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# Playoff Picture: Field Hockey (Oct. 4)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/playoff-picture-field-hockey-oct-4-2/
- Published: 2024-10-04T15:00:05.000Z
- Updated: 2024-10-04T15:00:05.000Z
- Description: (Oct. 4) It would be tough for Anne Golding to forget what it was like coaching field hockey at Oyster River High School when she first joined the staff. She also remembers there was another program that, more often than not, was near the bottom of the Division II standings along with the Bobcats.
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Fall Sports, Division I, Division II, Division III, field hockey, playoff picture, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

It would be tough for Anne Golding to forget what it was like coaching field hockey at Oyster River High School when she first joined the staff.

She also remembers there was another program that, more often than not, was near the bottom of the Division II standings along with the Bobcats.

"This is my 10th season with this program, and seventh as head coach," Golding said. "Hollis Brookline and us have had a similar growth trajectory. I remember seasons where we did not score a goal and definitely didn’t win a game, and they were at the bottom of the heap with me."

From 2015-19, the teams combined for seven seasons of three wins or less, with each one having a winless year during that time. HB made the playoffs twice during that stretch, but was one-and-done each time.

So when the two teams met in Hollis on Monday, there was some significance to the fact that they went into the game as the top two teams in the standings.

"For us to be at the top the way that we are and feeling that success, and having teams of kids that are passionate about this sport, that are invested in this sport, it’s a huge thing for this sport," Golding said. "It’s important."

HB won the game, 2-1 in overtime on a goal by Nyah Jernberg, to hand Oyster River (10-1) its first loss of the season. Going into the weekend, they both now trailed Bow (11-1) in the standings, while two-time defending champion John Stark (10-2) was right behind.

The Falcons, who last won a title in 2011 in D2, made a surprise run to the final four a year ago, upsetting Oyster River in quarterfinals. That came after a stretch of four years in Division III last decade.

And while the Generals have won the two most recent titles in the division, they'd been at the bottom along with the others before that.

"I don’t want to see the same four teams every year," HB coach Greg Cochrane said. "I love the fact that Oyster River is a top team. I love that we’re playing in these games. I love to see Bow on the come up. That’s exciting. We’re fortunate to be a part of that."

Both coaches were quick to emphasis that their success didn't happen overnight.

"It doesn’t happen by accident," Cochrane said. "Same with Oyster River, they put the work in, for sure. We put the work in and we’re ready and willing to battle. It’s a great thing to see some shifts."

For Golding, it started with convincing the administration to allow more grades to play at the middle school. Once that happened, and students became involved in the sport earlier on, Oyster River's numbers started to grow.

"We have to let them all play and now we have 50 kids consistently at the middle school playing," she said. "That’s the behind the scenes stuff that makes you thankful to be here and watching a match like this with two teams that have been there.

"To the teams that are struggling, you just keep at it. It’s not going to be up every year and it’s not going to be down every year. If you stay focused on your fundamentals and what’s important with this sport, and promoting it, and lifting the kids up, this can be possible."

Here is this week's look at the playoff picture.

*Note: For field hockey, Division I will have 12 teams, Division II and III will have 11 teams. Standings based off results reported to NHIAA.org and other media outlets. These are not official standings or pairings.*

### Division I

**Team (record, rating, last week)**

1. Keene (10-0-1, 3.8182, 1st)
2. Dover (9-1-1, 3.4545, 4th)
3. Bishop Guertin (8-1-1, 3.4000, 3rd)
4. Exeter (9-2, 3.2727, 2nd)
5. Concord (8-2, 3.2000, 6th)
6. Bedford (9-2-1, 3.1667, 5th)
7. Pinkerton (7-3-1, 2.7273, 8th)
8. Winnacunnet (7-3-1, 2.7273, 7th)
9. Salem (6-6, 2.0000, 12th)
10. Timberlane (5-6, 1.8182, 10th)
11. Londonderry (4-7, 1.4545, 9th)
12. Merrimack (4-7, 1.4545, NR)

**Outside:** Windham (3-7, 1.2000); Goffstown (3-8, 1.0909, 11th); Nashua South (2-9, 0.7273); Manchester (1-9, 0.4000); Nashua North (0-10, 0.0000); Portsmouth (0-11, 0.0000).

**Tiebreakers**

- Pinkerton wins the tiebreaker with Winnacunnet thanks to a head-to-head victory.
- Londonderry wins the tiebreaker with Merrimack thanks to a head-to-head victory.

