Photo by STEVE DALY Merrimack's Melanie Hutchinson (4) closes in on Bishop Guertin's Lindsay Hult during Wednesday's Division I girls lacrosse quarterfinal at Stellos Stadium in Nashua.

There is power locally in the Division I girls lacrosse ranks, in which four of five teams reached the playoffs, two tracked to the semis and Bishop Guertin rose from the No. 4 seed to win its third state title in program

history.

Division I all-state goalie Grace Young has moved on, but the Cardinals open their quest to repeat Tuesday at home vs. Manchester Central, return a bundle, including another first-teamer, junior defender Emma Anderson.

It was no surprise that Souhegan High reached the state semis a year ago in Division I. Coach Maren Petropulos graduated seven key seniors, though, including Telegraph Player of the Year Abby Cranney (UNH), and there is work to do.

“The girls are certainly upbeat and very talented, but we need to put that together and figure out where everyone fits,” said the Sabers’ coach. ” We have great leadership and look forward to seeing where that takes us.”

Second-team All-Division I midfielder Melanie Hutchinson heads up a solid contingent of returners for Merrimack, which rolled up a solid 11-4 mark before rolling into the buzzsaw that was BG in the playoffs.

Nashua South should be another team on the rise, returning a ton of experience including a pair of Telegraph First-Team All-Stars in defender Izzy Bolduc and attack Kirsten McIntire. The Panthers were a playoff team at 8-8.

Nashua North looks young and athletic, hoping to slide up the ranks behind quad-captains Theresa Ellison, Campbell Haller, Kaylee Hubbard and Lauren Schalk.

Hollis Brookline broke some new ground in 2018, reaching the Division II state title game before falling to Portsmouth.

“Last year was a learning experience for the entire team since none of the players or coaches had been in the playoffs in previous years,” said coach Jim Maxwell. “Now that the team had the taste of success in the playoffs, the girls are on a mission to make it back to the playoffs to do even more damage than they did last year. The varsity team recognizes that they will have a bullseye on their back every game this season because of the success from last year…challenge accepted.”

One huge void will be left by the graduation of CeCe Fetter, but the Cavaliers, with first-team All-Division II defender Caroline Smith backboning things.

A trio of second-team all-staters, Kelsey Sweeney, Paisley Broadhurst and Tasha White bolster the attack.

Alvirne, also in Division II, suffered some huge hits by graduation and looks to rebuild.

In Division III, Campbell and Milford each look to rise up into the mix.

“I do feel we can be very competitive in the division,” said Cougars coach Mike Theriault, whose club will rely heavily on senior All-Division III standout Jocelyn Theriault in the midfield.

Milford’s Betsey Kallfelz welcomes back a solid core from a team that won five games a year ago.

I“m looking forward to seeing what these athletes can do,” said Kallfelz.

Here’s a capsule look at all nine area teams:

Division I

Bishop Guertin

Coach: Kerry Gobiel

2018 Results: Division I State Champ

Returning Starters: Sydney Todd, Sr., defense; Abby Hayhurst, Sr., defense; Emma Anderson, Jr., defense; Claire Donovan, Sr., midfield; Emily Santom, Sr., attack; Madison Keating, Soph., attack; Lindsay Hult, Soph., midfield; Amelia Piercy, Soph., midfield; Abigail Ahearn, Jr., attack

Returning Letter Winners: Allison O’Hara, Sr., attack; Kennedy Wright, Sr., attack; Tannah O’Niel Blake, Soph., attack; Kyla Pascucci, Soph., defense; Emm Hayhurst, Soph., midfield; Lauren Lupo, Jr., midfield; Isabell Cebrero, Jr., defense; Sophia O’Brien, Jr., defense; Grace Lambert, Sr., defense

Promising Newcomers: Rylee Bouvier, Frosh., midfield; Natalie Coutu, Frosh., attack; Delaney Ramalho, Frosh., midfield; Makenna Reekie, Frosh., goalie; Frida Turriza, Soph., defense

Captains: Sydney Todd, Emily Santom, Abigail Ahearn, Grace Lambert

Coach’s Comments: “We are returning a solid foundation and have promising newcomers who will make an immediate impact on the program. The team has a great mindset going into the season. I am also excited to have the addition of (BG/UMass alum) Callie Santos on staff this season to help get the girls to the next level.”

