Last year’s field hockey season was challenging for many programs, with just two local teams finishing with a winning record.
One of those teams, Lowell, had its best season in program history, finishing 13-2-3, including a Merrimack Valley Conference Division 2 title and a first-round state tournament appearance. The team’s top player, two-time Sun All-Star Anthony Ford, returns after scoring 27 goals last year, giving him 47 in two years.
The other winning record came from Chelmsford. The Lions return Sun All-Star Julia Salerno, the team’s center-back.
The other returning Sun All-Star is Littleton/Ayer Shirley’s Nina LaPorta, who is coming off a seven-goal season.
Two new coaches are joining this season: Amber Blesedell at Littleton/Ayer Shirley and Justin Maslanka at Tyngsboro.
Chelmsford
League: MVC
2025: 9-6-3
Captains: Cora Grundy, sr., for; Caroline Treat, sr., for; Julia Salerno, sr., def.
Other returning letterwinners: Anna Bierwirth, sr., def; Carly Hartman, sr., mid; Kiera Durkin, sr., for; Kelsey O’Hare, sr., mid; Shannon Walsh, sr., mid; Sammy Keddy, sr., mid; Charlotte Nolan, sr., mid; Delaney Graham, jr., mid; Stella Boucher, jr., def.
Promising newcomers: Ella Haas, so., for; Maggie Amos, so., def; Leonie Betton, so., mid; Maura Fallon, so., for; Quinn McCarthy, so., for; Addy Labenski, so., def; Abby Martel, so., goalie; Emma Carlo, sr., for.
Coach Susan D’Agostino (8th season): “We’re excited about what this group can accomplish. With 11 seniors, a strong core of experienced players, and an energetic group of sophomores stepping in, we have a great mix of leadership and fresh talent. We have a challenging schedule that will test us against strong competition, and our goal is to keep elevating our level of play throughout the season and put ourselves in a position to be a real contender when the postseason arrives.”
Dracut
League: MVC
2025: 2-15-1
Captains: Shayla Sherman, sr., mid; Kate Wilson, sr., def; Hannah Daniel, sr., goalie.
Other returning letterwinners: Seyjin Gregory, sr., mid; Janat Musiitwa, sr., for; Byshardely Zephyr, sr., for; Jillian Bernier, jr., mid/for; Azaria Lopez, jr., mid; Catherine Lynch, jr., for; Victoria Mercer, jr., mid; Olivia Pellegrino, jr., for; Addison Lewis, so., for; Sophia Rolli, so., def; Stacy Njeri, fr., def.
Coach Nicole Surrette (3rd season): “I am looking forward to our first season with a team of all returning players since we have had enough growth to acquire a JV team. Dracut field hockey is building in the town and I am hopeful it continues to grow.”
Looking to guide the Chelmsford High field hockey team to another strong season are captains, from left, Cora Grundy, Caroline Treat and Julia Salerno. Courtesy photo
Greater Lowell/Lowell Catholic
League: CAC
2025: 2-8-4
Returning letterwinners: Claire Bigold, so., def; Jolene Heslin, so., mid/for; Lauren Piskopanis, so., def; Ellie Perry, so., goalie; Shylize Guzman, jr., mid/for; Brooke DeMonico, jr., def; Alissa Julia, jr., for; Abigail Kinyon, jr., def/mid; Ana Nogueira De Paula, jr., mid; Valentina Dagostin De Moraes, jr., for; Cindy Ribeiro, jr., def; Juliana Marion, jr., mid/fo; Mia Parra Schuurman, jr., mid; Kaleigh Quigley, jr., mid/for; Alyson Hegarty, sr., mid/for; Janessa Ouch, sr., mid; Xanaya Ayla, sr., for; Kendra Rivera, sr., def.
Promising newcomers: Brooke Zechner, 7th, for; Tessa Gerade, 8th, for; Jianna Campbell, 8th, mid; Aislinn DeOliveira, 8th, for; Reese McKiernann, 8th, for; Eva Rodriguez, fr., for; Maggie McGonigle, so., for; Jessica Opoku-Mensah, so., def; Naliyah De La Cruz, so., for; Juliana Medina Sras, so., mid; Giana Ippolito, jr., def; April Loeuth Prum, sr., for; Julia Dunfey, sr., goalie.
Coach Patricia Ramirez (4th season): “I am very excited for this season as we begin our first co-op partnership with Lowell Catholic. We welcomed five new players to the team, four eighth-graders and one seventh-grader, who are all extremely talented and bring great potential to our program. I am looking forward to seeing the GLTHS and Lowell Catholic players come together, build strong connections, and grow as one team both on and off the field. We have an outstanding group of student-athletes this season, and I believe there is a great deal to look forward to as we continue to develop and compete together.”
