Spring Sports

Division I girls lacrosse preview

Here's a look at how the Division I girls lacrosse season might play out in 2015.

Souhegan and Pinkerton are the top two seeds, respectively, in Division I. — Pinkerton and Souhegan have met in the last two Division I championship games, but both suffered key losses to graduation.

Here's a look at how the Division I girls lacrosse season might play out in 2015.

Favorites

Pinkerton (last year: 18-3): Yes, the Astros were hit with losses due to graduation, but its hard to count out the two-time defending champions, especially when they bring back players like Maggie McCarthy, Ali Daivs, Avery Drouin and Micaela Cappozzo. The road to a third championship will be tougher, thanks to the addition of teams like Bedford and Bishop Guertin, but Pinkerton should continue to churn out solid players to fill in behind those top-tier athletes.
Bedford (last year: 17-3): The Bulldogs are coming off their first championship after winning it all in Division II last year. While Bedford didn't lose a ton of players from that team, it lost two key players in Drew Shapiro and goalie Ashley Maddox. But Bedford has returning players who stepped up on offense to support Shapiro and returns defenders Samantha Hornesby and Lilly Heald.
Bishop Guertin (last year: 12-5): The Cardinals also make the jump to Division I, but with a new head coach in Kerry D'Ambroise. While Bishop Guertin also lost some key players to graduation, the Cardinals have one of the best offensive players in the state in Kristin Cameron and one of the best goalies in Lauren Trepany.
Souhegan (last year: 18-3): The Sabers have finished as the runner-up in each of the last three years, and face the challenge of replacing five Division I-caliber players. Somehow, Sabers coach Maren Petropulos figures out how to do it, and this year, she'll look to several players - including captains Katie Almeida, Madison Angulas and Emma Fleuette - to lead the way.

Contenders

Londonderry (last year: 9-9): The Lancers got a boost from the return of coach Bob Slater, who led them to three-straight championships from 2009-11. Londonderry returns Rachel Stevens on defense and midfielder Noelle Lambert, both of whom were all-state selections a year ago. Both are captains.
Exeter (last year: 13-7): The Blue Hawks hung with Souhegan in the semifinals a year ago, and return two players who received first-team honors in senior defender Anna Vogt and sophomore attack Lauren Arkell.
Merrimack (last year: 7-9): The Tomahawks move up from D-II with perhaps their best team since winning it all in 2012. Leading the way is senior Julia Perry, who does a little bit of everything for Merrimack, and junior Callie Dwyer.

Sleeper

Hollis Brookline (last year: 6-9): The Cavaliers have made the playoffs every year since making the jump from Division III a few years ago, but haven't won in the postseason. That could change this year, as HB has a talented group back that includes seniors Alyssa Rich, Marin Owens, Maria Passamonte and Hannah MacLeod.

The rest: Concord, Dover, Manchester Central, Manchester Memorial, Nashua North, Nashua South, Salem.