BY RYAN O’CONNOR 

For Aly Higgins, Sara Halbich, and Taylor and Tatum Dyer, it was another year, another field hockey title.

The senior quartet – along with juniors Nicole Rozumek and Kyleigh Keating and sophomore Chelsie Muldowney – led the Lady Blue Devils to a third consecutive state championship in the fall.

Now, Faith Wahlen is hoping some of that success migrates back into the spring season. Though the girls lacrosse coach admits the two sports are very different – most of the athletes competing in field hockey have done so for years, while many players on her squad first took up lacrosse in high school – she knows she inherits some of the state’s most polished winners.

Last season, the Lady Blue Devils took a 13-10 record into the playoffs and lost in the quarterfinals.

This year, Wahlen said the fifth-year squad is capable of reaching the semis, maybe even the final.

To do so, it must break into the yearly hierarchy of Pinkerton, Nashua South, Souhegan and Concord, and compete with annual foe Londonderry for one of the top four spots. While the field hockey players bring proven success, junior midfielder Sarah Viel and senior goaltender Sarah Cino add experience to this year’s lacrosse team, and sophomore Avery Neusen and freshman Aja Metcalf bring youth and intensity.

“I’m hoping, because I have so many returnees that have already been there and know how it feels (in the playoffs), it will help us,” said Wahlen. “These girls have a lot of fun and bring a lot of desire. They’re very hard working, and some have been together so long we’ve kind of built a little family amongst each other.”

Also expected to contribute on the 2008 squad are juniors Emily Cook, Lauren Santo and Melissa Putnam, as well as sophomores Lauren Burnett, Alissa Horta, Christine DiChiara and Ali Vivinetto.