Defending Titles and New Frontiers
The 2026 girls soccer season on the Seacoast is shaping up to be another compelling chapter, with two programs poised to protect crowns earned in 2025 while a handful of teams eye fresh ambitions.
Winnacunnet High School entered the new campaign as the reigning Division I champions, having captured the 2025 state title with a roster that returns its leading scorers and a defense that proved resilient in the final match.
Portsmouth Christian Academy, the 2025 Division IV victors, will attempt to repeat despite the loss of two central defenders, a setback that could reshape their backline but also open opportunities for younger players.
Dover High School finished the previous year at 9‑7‑1 before bowing out in the Division I first round, yet the squad retains standout goalkeeper Norah O'Malley and midfield engine Kaitlyn Bastille, giving the team a solid foundation.
Exeter High School posted a 15‑2 record in 2025, falling only in penalty kicks to Winnacunnet in the quarterfinals, and will bring back a core defensive unit that helped limit opponents throughout the season.
St. Thomas Aquinas, after a 15‑1‑3 campaign in Division III that ended in a semifinal loss, will compete in Division II next spring, promising a faster, more pressing style under new tactical directives.
Oyster River High School, a young and energetic side that finished 10‑3‑5 in Division II last year, will lean on its tenacity and aggression, qualities highlighted by Coach Sabrina Rivers as essential to carve out a distinct identity.
Newmarket High School, sitting at 9‑8 in Division IV, blends returning veterans with a fresh influx of freshmen, aiming to translate early-season growth into more competitive performances.
Further afield, Marshwood High School in Maine returns a strong group of experienced players while integrating promising underclassmen, and York High School welcomes eleven freshmen into a rebuilding effort after a quiet 2025 campaign.
Coaches across the region stress cohesion and improvement; Nick O'Brien of Winnacunnet speaks of a unified squad ready to defend its crown, while Rick Hugener of Portsmouth High emphasizes incremental progress as the key to closing gaps.
Looking Ahead
With schedules still taking shape and non‑conference matchups looming, the upcoming season offers each program a chance to test new strategies, develop talent, and perhaps rewrite expectations that were set in 2025.