Groton-Dunstable
League: Mid-Wach B
2025: 3-10-1
Captains: Jackie Chase, sr., mid; Allie Paul, sr., def; Hailey Mandell, sr., for
Other returning letterwinners: Averie Bissell, jr., for/mid; Maddie Shook, sr., mid; Samantha Duffy, sr., for; Sophie Luong, jr., mid/for; Lily Testa, jr., mid/for; Deliah Dias, sr., def; Brooke Lesser, jr., goalie; Bella Cianci, sr., mid.
Promising newcomers: Avery Bogelow, so., for/mid; Charlotte Avis, so., for; Emma Brown, fr., mid/def; Ava Chase, so., def; Alexa Gracia, jr., def; Harper Musial, fr., for; Ishaanvi Nambiar, sr., def; Silvia Patalano, jr., mid/def; Morgan Tully, so., def.
Coach Paige MacNeill (3rd season): “The girls truly have strong chemistry. Most of them have all played together for a while and are close friends on and off the field. I think this helps us push through tough moments and there is a strong willingness to support one another. We have many returning players that have experience, confidence and provide great leadership on the field. I also think that our athleticism and speed are going to be a great asset this season.”
Littleton/Ayer-Shirley
League: Mid-Wach C
2025: 3-13-1
Captains: Nina LaPenta, sr., for; Sadie Roberts, sr., def; Aurora LaCruz, sr., for
Other returning letterwinners: Suma Bhiravasa, sr., def; Ryanna Jodka, sr., for; Julia Ficociello, sr., for; Kyra Constantinou, sr., mid; Nicole Lefebvre, jr., def; Sydney Bain, jr., for; Sarah Follows, jr.; Sydney Hatfield-Gold, jr., for/mid; Renee Grace, jr., for/mid; Landry Greany, jr., for; Charlotte Dunbar, so., mid/def; Cynthia Lia, jr., mid/for; Clare Connors, jr., mid; Audrey McMahon, so., goalie.
Promising newcomers: Claire Gerbig, so.; Izzy Kobelin, so.; Callidora Crothers, so.; Lauren Fitzgerald, fr.; Juliet Buonomo, fr.; Aly Laing, jr., goalie; Emmanuella Aristene, sr.
Coach Amber Blesedell (1st season): “We enter this season with a powerful mix of veteran leadership, clinical attacking depth, and a refreshed coaching staff. We boast a remarkably deep, experienced roster this year, featuring eight seniors, nine juniors and five sophomores, along with two freshmen who we expect to make an immediate impact.”
Guiding the Groton-Dunstable field hockey squad into the season are captains, from left,
Hailey Mandell, Allie Paul and Jackie Chase. Courtesy photo
Lowell
League: MVC
2025: 13-2-3, MVC Div. 2 champions
Captains: Kelsey Malcolm, sr., for; Anthony Ford, sr., mid.
Other returning letterwinners: Avery Fells, sr., for/mid; Sammy Fitzpatrick, sr., for; Keelyn Grady, sr., for; Kayla Moriarty, sr., goalie; Tiernan Moriarty, sr., mid; Jarronai Yary, sr., def; Carly Galvin, jr., for; Evelyn Montgomery, jr., for/mid; Riley Peirce, jr., for/mid.
Promising newcomers: Marissa Bakios, so., def; Veesoth Hor, so., def; Delaney Hunt, so., mid; Sophie Oullette, so., for; Lily Wilkey, so., def.
Coach Lisa Kattar (30th season): “This year’s freshmen class is a great group of athletes. Our team should do well in our division, and our goal is to make a postseason appearance.”
Pelham
League: NHIAA Div. 3
Captains: Mya Dion, jr., mid; Kylie McDonald, jr., mid; Katie Bernard, sr., for.
Other returning letterwinners: Lyla Prince, jr., mid; Cailyn Macintyre, jr., mid; Hayden Scribner, sr., def; Caitlin Detellis, so., def; Bella Spillane, so., for; Emma Loonie, jr., goalie; Ryleigh Fiore, jr., for; Kayleigh Huberty, jr., for.
Promising newcomers: Sam Sauvigne, fr., for; Maggie Estell, fr., def; Ava Connolly, fr., def; Kelsie McDonald, fr., goalie.
Coach Lisa Hoge (2nd season): “We’re looking forward to an awesome season. We’re being moved down from Division 2 to Division 3. We have 21 candidates, up from 14 a year ago, and the freshman class has a lot of promise.”
