It was a show of force that defined a championship level.

The Bishop Guertin High School girls lacrosse team had narrowly escaped a tough Bedford team in the Division I semifinals.

And then came Pinkerton in the title game,and it was literally no contest, a 20-3 bludgeoning that left no doubt.

It’s a tough act to follow, but the Cardinals will certainly try as their title defense is underway.

“Our motto this year,” BG coach Leslie Why said, “is ‘Earned, not given.’ ”

Meanwhile in Division II the Cavaliers of Hollis Brookline thought they earned a title in last year’s final vs. Portsmouth but after a few controversial calls fell a goal short. Highly successful coach Jim Maxwell retired and left the area, and former Souhegan assistant Linda Hayatayan, actually the first ever Nashua High School girls varsity lacrosse coach some 24 years ago, has taken over.

Here’s a look at the locals in Divisions I, II and III:

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DIVISION I

The Cards, who blew out Londonderry 15-1 in the season opener, will try to follow the motto that Why referred to with six returning starting seniors, led by scoring sensation and Stanford-bound Ryle Bouvier (hat trick in opener), plus fellow middie Katie Campel, attackers Nat Coutu and Stephanie Reap (also a hat trick), plus defender Delaney Ramalho in front of goalie Makenne Reekie.

“We’ll look to Rylee and Katie to lead the midfield and draw center while Delaney and Makenna coach u the underclassmen,” Why said, noting there are holes left by graduation defensively.

Last year’s team was unbeaten, playing local/regional schedule that all the sports used to cut down on travel due to the pandemic. That wiped out a lot of potential interstate matchups.

Not so this spring. It’s a statewide schedule, but Guertin is substituting a few out-of-state games to upgrade the schedule, and were slated to begin that this past Thursday at Chelmsford, Mass. and then will be at Central Catholic (Lawrence, Mass.) this Monday.

“There are several strong matchups out there,” Why said, “and we’re focusing on the process once again this year to prepare us for June.”

Guertin may be the local favorite but there is certainly some talent among the rest of the area’s Divsion I teams.

Souhegan may be one of those teams, judging from a big season opening win over Merrimack, and the Sabers will be tested against BG next Friday. They have some familiar names returning: senior captains Elle Stevenson (midfield), Sierra Kimball (defense) and Shannon Hargreaves (goal). Sabers coach McKinley Sbordone said, adding she feels Stevenson, who had four goals and three assists in the opener, is headed toward a breakout year. “She’ll be a force in the midfield and a huge scoring threat,” she said, noting that Kimball will quarterback the defense and Hargreaves is quick and has good lacrosse instincts.

A couple of sophomores will also be keys: Lyla Kimball, who will take draws, and Maddie Lim, also on draws with a great lacrosse IQ. Kimball is excellent on ground balls, a key for any team.

“We’re excited,” Sbordone said.

Nashua North, which fell to BG in the regional tourney setup last year, has senior Keira Sice back on attack, plus snior midfielder Katrina Pech-Buzek and sophomore middie Summer St. Pierre back to be major keys.

Freshmen newcomers Elliott Brown (goal), Molly Ducharme (midfield) and Rachel Gauthier (defense) will be important as well. North struggled at Dover in its season opener but better days should be ahead.

“We’ve worked hard in the off-season and have prepared to be a competitor in each game,” Titans coach Kristen Peterson said, “and hopefully come out with the win.”

Meanwhile, the Titans chief rivals, the Panthers, are set to get back at it after also losing to the Cards in the early rounds. They did so in big fashion, a season opening rout of Keene-Monadnock earlier this past week.

“It’s nice to get back to some semblance of normal,” Panthers coach Ciki McIntire said, referring to the regular schedule, ” and the team has been working hard.”

South is led by some familiar names:

senior midfielders Soleil Dubois and Kylie Dawe; senior Kaitlyn West on attack; sophomore middie Ella Benzekri, and senior defender Bailey Carroll. And don’t forget about Maddy Matelewski who had five goals in the opener.

