse team might not be done.

The Clippers certainly enter the 2019 season as the favorite to make it three Division II championships in a row, but there is no shortage of teams lining up to get in Portsmouth's way.

Winnacunnet will once again be ready to try to get an elusive win against the Clippers, while Hollis Brookline returns almost its entire cast from a year ago. Meanwhile, Hanover should be improved with another year of experience under its collective belt.

### Favorites

- **Portsmouth (18-3 in 2018):** The Clippers didn't lose much from last year's team, but the players they lost - including Sydney Ludes and Lily Madden - were top-notch players in the division. Portsmouth returns goalie Grace Jackson to lead the defense while senior Isabelle Suttie and juniors Corinne Lamond and Sallie Squire will lead the offense for the Clippers.
- **Winnacunnet (16-2):** The Warriors lost one of the top offensive players in the program's history in Dana Sher, but return a pretty good one-two punch. Twin sisters Ali McNamara (52 goals in 2018) and Keelyn McNamara (48) return for Winnacunnet, as does junior Sarah Taylor, who had 18 goals a year ago. The defense will be led by all-state performers Brooke McErlain and Mills Waddell.

### Challengers

- **Hollis Brookline (13-5):** The Cavaliers pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the playoffs last year by beating Winnacunnet in the final four, and HB returns all but one player from a season ago. Defense looks to be the Cavs' strength, at least early on, with goalie Olivia Valentine returning with starters Caroline Smith, Dana Ulrich and Sydney Speir also back, along with Jillian O'Hara and Rachel Ash, who got time with the varsity a year ago. On offense it will be seniors Kelsey Sweeney and Rachel Cerato teaming with juniors Victoria Bruzik, Josie Farwell and Meghan Veino and sophomores Abby Magnuszewski and Brooke Allanach. Senior Reagan Berry and juniors Tasha White and Paisley Broadhurst will man the midfield.
- **Hanover (9-9):** The Marauders played a tough schedule last season and came up short in a lot of close games before falling to the Clippers in the quarterfinals. Hanover again has a tough schedule, but returns its top two scorers from a year ago. Junior Maddie McCorkle, a Duke University commit, is one of the top players in the state and has already recorded over 150 points in her first two years. Also returning is junior Jess Seibel, while senior Jasmine Lou gives the Marauders another scoring option and Aiden Stone anchors the defense.

### Contenders

- **John Stark (13-4):** The Generals will try to improve on last year's final four appearance with a new head coach, as former assistant Samantha Weaver takes over. John Stark has a solid core of seniors, led by Autumn Nelson, Olivia Sohl and goalie Samantha Porter on defense. Seniors Lexi Knapton and Hannah Marquis will be joined by sophomore Meg Cole to provide offense while freshman attacker Anna Salisbury and freshman defender Emma Edwards will also be looked to for contributions.
- **Windham (12-7):** The Jaguars were a very young team a year ago and should benefit just from having another year of experience. Leading the way will be a handful of juniors, including Ryane Farrell, Erica Irvin and Olivia Manchester. Windham also has a pair of sophomore defenders in Kate Blaisdell (field hockey) and Sarah Dempsey (basketball) who were standouts in other sports this year.
- **Oyster River (9-6):** The Bobcats have reached the playoffs in each of their first two years in D2 and now have a new head coach in Erin Murphy. Oyster River returns five seniors who will all serve as captains, including Abby Schmitt, Gabby Haug, Kelsey McCrone, Madeline Alphonse and Ally Marshall.

### Dark Horse

- **ConVal (9-6 in D3):** The Cougars have been competitive in D3 the last couple years, having made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. ConVal returns five seniors who all have three years of varsity experience, including Mackenzie Costello, Hannah Johnson, Kalli Taylor, Dee Kashulines and Sienna Sorbello. Junior Lily Dell steps in at goalie.

### Rest of the Field

- **Alvirne (4-10)**
- **Coe-Brown (3-11 in D3)**
- **Goffstown (7-10)**
- **Kingswood (6-8)**
- **Manchester Memorial/West (0-15)**
- **Merrimack Valley (2-13)**
- **Spaulding (1-14)**

### Playoff Predicitions

**Playoff teams:** Portsmouth, Winnacunnet, Hollis Brookline, Hanover, John Stark, Windham, Oyster River, ConVal.

**Final four:** Portsmouth, Winnacunnet, Hollis Brookline, Hanover.

**Championship:** Portsmouth over Winnacunnet.