Tewksbury
League: MVC Div. 2
2025: 3-13-2
Returning letterwinners: Lila Areias, sr., mid; Cheyenne Bartolone, sr., for; Alyssa Flahive, sr., def; Allison Cooke, sr., mid; Lea Sawyer, so., for/mid/def; Alexa Morrison, jr., goalie; Sophie Scott, sr., for/mid.
Promising newcomers: Callie Lamarche, so., def; Mia Davis, so., def; Izzy Lane, so., mid/for; Claire Petrone, fr., for/mid; Abby Atherton, jr., mid; Sophia Graves, so., for; Delaney Salois, jr., for; Addison Perkins, so., for; Mikayla Szostek, so., mid; Leah McNelley, fr., for/mid; Amelia Turner, jr., mid.
Coach Jamie Bruno (4th season): “Our style: Play hard, play together, be disciplined defensively. We are feeling confident in all aspects of our game. All positions are contributing and playing together as a team. Our goalie has looked great in our scrimmages this season. We are looking forward to the upcoming fall season.”
Setting the tone for the Dracut High field hockey team this fall will be captains, from left, Kate Wilson, Hannah Daniel and Shayla Sherman. Courtesy photo
Tyngsboro
League: Mid-Wach C
2025: 8-9-2
Captains: Macy Serrano, sr., mid; Elisa Liu, sr., def; Emma LaCrosse, jr., for.
Other returning letterwinners: Caleigh Flynn, so., goalie; Chloe Collins, jr., mid; Ella Perry, jr., def; Layan Kuwairi, sr., def; Lylia MacKenzie, so., def; Charlotte Crain, so., for; Josephine Marino, so., def.
Promising newcomers: Scarlett Beltz, fr., mid; Ava Perry, fr., for/mid; Audrey McCoy, fr., for/mid; Emelyn Soem, fr., mid; Elisabeth Shortsianitis, fr., for; Lauren Sullivan, fr., def.
Coach Justin Maslanka (1st season): “We will have a younger team after losing many key starters from last year. Fortunately, we have great leadership that is making sure the players approach practice and games the right way. We have a lot of tenacity in the younger players, and we look forward to seeing some great goaltending. We have some veteran players on every level, and they will pair well with the promising newcomers. We will play hard and compete in every game no matter what.”
Captaining the Greater Lowell Tech/Lowell Catholic field hockey team this season are seniors, from left, Alyson Hegarty, Kanessa Ouch, Julia Dunfey, April Loeuth Prum, Xanaya Ayala and Kendra Rivera. Courtesy photo
Westford Academy
League: DCL
2025: 6-9-4
Captains: Emily Boneck, sr., mid; Maddie McWade, sr., for; Caitlyn Popelka, sr., for; Avery Votano, sr., mid.
Other returning letterwinners: Anya Turczyk, sr., for; Rosalie DeVito, sr., mid/for; Elise Berk, sr., mid; Madi Goff-Chervin, sr., def; Elena Merlino, sr.,def; Maren Chungu, sr., def; Sangeeta Dass, sr., goalie; Alicia Kurnianto, jr., mid; Lily Arevalo, jr., def; Kasey Bostrom, jr., def.
Promising newcomers: Luana Rodriguez, jr., mid; Lila Ash, jr., def; Adriana Butland, jr., def; Anna Hirbour, so., for; Saanvi Behere, so., mid; Maeve Kenific, sr., team manager.
Coach Cheri Fisher (13th season): “We only had five open spots for this season, and we are senior-heavy, so I am hoping that after the last two to three years of playing together, that will translate into some comfort and confidence that we have lacked in the past. We have an enthusiastic group of five newcomers who are eager to prove themselves. We have work to do, but this is a wonderful group of girls, and I look forward to getting to know them and helping them improve as a team over the season.”
Wilmington
League: Middlesex League Freedom Division
2025: 4-10-5
Captains: Meredith Ebert, sr., for; Molly Lovell, sr., for; Isabelle Maiella, sr., for.
Other returning letterwinners: Emma Tarin, sr., goalie; Emma Allard, jr., for; Alexandra Kennedy, jr., def; Kylie Martin, jr., for; Grace LaMonica, jr., def; Gabrielle LaRosee, so.; Lauren Smith, so.; Rita Bishop, jr.; Olivia Raposa, sr.; Danielle Chillemi, sr.; Siobhan DiCarlo, so.; Anna Cavanaugh, jr.; Jenna Giammarco, sr.
Promising newcomers: Kelli Tkachuk, so.; Brooke Cataldo, so.; Ella Hoffmann, fr.; Savannah Beatrice, sr.; Ella Connolly, so.; Emily Viveiros, soph.; Olivia Smith, so.; Jenna Giammarco, sr.
Coach Leanne Ebert (15th season, 109-114-38): “The players are working hard and working together, and we’re looking forward to the season.”