A way-too-early look at the 2024 boys lacrosse season

By the end of the 2023 season, the boys lacrosse landscape looked a lot like it did in 2017.

No, it didn’t have anything to do with all of the COVID-19 restrictions have long since been lifted, making things feel a lot more like pre-pandemic days. Rather on the final day of the season, the three teams that lifted championship plaques – Bishop Guertin, Derryfield and Hopkinton – were the same three to do so that season.

For the Cardinals, that was the final title in a run that saw them win seven Division I titles in eight years; for the Cougars, it was the second of four D2 titles in a row; for the Hawks, it was the first of three straight D3 crowns. All three say goodbye to a core group of seniors that were key to winning titles this season, so the question will be does each have enough returning to keep it going.

With the 2024 season being the second of the NHIAA’s two-year cycles, major changes aren’t expected, although there were a few last-minute ones going into this season. John Stark and Hillsboro-Deering were a late co-op on the girls and boys sides, and numbers in some other programs could make a surprise co-op a possibility.

Three teams that were ineligible for the postseason in 2023 – Keene-Monadnock and Spaulding in D2, Milford in D3 – will be eligible for 2024.

Division I

Bishop Guertin’s title this spring was its third in a row and 12th overall, tying Pinkerton’s record for most by a program in state history. While the Cardinals almost a roster’s worth of seniors – 17 in all – there’s plenty returning, including All-Americans Brady and Alex Dumont, to expect them to break that record in 2024.

Along with the three-straight championships, Bishop Guertin has some other impressive streaks going. The Cardinals haven’t lost an in-state game since the 2019 championship game, when they fell to Pinkerton, and they haven’t lost to an in-state team other than the Astros since 2012. With a handful of other returners, including Caleb Yeung, Carter Jozokos, Will Murphy, Finn Moran and Paulo Vazquez, the odds are in Bishop Guertin’s favor to keep those streaks going.

The other three semifinalists from this year also take a hit from graduation, but all will have to build up depth to try to make a return.

Pinkerton, this year’s runner-up, will lose 10 seniors from this season, including both goalies and its top three scorers. But the Astros should have Cole Frank back to take faceoffs along with Matt Morrison at midfield. A handful of others who saw time this year will have to step up.

Exeter saw 14 seniors graduate, but the Blue Hawks should have goalie Ethan Bernich returning along with Owen Williams, Marshall Lasewicz and Tanner Smith. Merrimack, meanwhile, will see nine seniors leave, but many of them will leave huge holes in the Tomahawks’ lineup. Conor Dunn should be back to lead a team that will be light on seniors, but have a lot of juniors and sophomores.

Bedford might have enough returning to not only improve on its top-four finish in the regular season, but move past the three teams mentioned above. The Bulldogs will have to find a way to replace a dozen seniors from this year, but the expected return of players like Derek Kulesza, Luke Purnell, Kevin Sheridan, Bennett Matthews and Tristan Kerr, to name a few, will help.

Londonderry sees just 10 seniors graduate, but should have a lot of numbers back to make a run at a top spot. Getting into the playoffs should be big for Dover and Concord teams that were playing a lot of young players, while Nashua South could bounce back missing out on the postseason.

Too-early-playoff predictions (8 teams): Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Dover, Exeter, Londonderry, Merrimack, Nashua South, Pinkerton.