Merrimack

Coach: Sarah Rothhaus

2018 Results: 11-5, Division I first round

Returning Starters: Melanie Hutchinson, Jr., midfield; Amber Brewster, Sr., midfield; Autumn Howe, Sr., attack; Erin Ortega, Sr., defense; Caitlyn Moran, Sr., defense; Bella Beaton, Sr., goalie

Returning Letter Winners: Ellie Boucher, Jr., attack; Julie Martin, Jr., attack; Sarah Islam, Jr., defense; Megan Dinsmore, Jr., midfield; Katie Cota, Jr., midfield; Lorin Wandell, Soph., attack

Promising Newcomers: Paige Rivet, Frosh., midfield; Elise Fasano, Frosh., defense; Andrea Gustafson, Jr., defense; Vanessa Kosinski, Soph., defense

Captains: Erin Ortega, Amber Brewster, Caitlyn Moran, Melanie Hutchinson

Coach’s thoughts on the team: “We’re a young, determined team. I believe our strong, experienced upperclassmen will help lead our team to a very successful season.”

Nashua North

Coaches: Kristen Peterson and Heather McKillop

Roster: Lauren Schalk, Sr.; Hannah Fortin, Sr.; Julia Gagnon, Sr.; Kaylee Hubbard, Sr.; Hannah Farley, Sr.; Parker Botsch, Sr.; Campbell Haller, Sr.; Bridget Deck, Sr.; Isabelle Gates, Sr.; Jacqueline Desrosiers, Sr.; Maria Durant, Sr.; Chloe Young, Jr.; Olivia Howley, Jr.; Theresa Ellison, Jr.; Mackenzie Normand, Soph.; Makayla O’Brien, Soph.; Kaitlyn Laurendi, Soph.; Lillian Brooks, Soph.; Makenzie Smith, Soph.; Kiley O’Brien, Soph.; Samantha Canto, Soph.; Carly Morse, Frosh.

Captains: Theresa Ellison, Campbell Haller, Kaylee Hubbard, Lauren Schalk

Coach’s Comments: “It’s a promising team full of athletic girls.”

Nashua South

Coach: Ciki McIntire

2018 results: 8-9, Division I first round

Returning Starters: Abbey Rowe, Sr., goalie; Izzy Bolduc, Sr., defense; Emma Pucillo, Sr., defense; Bailey Morin, Sr., defense; Liz Harrington, Sr., midfield; Sarah Signorello, Jr., midfield, Kirsten McIntire, Jr., attack; Emily Colburn, Jr., midfield

Returning letter winners: Michelle Ramirez, Sr., attack; Olivia Kingston, Jr., defense, Mackenzie Berthiaume, Jr., midfield; Payson Mooso, Jr., goalie; Morgan Ouellette, Jr., attack; Maddie Rowe, Jr., defense

Promising Newcomers: Rileigh Bunton, Jr., goalie; Taylor Anger, Soph., midfield; Caitlyn Harrington, Soph., midfield; Iruka Obinelo, Soph., defense; Kylie Dawe, Frosh., midfield; Soleil Dubois, Frosh., midfield; Olivia Johnson, Frosh., attack; Kaitlyn West, Frosh., midfield

Captains: Izzy Bolduc, Liz Harrington, Emma Pucillo, Abbey Rowe, Kirsten McIntire

Coach’s Comments: “The coaching staff is pleased with the effort, attitude and hustle shown in this group of athletes. They are an awesome group, meshing well off the field, which will translate to on field success. Provided we can remain healthy, we are confident that we will have a successful season and will get one step closer to reaching our teams goals. We are excited to get the 2019 season underway.”

Souhegan

Coach: Maren Petropulos

2018 results: 18-3, Division I state semifinals

Returning Starters: Issy Aiello, Jr., midfield; Savannah Behn, Jr., attack; Taylor Clark, Sr., midfield; O’Neill Galinson, Sr., midfield; Alex LaBrosse, Jr., goalie

Returning Letter Winners: Abby Hawkes, Soph., attack; Margot Manz, Soph., attacl; Nicole O’Rourke, Soph., defense; Hannah Rowe, Sr., midfield; Eva Stine, Soph., defense; Clare Woodford, Jr., midfield

Promising Newcomers: Mackenzie Cretsinger, Frosh., attack; Molly Driscoll, Sr., defense; Delaney Facques, Soph., midfield; Sarah Geary, Jr., defense; Julia Ireland, Jr., attack; Amanda Jordan, Jr., defense; Avery Karavas, Soph., attack; Sierra Kimball, Frosh., defense; Alice Serbin, Frosh., defense; Emma Sette, Jr., attack; Elle Stevenson, Frosh., attack; Susan Wason, Jr., defense

Captains: Izzy Aiello, Savannah Behn, Taylor Clark, Hannah Rowe

Coach’s Comments: “With seven starters departing from last year’s team, we are still trying to familiarize ourselves with the returning and new players’ skills and positions.”

