High School Season

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Boys D1 - do not underestimate Bedford, they will be in the top 4 come playoff time. Last years Bedford team was a team of the decade 76 GF / 7 GA (Central 3 Hanover 2) in 19 games. This year they are not nearly as deep but their starting 11 are VERY solid, including two GPS NPL stars in the front - Zack Verow and Vitor Rodrigues. Like Central, Bedford will score a lot of goals this year but their defense will need to improve throughout the season around a very good center back Drew Middleton - if they want to compete in November.

One weakness Bedford shares with Central and Hanover - playing on grass is a challenge, they never train on it, they are used to lightning fast turf. Bedford does not have size this year (like last), they do have speed and quickness that is well suited for turf, on grass that speed and quickness is muted significantly.

Much more parity in boys D1 this year vs last - in my view, Central, Bedford and Hanover are still the top three teams (Hanover clearly the deepest bench of the 3). Pinkerton and South will be very tough, North is no pushover, Concord is always a quality team, I believe Windham is a sleeper. Parity - it will be fun to watch!!

Tuesday night you will realize you left a surprise team off your list.

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In DII:
Boys from HB and ConVal will be the favorites with Lebanon and the Oyster River could return to the top 4 this year. HB might have the toughest schedule so they will get tested. Bow should be good as well if they can get some scoring from their bench and a surprise team this year could be Coe-Brown who lost a lot but brings back a good defense. OR has the defense and the scoring but they have a soft bench so they will need to stay healthy.

Girls side has 4 really strong teams - 2 others who could win it and then the rest are all three same team in different clothing. Bow, Milford, Pembroke, and Hanover are the top dogs while HB and Oyster River are deep with talent. Oyster River plays an easy schedule so wins will be inflated while Hanover will wait until late October and make noise when it matters. A team to watch this season could be Souhegan- they have been consistent the last couple of seasons and could beat those top 5.

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In DII:
Boys from HB and ConVal will be the favorites with Lebanon and the Oyster River could return to the top 4 this year. HB might have the toughest schedule so they will get tested. Bow should be good as well if they can get some scoring from their bench and a surprise team this year could be Coe-Brown who lost a lot but brings back a good defense. OR has the defense and the scoring but they have a soft bench so they will need to stay healthy.

Girls side has 4 really strong teams - 2 others who could win it and then the rest are all three same team in different clothing. Bow, Milford, Pembroke, and Hanover are the top dogs while HB and Oyster River are deep with talent. Oyster River plays an easy schedule so wins will be inflated while Hanover will wait until late October and make noise when it matters. A team to watch this season could be Souhegan- they have been consistent the last couple of seasons and could beat those top 5.

Agree with everything here except the Souhegan girls. Great coach but mediocre talent.

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Agree with everything here except the Souhegan girls. Great coach but mediocre talent.

Don't forget about those renowned over the top Souhegan parents

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Hard to believe we are a little over a month from the start of the high school season. Any thoughts on who are the early favorites for this upcoming year?

Good luck to all teams as most start their season this week!

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Boys D1 - do not underestimate Bedford, they will be in the top 4 come playoff time. Last years Bedford team was a team of the decade 76 GF / 7 GA (Central 3 Hanover 2) in 19 games. This year they are not nearly as deep but their starting 11 are VERY solid, including two GPS NPL stars in the front - Zack Verow and Vitor Rodrigues. Like Central, Bedford will score a lot of goals this year but their defense will need to improve throughout the season around a very good center back Drew Middleton - if they want to compete in November.

One weakness Bedford shares with Central and Hanover - playing on grass is a challenge, they never train on it, they are used to lightning fast turf. Bedford does not have size this year (like last), they do have speed and quickness that is well suited for turf, on grass that speed and quickness is muted significantly.

Much more parity in boys D1 this year vs last - in my view, Central, Bedford and Hanover are still the top three teams (Hanover clearly the deepest bench of the 3). Pinkerton and South will be very tough, North is no pushover, Concord is always a quality team, I believe Windham is a sleeper. Parity - it will be fun to watch!!

Based on results from yesterday... you might be correct in the assessment that we may see more parity this year (fewer complete blowouts). Hopefully that is the case... time will tell, I suppose.

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Tuesday night you will realize you left a surprise team off your list.