**First-Round byes (changes in bold)**

1. Keene
2. **Dover**
3. Bishop Guertin
4. **Exeter**

**First-Round matchups**

- No. 9 **Salem** at No. 8 **Winnacunnet**
- No. 12 **Merrimack** at No. 5 **Concord**
- No. 11 **Londonderry** at No. 6 **Bedford**
- No. 10 Timberlane at No. 7 **Pinkerton**

**Playoff Dates**

- **Preliminary Round:** Wednesday, Oct. 23, 3 p.m. at higher seed.
- **Quarterfinals:** Saturday, Oct. 26, 2 p.m. at higher seed.
- **Semifinals:** Wednesday, Oct. 30, 5 and 7 p.m. at Bill Ball Stadium, Exeter.
- **Championship:** Saturday, Nov. 2, 3 p.m. at Bedford High School

### Division II

**Teams (record, rating, last week)**

1. Bow (11-1, 3.6667, 2nd)
2. Hollis Brookline (10-1, 3.6364, 3rd)
3. Oyster River (10-1, 3.6364, 1st)
4. John Stark (10-2, 3.3333, 4th)
5. Merrimack Valley (7-3, 2.8000, 5th)
6. Souhegan (7-4, 2.5455, 7th)
7. Plymouth (7-4, 2.5455, 6th)
8. Pembroke (5-5-1, 2.0000, 8th)
9. Kennett (5-6, 1.8182, 9th)
10. Hanover (4-5-1, 1.8000, 10th)
11. Pelham (4-6-1, 1.6364, 11th)

**Outside:** Lebanon (3-7-2, 1.3333); Kingswood (3-7-1, 1.2727); Derryfield (3-7, 1.2000); ConVal (1-10, 0.3636); Milford (0-9, 0.0000); Laconia (0-11, 0.0000).

**Tiebreakers**

- Hollis Brookline wins the tiebreaker with Oyster River thanks to a head-to-head victory.
- Souhegan wins the tiebreaker with Plymouth thanks to a head-to-head victory.

**First-Round byes (changes in bold)**

1. **Bow**
2. **Hollis Brookline**
3. **Oyster River**
4. John Stark
5. Merrimack Valley

**First-Round matchups**

- No. 9 Kennett at No. 8 Pembroke
- No. 11 Pelham at No. 6 **Souhegan**
- No. 10 Hanover at No. 7 **Plymouth**

**Playoff Dates**

- **Preliminary Round:** Tuesday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m. at higher seed.
- **Quarterfinals:** Friday, Oct. 25, 3 p.m. at higher seed.
- **Semifinals:** Tuesday, Oct. 29, 5 and 7 p.m. at Bill Ball Stadium, Exeter.
- **Championship:** Saturday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m. at Bedford High School

### Division III

**Team (record, rating, last week)**

1. Gilford (8-0, 4.0000, 2nd)
2. Mascenic (10-0, 4.0000, 1st)
3. Berlin (7-1, 3.6250, 4th)
4. Stevens (9-1, 3.6000, 3rd)
5. Hopkinton (7-3, 2.8000, 8th)
6. Bishop Brady (5-4, 2.2222, 10th)
7. Newfound (5-4-1, 2.2000, 5th)
8. Newport (4-4-1, 2.0000, 7th)
9. St. Thomas (4-4-2, 2.0000, 6th)
10. Kearsarge (4-6, 1.6000, 9th)
11. Mascoma Valley (3-6, 1.3333, 11th)

**Outside:** Winnisquam (3-7, 1.2000); Franklin (2-6, 1.0000); Sanborn (2-7, 0.8889); Littleton (0-10, 0.0000); Monadnock (0-11, 0.0000).

**Tiebreakers**

- Gilford wins the tiebreaker with Mascenic thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.
- Newport wins the tiebreaker with St. Thomas thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games.

**First-Round byes (changes in bold)**

1. **Gilford**
2. **Mascenic**
3. **Berlin**
4. **Stevens**
5. **Hopkinton**

**First-Round Matchups**

- No. 9 **St. Thomas** at No. 8 **Newport**
- No. 11 Mascoma Valley at No. 6 **Bishop Brady**
- No. 10 **Kearsarge** at No. 7 **Newfound**

**Playoff Dates**

- **Preliminary Round:** Thursday, Oct. 24, 3 p.m. at higher seed.
- **Quarterfinals:** Sunday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m. at higher seed.
- **Semifinals:** Thursday, Oct. 31, 5 and 7 p.m. at Bill Ball Stadium, Exeter.
- **Championship:** Saturday, Nov. 2, 5 p.m. at Bedford High School