Division II

Alvirne

Coach: Carrie Casey

2018 results: 3-15

Returning Players: Dominique Milinazzo, Sr., midfield; Autumn Robinson, Jr., midfield; Olivia Callery, Jr., midfield; Shelby Scott, Jr., manager; Charlotte Maloney. Soph., attack; Lara Malizia, Soph., goalie; Allie Nazario, Soph., attack

Promising Newcomers: Serena Johnson, Jr.; Kendall Lawson, Soph.; Erin Baker, Soph.; Hailey Ramalhinho, Soph.

Captains: Dominique Milinazzo, Olivia Callery and Autumn Robinson

Coach’s Comments: “I am looking forward to a new season with a lot of new players. The team lost 13 seniors and gained six brand new players who I already see a lot of potential in. I expect some struggles as the season begins but know we can develop as a team. It will be exciting to see how well the girls work together.”

Hollis Brookline

Coach: Jim Maxwell

2018 Results: 13-5, Division II state runner-up

Returning Starters: Olivia Valentine, Sr., goalie; Caroline Smith, Sr., defense; Dana Ulrich, Sr., defense; Sydney Speir, Sr., defense; Reagan Berry, Sr., midfield; Tasha White, Jr., midfield; Paisley Broadhurst, Jr., midfield; Kelsey Sweeney, Sr., attack; Rachel Cerato, Sr., attack; Victoria Bruzik, Jr., attack; Abbey Magnuszewski, Soph., attack

Returning Letter Winners: Jillian O’Hara, Sr., defense; Rachel Ash, Sr., defense; Josie Farwell, Jr., attack; Meghan Veino, Jr., attack; Brooke Allanach, Soph., attack

Promising Newcomers: Sydney Reichard, Soph., attack; Ellie Maxwell, Frosh., defense/midfield; Nicole Heiter, Frosh., defense/midfield; Abbie Ogren, Frosh., defense; Morgan Broadhurst, Frosh., defense

Captains: Caroline Smith, Kelsey Sweeney

Coach’s Comments: “Losing just one senior from last year, the team is returning an extremely strong starting lineup. We have added more depth at all positions through an infusion of freshmen talent joining the team. Add into the mix a solid JV team and a new JV coach, the overall HB girls lacrosse program is shaping up to be a contender for years to come.”

Division III

Campbell

Coach: Mike Theriault

2018 Results: 5-9

Returning Starters: Jocelyn Theriault, Sr., midfield; Emma Montenero, Jr., midfield; Kate Stoncius, Jr., midfield; Autumn Thompson, Sr., defense; Emma Perrin, Sr., defense; Katrina Kopazynski, Sr., defense; Julia Theriault, Soph., defense; Allyson Dyac, Sr., goalie

Promising Newcomers: Elayna Montenero, Frosh., attack; Josie Oberto, Frosh., attack; Baliey Bourque, Frosh., attack

Captains: Jocelyn Theriault, Emma Perrin

Coach’s Comments: “This will be our fourth year as a varsity program. We have continued to improve and grow the program every year so I feel the progression has exceeded expectations. This year should be an interesting team and season as we have a core group of seniors with 13 incoming freshmen. In that mix is a couple of sophomores and juniors so a very young team with the core group of seniors.”

Milford

Coach: Betsey Kallfelz

2018 results: 5-10

Returning Starters: Meghan Wood, Sr., attack; Ashley Wilder, Sr., attack; Emily Flaherty, Sr. midfield; Elizabeth Paul, Sr., defense; Lauren Stec, Sr., defense; Allison Skare, Sr., midfield; Saige Paradise, Soph., goalie

Promising newcomers: Sierra Chaput, Soph., attack, Kylie Greska, Soph., attack, Sophia Renda, Jr., midfield; Mykaela Cederberg, Jr., midfield, Sydney Bailey, Soph., defense; Alexa Wilder, Soph., attack; Alyssa Kennedy, Sr., midfield, Paige Pelletier, Soph., midfield

Captains: Ashley Wilder, Elizabeth Paul, Meghan Wood

Coaches Thoughts: “We lost nine seniors last season but fortunately have the talent to fill their shoes with our returning seniors. Our focus in preseason has been fitness, back to basics and a positive mindset.”

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