Winchester girls ready to defend state soccer title - Boston Herald

It is a responsibility Winchester didn’t have a year ago, but one it welcomes as the Sachems began their Division 2 state title defense.

Coming off its first state championship since 2002, Winchester eyes a repeat performance with a bevy of talent returning, most notably All-New England forward and Dartmouth commit Hannah Curtin.

Ally Murphy and Anna Carazza solidify the offense, while Ella Stone and Georgia Lawrence are two key cogs in the midfield and defense, respectively.

Danvers, which has made three consecutive North finals, brings back Olivia Anderson and Arianna Bezanson to be a chief challenger to Winchester’s throne. Fallon Vaughn and Lucy Atwood are vital components for Concord-Carlisle and Masconomet looks for even more success with Morgan Bovardi leading the way.

Tom Skiba takes the reins of defending Div. 2 South champion Hopkinton, who look to Olivia O’Connor and Ally Bird to make it an easy transition.

Brenna Lorenzen and Mia Cence will be the catalysts for Medway and Maggie Loughnane and Ana Bertarelli give Notre Dame (Hingham) plenty of firepower. Jordyn Collins and Kailee McCabe will have Foxboro in the mix and Old Rochester can’t be counted out with Meg Hughes back.

The Katherine McElroy era is over for defending Div. 1 North champion Brookline, as the Warriors will lean on Eleanor Fisher and Maya Leschly to stay a top contender.

Kirsty Carnan and Aleia Gisolfi-McCready look to keep Lexington thriving and Peabody will rely on Aja Alimonte to make noise.

North Andover is a serious threat with Olivia Gotobed returning and Westford Academy looks to reclaim the magic it had two seasons ago behind All-New England star Ally Giovino.

Natick’s road back to a state final is treacherous due to a loaded Div. 1 South. Laney Ross and Kelsey Hatt will help the Redhawks fend off their competitors, starting with King Philip, which boasts a dynamic duo in Providence-bound Avery Snead and Hartford-bound Chloe Layne.

Despite key losses for Hingham and Whitman-Hanson, they aren’t going anywhere. Emma Hynes and Phoebe Murphy will ensure that for the Harborwomen, while Kelsee Wozniak and Olivia Borgen have the Panthers feeling optimistic.

Newton South lost Larissa Williams to an ACL injury, so it’s up to Cassie Lee and Olivia Dubin to steer the ship. Weymouth returns a wealth of assets, including Drew Dempsey.

Mansfield graduated 19 players off last year’s squad and expects Maria Sevastos to step up. Marshfield will contend with Kate McNeil and Alyssa Fleming providing a major boost.

In Div. 3 North, Mia Han and Catherine Gallagher form a one-two punch for Austin Prep, while Jenna Durkin anchors a stout Bishop Fenwick defense.

Twin sisters Amanda and Samantha Caldarelli spearhead Stoneham and Lynnfield could be dangerous with 10 starters returning, including Anna Maria Ferrante and Liz Sykes. Swampscott won its first sectional title last year as Mackenzie Kearney and Sydney Clark look to prove that Big Blue can do it again.

Defending Div. 3 state champion Norwell has a repeat mindset with Wake Forrest commit Kristi Vierra back along with Allie Connerty and Tess Flanders.

Dottie Tilden and Gillian Kenney hope to keep Hanover on the ascent. Dover-Sherborn didn’t graduate anyone from last year’s team and have Cerys Balmer and Sabrina Doyle leading the charge.

Northeastern commit Avery LeVangie and UMass-bound Emily McCormack make East Bridgewater a strong contender, while reigning Patriot League MVP Olivia Kudrikow leads Plymouth South.

Alli Napoli and Alyssa Pettet will try to continue Amesbury’s stranglehold on Div. 4 North after three straight sectional titles. St. Mary’s, buoyed by Morgan Mackey, could unseat the Indians as could Manchester Essex with Dasa Hase starring.

Millis is primed to capture a third straight Div. 4 state title with Alexi Vaillancourt and Jordyn Ferrantino back. Taylor Herndon has Cohasset thinking big, while Hull is full steam ahead with the program’s all-time leading scorer Lauren Anastos returning.