Bigger division means more teams with a shot at taking D3 boys lacrosse crown

For the next two years, Division III will be the biggest boys lacrosse division with 18 teams.

That means a dozen will make the postseason, opening the door to make what has been the most competitive division over the last several years even more so.

The 2025 won’t be any different, with as many as eight teams going into the year with a real chance at making a run to the D3 title.

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At the top of that group are Coe-Brown and Laconia, two teams that lost a little and return a lot. But don’t count out Campbell, last year’s champion, or Hopkinton, winner of four of the last seven D3 titles.

Bow and Pelham will also be in the mix after making the final and the semifinals, respectively, last season. Plymouth seems to be a perennial contender and Kearsargem which was the surprise of the division a year ago, could be right there again.

Did we forget anyone? Probably, but that’s what should make for an exciting season in D3.

Favorites

Coe-Brown (10-6, lost in quarterfinals): The Bears lost only four seniors to graduation and return 16 players with varsity experience from last year.

On defense, senior goalie Jack Matson returns, along with senior Joey Alie, junior Jason Pogorek and sophomores Colby Strum, Rorik Collins (LSM) and Jackson Alie (goalie).

The attack will be led by seniors Gilbert Bean and Ryan Rodler, junior Joseph Fenton and sophomore Sam Frye, while freshman Glenn Papineau will also have a chance to contribute.

Seniors Liam White, Carson Hodgdon and Aiden McGuigan (faceoffs) are back at midfield, as are juniors Landon Midwood and Garrett Ward and sophomore Myles Brackett. Senior Odin Audet and freshman Abel Szatko also look to contribute.

Laconia (11-6, lost in quarterfinals): The Sachems lost just six seniors from a year ago and return a good mix of experienced players and newcomers all over the field.

Senior Eli Nadeau returns to lead at midfield and handle faceoffs while senior Brady Stevens returns and will see time at midfield and attack. Also returning on attack is sophomore Paul Ganchi, while sophomore Will Stafford will see time at attack and midfield and sophomore Sean O’Sullivan will look to contribute at midfield.

The defense will be led by seniors Stephen Mingo-Timmins (goalie), Landen Brothers, Yuri Luis and Caden Tucker and junior Chris Amato (LSM). Juniors Ben Hogg (SSDM) and Braydon McMath will also see time on defense.

Challengers

Campbell (17-3, won D3 title): The Cougars will look a lot different than the team that played in the last two title games. Gone are 13 seniors from a year ago and coach Josh Knight, as assistant Harrison Urda takes over the program.

Campbell still has plenty of experience returning, led at attack by seniors Cruz Sandquist and Zac Hannah, and on defense by seniors Nick Hershberger and Scott Hershberger (LSM). Also back on defense are sophomore Jake Landry and junior goalie Will O’Brien.

Junior Nate Lencki returns at midfield while sophomores Evan Molino (midfield) and Tyler Breton (attack) will have a chance to contribute.

Hopkinton (12-4, lost in semifinals): The Hawks missed the final last year for just the second time since 2017, and despite losing 10 seniors, they’re looking to get back there again this year.

Hopkinton has eight returning starters, including senior captains Merrick Chapin (attack), Nolan Staples-Roy (defense) and Brayden Crawford (defense) and junior captains Shane Smith (midfield).

Senior Ozzie Rosenholm also returns at midfield and to handle faceoffs, while senior Tate Doolan is back on defense. Junior Nolan Linstad steps in at goalie while junior Kaleb Huse returns on defense.

Sophomore Jackson Westover returns to lead the attack while sophomore Josh Simpson will have a chance to contribute. Junior Will Donoghue is back at midfield along with juniors Kip Hedquist and Evan Gregory.

Sophomores Indy Madden (defense), Owen Buss (midfield) and Rowan Boyle (midfield) and freshman Ollie Zahn (midfield) will also see some time.