There is also a good crop of freshmen McIntire is impressed with, led by midfielders Maren Lowell and Karina O’Donnell and defender Nevaeh Eppolito.

“I have a great group of freshmen to add to the mix,” McIntire said, adding both goalies from last year, now sophomores Audrey Mullaney and Keira Walsh are returning and gained experience.

“We are hoping to keep everyone healthy this season and are working to get the underclassmen to mesh with the upperclassmen,” McIntire said. We’re working hard to do that as well as compete with the team mentality.”

Merrimack had a down year last year but with a good group of returnees led by senior attack Paige Rivet and senior defenser Laryssa Landmesser, things are on the rise.

Other keys include junior Hailey Rivet, (attack), junior midfielders Lilly Marshall and Camryn Gaumont, plus junior defender Ariana Arnold.

“I am excited for the potential this team brings to the table,” Tomahawks coach Sarah Rothhaus said. “We have a strong group of newcomers and returners that are enthusiastic and coachable. We are looking forward to seeing the growth they will make as a team this season.”

•••

DIVISION II

The Cavaliers, who won their season opener erlier this week 13-7 over Goffstown, got hit with a blow in the preseason, losing senior captain and defensive anchor Morgan Broadhurst to a knee injury while skiing. They do, however, get back junior Paige Mello, who missed last year with the same thing – ACL.

HB keys include senior Kaitlyn Castriotta, senior goalie Hallie Bardani, senior Abigail Ogren, junior Alyssa Hill, senior Nicole Heiter, who along with juniosr Izabella Haytayan and Danielle Allanach plus sophomore Cailean Roy are returning starters. A lot of familiar names here; Hill had four goals and three assists in the opener. Haytayan is also carrying seven freshmen, which bodes well for the

future.

“Our key to success will be staying healthy physically,” she said, adding she wants an environment of “hard work, accountability and inclusiveness.”

Portsmouth, Windham and Hanover are the main challengers historically, and the Clippers are said to be moving to Division I – next year.

Alvirne coach Carrie Casey feels this could be the program’s best season since 2019, with 10 returnees and eight newcomers. The Bronocos played well but came up just short, 9-8, in their season opener.

Keys back are senior tri captains Emma Fopiano (midfield), Halle Miller (midfield, potential All-Stater), and Maddy Nicolosi (midfield, also potential for All-State. Senior attacks Elsa Ferullo and Sydney Nicholson will be big, and senior Jordan Sweeney will anchor the defense. Other returnees include junior defender Katherine Wasnden plus sophomores Ava Biskaduros (attack), Makayla Meehan (defense) and Gina Todisco (attack).

Watch out too for newbies Addison Lemire (freshman), sophomore goalie Alexa Kruger, and juniors Samantha Rausseo and Abigale St. Laurent.

“We will be up against some very skilled and talented teams,” Casey said. “Our defense, along with the leaderhip and positive energy presented by our seniors, is what will keep us in the game.”

The Broncos will have a big test in the season’s second week this Monday at Hollis Brookline.

•••

DIVISION III

Campbell could make some noise as the program continues to improve. They have several keys, including seniors Bailey Bourque (midfield), Hailey Anderson (midfield) Tiana Boyson (attack), Elayna Montenero (attack),

Brook Stoncius (attack) and junior defender Kristina Costellano.

“We expect to be a solid team and are hopeful to make a nice playoff run,” Cougars coach Adam Theriault said. “We have good experience in key positions.

“The real key to our success could be the play of the team’s young goalies.”

Bow and Hopkinton could be the top Division III contenders. Derryfield beat Hopkinton 12-11 in last year’s title bout.

Milford returns six seniors this year, led by defender Sofia Freeman, attacker Grace O’Shaughnessy, and midfielder Amelia Leo under new coach Stephen Vetack. Juniors Kelci Waters, Kate Hanson, and Addy Hopkins, are, in Vetack’s mind, looking to “make a major impact on a young program building for the future.”