Winnacunnet and St. Thomas Aquinas Enter State Playoffs
The two New Hampshire high schools secured home-field advantage for upcoming field hockey quarterfinal matches.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Hockey
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Winnacunnet High School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School have qualified for their respective 2026 state field hockey tournaments. Both schools earned the right to host quarterfinal playoff games on their home fields.
Why it matters
Securing home-field advantage provides a critical competitive edge during the high-stakes state tournament bracket. These seeds reflect the teams performance during the regular season and set the stage for potential championship runs.
Winnacunnet finished their regular season with an undefeated 14-0 record, while St. Thomas Aquinas posted a 9-5 record. Notably, St. Thomas Aquinas held their opponents to one or zero goals in nine separate games this season.
The players
Winnacunnet High School
This is a public high school located in New Hampshire that competes in the Division I field hockey tournament.
St. Thomas Aquinas High School
This is a private, college-preparatory high school in New Hampshire that competes in the Division II field hockey tournament.
The details
Winnacunnet High School, which features a sophomore goalie, secured a first-round bye in the Division I bracket. St. Thomas Aquinas, the 2025 state champion, looks to defend its title after snapping a 22-year championship drought last season.
Timeline
2025: St. Thomas Aquinas won the Division II state championship.
October 23, 2026: St. Thomas Aquinas hosts Plymouth in a Division II quarterfinal.
October 24, 2026: Winnacunnet hosts a Division I quarterfinal match.
Season Trajectory
St. Thomas Aquinas is attempting to repeat as state champion following their 2025 title, which ended a 22-year drought for the program. Meanwhile, Winnacunnet seeks to leverage its top seed and undefeated record to secure a Division I championship.
Winnacunnet receives a crucial first-round bye in the Division I tournament, providing extra recovery time before their quarterfinal match on October 24. St. Thomas Aquinas will rely on a defense that held opponents to one or zero goals in nine games to advance past Plymouth.
The takeaway
Success in high school field hockey often hinges on defensive consistency and securing high tournament seeds. Fans can look for upcoming quarterfinal results to see which teams advance closer to the state championship trophy.
Further reading
For more on high school athletics, visit New Hampshire Hockey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fosters.
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