Pelham (15-2, lost in semifinals): The Pythons graduated eight players who were a key part of last year’s semifinalist. Pelham also has a new coach, Joe Costa takes over the program.

Senior Mason Frechette and sophomores Aidan Cote and Christopher Swiniarski return to lead the attack while freshman Noah Johnson will see time on attack and at midfield.

Junior Matthew Sprague returns to handle faceoffs and will see time at midfield, along with junior Jake Suliveras and sophomore Will Jeknavorian.

The defense will look to senior Ben Howe (SSDM) and junior Mark Waden to lead the way while junior Patrick Muise (SSDM) and senior Junior MacKinnon will be in the mix.

Bow (12-5, lost in final): The Falcons graduated 10 seniors from last year’s runner-up finisher, but have a strong core returning on defense, led by junior goalie Brad Ekstrom.

Joining him on defense will be senior Harrison Densite (LSM) and junior Eli Ayers. Junior Sam Bennett returns to lead the offense at midfield while senior Jake Antuna is back to handle faceoffs.

Plymouth (10-7, lost in quarterfinals): The Bobcats only graduated two seniors from a year ago and have 13 players, including seven seniors, who return with varsity experience.

Leading the way on attack are seniors Nolan Galvin and Peyton Long and junior Cooper Legacy. Sophomore Brodhi Rousseau will also see time at attack.

Seniors Luke Legacy and Logan Trusock and juniors Eli Ibarguen, Taylor Rousseau and Ben Valenti return at midfield while freshman Foster Whitworth will also look to contribute at midfield.

Ryan Killion, Liam Shannon (SSDM) and Robbie Thorne (goalie) return as seniors give Plymouth a strong core on defense, while juniors Logan Libby and Harper Preston (LSM)also return. Sophomore goalie Cullen McNair could also see time on the field.

Contenders

Kearsarge (10-5, lost in quarterfinals): The Cougars lost 13 seniors from last year’s team, but had 47 in the program at the start of the preseason.

That includes senior captains Gunner Benedict (attack), Noah Whipple (defense) and Brodie Malynowksi (goalie). Also back on defense are seniors Corey Fleury, Jacob Heath and Braden Hurley.

Seniors Will Spanos and Noah Rubenberg both return at midfield, where they’ll be joined by sophomore Quinn Cusick. Eli Whipple, Oliver Smith and Bragen Kinzer will also have a chance to contribute.

Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (4-10): The Lakers have been on the verge of a postseason berth and look poised to be in the mix for a spot again this season.

Leading the way are junior LSM Wyatt Buhrman and senior Garrett Hayward on defense. They’ll be playing in front of junior goalie Milo Greene, who takes over as the starter.

Also returning at attack is junior Cayden Cloutier, while he’ll be joined by freshman Liam Cribbie. Freshman Josh Madigan will see time at midfield.

Lebanon (3-11): The Raiders were a young team a year ago, with 21 freshmen and sophomores, and many of them return this year with plenty of experience.

Seniors Bode Price (midfield) and Keegan Dannehy (midfield/defense) return, along with juniors Benji Madory (attack), V.J. Stiles (midfield), Abe Pearson (attack), Mikes Saunders (midfield) and Zander Kiff (midfield).

Lebanon will also look to a large sophomore group to contribute, including Ben Fogg, Jordan Findley (LSM), Zac Mosley, Max Perrielo, Marek Rodgers and Logan Mason (goalie) on defense. Austin Engert and Braeden Rodgers return at midfield and Gavin Gilson is back on faceoffs.

Senior Tyler Kelly (midfield), sophomore Elliot Brandis (midfield) and freshmen Bentley Lang (midfield) and Jon Adams (goalie) will look to contribute.

Gilford (6-8, lost in prelims)

Dark Horse

John Stark (0-14 in D2 as a co-op with Hillsboro-Deering): For the first time since 2018, the Generals are a solo program, after spending the last handful of years as a co-op with Hillsboro-Deering.