I assume you were from Winn and lost...sorry

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Boys D1 - do not underestimate Bedford, they will be in the top 4 come playoff time. Last years Bedford team was a team of the decade 76 GF / 7 GA (Central 3 Hanover 2) in 19 games. This year they are not nearly as deep but their starting 11 are VERY solid, including two GPS NPL stars in the front - Zack Verow and Vitor Rodrigues. Like Central, Bedford will score a lot of goals this year but their defense will need to improve throughout the season around a very good center back Drew Middleton - if they want to compete in November.

One weakness Bedford shares with Central and Hanover - playing on grass is a challenge, they never train on it, they are used to lightning fast turf. Bedford does not have size this year (like last), they do have speed and quickness that is well suited for turf, on grass that speed and quickness is muted significantly.

Much more parity in boys D1 this year vs last - in my view, Central, Bedford and Hanover are still the top three teams (Hanover clearly the deepest bench of the 3). Pinkerton and South will be very tough, North is no pushover, Concord is always a quality team, I believe Windham is a sleeper. Parity - it will be fun to watch!!

Any other "stars' on Bedford you want to call out. For christ sake we all know you are a parent on the team, do you really need to brag about your kid/team that much. Be prepared for a 10-6 season.

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Boys DI games: Hanover and South were clearly ready to play while Concord took it on the chin in a major way for a DI boys game. Exeter will have growing pains while Goffstown wants to be the new kid on the block.

Girls DI games: Bedford, Guertin, Exeter and Londonderry will be the final four - mark it in your calendars for November. Nobody in week one showed anything different and those 4 will still be the top teams when playoffs come.

Girls DII Action played out like we thought it would in week 1: Pembroke proved right away they are a team to take seriously with a convincing 3-0 win over Oyster River. Milford took care of MV with ease and the surprise so far was Kearsarge losing to DIII Stevens (to be fair Stevens is supposed to be playing DII but somehow is allowed to petition down to DIII despite being perfectly capable of playing in DII).

Boys DII games: Lebanon and Pembroke flexed some muscle while ConVal proved if you want to be the man you are going to have to beat the man with convincing wins. Plymouth boys could rattle the cage this year with a couple of impressive wins as well.

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Boys DI games: Hanover and South were clearly ready to play while Concord took it on the chin in a major way for a DI boys game. Exeter will have growing pains while Goffstown wants to be the new kid on the block.

Girls DI games: Bedford, Guertin, Exeter and Londonderry will be the final four - mark it in your calendars for November. Nobody in week one showed anything different and those 4 will still be the top teams when playoffs come.

Girls DII Action played out like we thought it would in week 1: Pembroke proved right away they are a team to take seriously with a convincing 3-0 win over Oyster River. Milford took care of MV with ease and the surprise so far was Kearsarge losing to DIII Stevens (to be fair Stevens is supposed to be playing DII but somehow is allowed to petition down to DIII despite being perfectly capable of playing in DII).

Boys DII games: Lebanon and Pembroke flexed some muscle while ConVal proved if you want to be the man you are going to have to beat the man with convincing wins. Plymouth boys could rattle the cage this year with a couple of impressive wins as well.

What about DIV? Just kidding...

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Any other "stars' on Bedford you want to call out. For christ sake we all know you are a parent on the team, do you really need to brag about your kid/team that much. Be prepared for a 10-6 season.

I wrote the original post but did not write that "rub it in" post, i believe we have some antagonizers on this site - unfortunate.

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I wrote the original post but did not write that "rub it in" post, i believe we have some antagonizers on this site - unfortunate.

Some?

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I wrote the original post but did not write that "rub it in" post, i believe we have some antagonizers on this site - unfortunate.

It was your original post naming high school players that was the antagonizing post. Sure you don't have any aunts or uncles with a recent achievement worth mentioning also?

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What about DIV?

While the bottom half of D4 is admittedly pretty weak and would struggle against some rec teams, the top 2 or 3 are very strong and would probably be competitive in D3, even possibly competing for top spot. Epping, last year's winners, look to be much diminished based on results so far. Sunapee has begun in their usual dominating fashion, Newmaket also has a good start. Those 2 could be in the race during the final days of the season. Any other D4 teams that anyone has seen play...?

[Unregistered]

What about DIV?

While the bottom half of D4 is admittedly pretty weak and would struggle against some rec teams, the top 2 or 3 are very strong and would probably be competitive in D3, even possibly competing for top spot. Epping, last year's winners, look to be much diminished based on results so far. Sunapee has begun in their usual dominating fashion, Newmaket also has a good start. Those 2 could be in the race during the final days of the season. Any other D4 teams that anyone has seen play...?

Above teams on the D4 girls side, have not seen any boys games.