Players to keep an eye on: Derek Kulesza, Bedford; Luke Purnell, Bedford; Kevin Sheridan, Bedford; Spencer Henrichon, Bedford; Bennett Matthews, Bedford; Brian Riccio, Bedford; Tristan Kerr, Bedford; Ian Fletcher, Bedford; Caleb Yeung, Bishop Guertin; Brady Dumont, Bishop Guertin; Carter Jozokos, Bishop Guertin; Micah Dunsmoor, Bishop Guertin; Finn Moran, Bishop Guertin; Alex Dumont, Bishop Guertin; Will Murphy, Bishop Guertin; Paulo Vazquez, Bishop Guertin; Carter Doherty, Concord; Dom Chalifour, Dover; Micah Krick, Dover; Marshall Lasewicz, Exeter; Ethan Bernich, Exeter; Tanner Smith, Exeter; Owen Williams, Exeter; Will McIlroy, Exeter; Cam Brutus, Londonderry; Ty Parsons, Londonderry; Colby Walden, Londonderry; Beau Lamontagne, Merrimack; Conor Dunn, Merrimack; Mason Tremblay, Merrimack; Alec Jenkerson, Nashua North; Nick Wilkinson, Nashua North; Beau Dubois, Nashua South; Jake Lynn, Nashua South; Severen Johnson, Nashua South; Cole Frank, Pinkerton; Richard Wong, Pinkerton; Adam Scala, Pinkerton; Matt Morrison, Pinkerton; Alec Henry, Pinkerton; Brendan Carney, Pinkerton; Cody Santomassimo, Pinkerton.

Division II

Derryfield ended Portsmouth’s two-year reign at the top of the division this spring, but if one of the two was going to be the favorite going into next year, it might be the Clippers.

Portsmouth will have to find a way to replace 14 seniors, including most of its top defenders, but any team with Zac Amend and Nick Smith returning is ahead of the game. Add in Ben Purcell, Lucas Patten and Briggs Catino, and the Clippers have the making of another top offensive unit, while the defense does have Masi Shone  and goalie Kai Paterson expected to return.

A year after losing almost no one to graduation, Derryfield says so long to just six seniors, but all played enormous roles for the Cougars. Despite that, they could put out a starting offense tomorrow featuring Chili Cabot, Alex Murray, RJ Proulx, John Kramer, Brady Doldo and Liam Canty, and have more experience than most. Max Fowler and goalie Parker Lebiedz should be back to lead the defense and Logan Purvis is returning to handle faceoffs.

The two other team that reached the semifinals, St. Thomas and Windham, could be right back there again in 2024. The Saints lose a dozen seniors to graduation, but are expected to return key players like Jackson Extes, Finley De Tolla and goalie Eli Allaire. The Jaguars also take a hit, with eight seniors gone, but top defender Andrew Trudel and goalie Casey Kramer should be back.

Oyster River-Newmarket had just three seniors on this year’s roster, and while they leave some big holes, the Bobcats started a number of freshmen who gained valuable experience. Souhegan, going into its second year in D2, will be in line to take a step, despite losing nine seniors and having a question mark in goal.

Timberlane and Winnacunnet have both made it to the final in the last five seasons, and while both take big hits to graduation, should compete for one of the top spots in the division. Goffstown and Hollis Brookline also have a strong core returning to be in the mix, and after back-to-back playoff appearances, Alvirne could be a dark horse next season.

Too-early-playoff prediction (12 teams): Alvirne, ConVal, Derryfield, Goffstown, Hanover, Hollis Brookline, Keene-Monadnock; Oyster River-Newmarket, Pembroke; Portsmouth, Souhegan, Timberlane, Windham, Winnacunnet.

Players to keep an eye on: Ayden Kelly, Alvirne; Jonovan Santana, Alvirne; Garrett Hall, Alvirne; Colton Laroe, Alvirne; Kelly McMahon, ConVal; Caden Robbins, ConVal; Chili Cabot, Derryfield; Alex Murray, Derryfield; Parker Lebiedz, Derryfield; Max Fowler, Derryfield; Logan Purvis, Derryfield; RJ Proulx, Derryfield; Sean Cote, Goffstown; Andrew Sealy, Goffstown; Noah Bless, Goffstown; Jack Wilkinson, Hanover; Charlie Dee, Hollis Brookline; Ben Dufoe, Hollis Brookline; JP Torgersen, Hollis Brookline; Connor Cook, Hollis Brookline; Bob Murphy, Kennett; Will Crane, Kingswood; Evan Plourde, Oyster River-Newmarket; Ty Callander, Oyster River-Newmarket; Alex Moody, Oyster River-Newmarket; Caden Mix, Pembroke; Zac Amend, Portsmouth; Nick Smith, Portsmouth; Masi Shone, Portsmouth; Ben Purcell, Portsmouth; Lucas Patten, Portsmouth; Briggs Catino, Portsmouth; Jackson Estes, St. Thomas; Finley De Tolla, St. Thomas; Eli Allaire, St. Thomas; JJ Bright, Souhegan; Brett Bouvier, Souhegan; Cole Manning, Souhegan; Ayden McGrath, Souhegan; Jack Condon, Timberlane; Gary Shivell, Timberlane; Austin Charest, Timberlane; Michael Savage, Timberlane; Andrew Trudel, Windham; Nathan Crowley, Windham; Matt Desmarais, Windham; Casey Kramer, Windham; Jake Magri, Winnacunnet.