Thomas Zervos, who has been involved with the program, takes over as the coach, and he takes over a team with no seniors and just four juniors. Two of those juniors, Wyatt Puza (defense) and Cam Shaw (attack), will serve as captains, along with sophomore Shane Brunini (defense).

Freshman Charlie Pierce will see time at midfield and handle faceoffs and sophomore Patrick Hamel will step at goalie.

Rest of the Field

Bishop Brady (6-10, lost in prelims): The Giants graduated seven seniors, including their entire starting defense, and they’ll welcome in a new coach, as assistant Sean Hockensmith takes over for Frank Lamparelli.

Bishop Brady has a handful of players returning at each spot on the field, including junior Joey Richardson and sophomore Drake Bekar at attack. They’ll be joined by senior Grant Sexton, who returns from an injury.

Seniors Alex King and Luke Jackson are back at midfield with junior Cole Chandler and sophomore Luke Riethmiller ready to see time.

Sophomore Ray Weatherbee will see time in goal after missing last year with an injury while senior Jason Doyle (SSDM) and sophomore Noah Abdat (LSM) return to lead the defense. Senior Colin Underwood will also see time on defense. Doyle and Riethmiller will handle faceoffs.

Kennett (4-10, lost in D2 prelims): The Eagles come down to D3 having lost just four seniors from a year ago and returning 14 seniors.

Leading the way on defense will be senior goalie Richie Vargus and senior AJ Guida while senior Jake Graziano steps into the starting lineup on defense. Senior Gabe Shaw (LSM) also returns.

Seniors Cameron Fusco and Cole McAllister both return at attack, where they’ll be joined by sophomores Carter Stearns and Donovan Torrey. Senior Connor Wiggin is back to lead the midfield, while junior JJ Baker will handle faceoffs and see more time on offense.

Senior Spencer Glackin returns to the midfield after missing most of last year with an injury. Junior Bryce Needham and sophomores Adam Lopashanski and Tucker Laughland will also have a chance to contribute at midfield.

Milford (1-14): The Spartans have a handful of returners and will have a new coach, as Darren Fleury takes over for former coach Rick Urda.

Milford will be led on attack by returners Mitchell Broadhurst (senior) and Dylan MacLeod (sophomore) while sophomores Tyler Noble, Braedon Orlen and Christopher Quezada are back at midfield. Junior Stephen Abair and freshman Lukas Mangum will also see time at midfield.

Noble will also see time on defense, along with senior Tyler Ireland, junior Jason Daykin and junior goalie Cassidy Brennen. They’ll be joined by freshman Eben Barb (LSM), Rocco Bartling (goalie), Lincoln St. Jean and Jack Mcallister.

Trinity (2-13): The Pioneers will look to bounce back this year under new coaches Adam Gianunzio and Brad Siskavich.

The defense will see the return of juniors Andrew Evans and Colton Laroe, while sophomores TJ Venezia (SSDM) and Andrew Gianunzio (LSM) and freshmen Callum O’Connor, Alex Stanton (SSDM) and Mason Wasiejko (LSM) will be looked to to contribute. Freshman Easton Valliere will step in at goalie.

Senior Lucas Bender returns to lead the midfield and handle faceoffs while senior Max Saluto is also back at midfield. The attack will see a mix of players contributing, including seniors Tony Ronzello and Jaime Cieslik, junior Brysen Lubelczyc, sophomores Jack DeFreitas and Joe Ronsello and freshmen Ben Siskavich and Thomas Lam.

ConVal (2-12)

Stevens (0-14) 

Postseason Predictions

• Teams (12): Bow, Campbell, Coe-Brown, Gilford, Hopkinton, Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough, John Stark, Kearsarge, Laconia, Lebanon, Pelham, Plymouth.
• Final four: Campbell, Coe-Brown, Laconia, Pelham.
• Championship: Coe-Brown over Laconia.
• Offensive Player of the Year: Brady Stevens, Laconia.
• Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Hershberger, Campbell.