The Winnacunnet High School girls lacrosse team sent a powerful message to start their Division II title defense, erupting for a 20-7 victory over Goffstown on Monday. The Warriors' offense was in mid-season form, showcasing the firepower that made them last year's champions.

Elle Emery led the charge with a stellar all-around performance, netting four goals and dishing out three assists. She was far from alone, as McKinley Fowler poured in five goals, Emily Arlington added four, and Reese Gandt and Annika Jacques each contributed a hat-trick. The dominant win prompted head coach Glenn MacKenzie to call it "a good start to the season," a classic understatement for such an impressive opener.

The action wasn't confined to Hampton, as the Seacoast area saw several other strong lacrosse performances. In Division I, Exeter's offense was equally potent in their opener, led by Riley Benevides' five goals. Claire Wilhelm and Avery Carrigan each added four goals in a balanced scoring attack that overwhelmed their opponent.

Meanwhile, in Division III, St. Thomas Aquinas showcased its own rising talent. Freshman Grady Estes announced his arrival with a seven-goal outburst, while juniors Ryan Resch and Colby Tasker each scored four times. The Saints' control was further emphasized by Rhys Sullivan's near-perfect 20-for-21 performance on faceoffs.

In a thrilling non-league matchup, Berwick Academy remained undefeated at 5-0 thanks to an overtime hero. Ebbin Perkins netted his fourth goal of the game for the sudden-victory winner, capping a back-and-forth battle where teammate Reed Kenney also scored four times.

On the diamond, the Portsmouth softball team also started its Division I campaign with a bang. Ana Christo powered the offense with two hits and four RBIs, supported by multi-hit games from Piper Hindle, Laura Milks, and Emi Greco, setting a strong tone for their season.