Division III

With about three weeks to go in the regular season, Hopkinton did not look like the team that would be holding the championship plaque at the end of year. But a solid defensive core combined with an opportunistic offense and a hot goalie got the Hawks back into the winner’s circle for the first time since 2019.

Hopkinton will see nine seniors move on, many of them having played key roles, but there were 13 juniors on the roster this year who should be returning. Once again, the strength will be on defense, with goalie Colby Boissy back along with Cam Bassett and Avery Condon. Patrick Buss, Merrick Chapin and Ozzie Rosenholm, who all contributed to the Hawks’ playoff run, should also be back.

Campbell, this year’s runner-up, will have big holes to fill, specifically on defense, despite losing just seven seniors. But the Cougars have plenty set to return at both ends of the field, including Andrew Willnus, Wyatt Tarr, Lucas Craig, Cruz Sandquist, and Scott and Nick Hershberger, to make another run at the title.

Bow and Pelham, the other two semifinalists, look to be in good shape going into next year. The Falcons had just six seniors graduate and should have Gavin and Ryan McCabe, Brodie O’Neil, Will Bennett and Brad Ekstrom returning. The Pythons saw eight seniors graduate, with Memphis Patterson, Diego Jiminex, and Bradley and Matt Sprague expected to return.

Coe-Brown will need to replace a dozen seniors, but had the numbers this year to make that transition a little smoother. Laconia had a young team this year, with just two seniors, and a trip to the postseason should have given the Sachems some key experience.

Plymouth and Trinity almost always seem to find a way to be in the playoff mix, while Gilford has most of its roster set to return, including Tristan Reinhold. Bishop Brady only loses six seniors, but with a smaller roster, will need some new players to step in. Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough and Lebanon could also make a run at the postseason.

Too-early-playoff predictions (10 teams): Bow, Campbell, Coe-Brown, Gilford, Hopkinton, Laconia, Lebanon, Pelham, Plymouth, Trinity.

Players to keep an eye on: Joseph Richardson, Bishop Brady; Josh Lamparelli, Bishop Brady; Gavin McCabe, Bow; Ryan McCabe, Bow; Will Bennett, Bow; Brodie O’Neil, Bow; Brad Ekstrom, Bow; Andrew Willnus, Campbell; Wyatt Tarr, Campbell; Lucas Craig, Campbell, Cruz Sandquist, Campbell; Scott Hershberger, Campbell; Nathan Lencki, Campbell; Nick Hershberger, Campbell; Jack Matson, Coe-Brown; Gilbert Bean, Coe-Brown; Joseph Fenton, Coe-Brown; Tristan Reinhold, Gilford; Colby Boissy, Hopkinton; Ozzie Rosenholm, Hopkinton; Cam Bassett, Hopkinton; Patrick Buss, Hopkinton; Merrick Chapin, Hopkinton; Avery Condon, Hopkinton; Shane Smith, Hopkinton; Brody Rollins, Laconia; Carson Tucker, Laconia; Brady Stevens, Laconia; Otto Bourne, Lebanon; Harris Jones, Milford; Memphis Patterson, Pelham; Matt Sprague, Pelham; Diego Jiminex, Pelham; Bradley Sprague, Pelham; Luke Legacy, Plymouth; Tyler Christian, Stevens; Andrew Overy, Trinity.