D2 Boys Lacrosse Preview: Plenty of contenders could break up Derryfield, Portsmouth reign

Since the turn of the century, Division II boys lacrosse in New Hampshire has seen successful multiple-year runs by many different programs.

But there are two programs that have, more recently, taken that to the next level.

Derryfield and Portsmouth have had quite a hold over D2 for the better part of the last decade. The Cougars have been in seven of the last eight title games, winning five, including last year; the Clippers aren’t far behind, having played in five of the last six, winning two.

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And until someone proves otherwise, Derryfield and Portsmouth look like they could be on a collision course to make it one more round this spring.

Who will stop them? Plenty of teams could have a say in that, starting with Timberlane, which made the final in 2021. Or perhaps Windham or St. Thomas, the other two teams that reached the final four a year ago.

Winnacunnet, Oyster River-Newmarket and Hollis Brookline could also be in the mix while Goffstown, Alvirne, Merrimack Valley, Souhegan and Kingswood could all take a big step forward.

With this being the second year of the NHIAA’s two-year cycle, it means teams that petitioned down – Keene-Monadnock and Spaulding – are eligible for the postseason.

Favorites

Derryfield (19-1, won title): The Cougars lost just six seniors from last year’s championship team, but all six played big roles that will be hard to replace.

But Derryfield has enough returning to do that, starting on the offensive end. Seniors Alex Murray, Chili Cabot and Michael Grunbeck and junior RJ Proulx all return at attack. Seniors John Kramer and Tad Faulkner and junior Brady Doldo are also back at midfield, where they’ll be joined by sophomore Cooper Ketcham.

The defense will rely on senior goalie Parker Lebiedz and senior Max Fowler, as both starters return. Also back on defense is senior Tyler Marsden, while senior midfielder Logan Purvis returns to handle faceoffs.

Portsmouth (18-2, lost in final): With 14 seniors graduating from last year’s team, the Clippers have some holes to fill, too. But they’ve also got a lot of talent returning.

That includes senior midfielders Zac Amend and Nick Smith, who also handles faceoffs; both have been starters since they were freshmen. Also back at midfield is senior Lucas Patten and they’ll be joined by freshmen Henry Purcell, Sam Biddle and Jack Martin.

Juniors Ben Purcell, Briggs Catino and Reilly Collins return at attack, while freshman Gus Baker will also see time. Like Derryfield, Portsmouth’s biggest holes are on defense, but the Clippers also return junior goalie Kai Paterson and junior Masi Shone. Sophomore Andy Brown will also see time on defense.

Challengers

Timberlane (15-3, lost in quarterfinals): The Owls lost eight seniors from last year’s team that was upset in the quarterfinals, but have a roster full of experience returning.

The biggest spot Timberlane needs to fill is in goal, where senior Bryce Carty and sophomore Joe Hughes will look to step up. Senior Gary Shivell returns on defense along with junior Trever Rego and senior LSM Logan Johnson. Sophomore Joe Cruz will also see time on defense.

Seniors Austin Charest, Cole Gerry, Nick Katsoulis and Tyler Chiccino return at midfield, along with junior Michael Savage and sophomores Rocco Psareas and Liam Corman. The attack will be led by senior Jack Condon and sophomore Landon Petry while sophomore Spencer Munson will have an opportunity to contribute.

Windham (14-5, lost in semifinals): The Jaguars have been in the semifinals each of the last two years, and this season, may have one of the deepest the program has seen in recent years.

Returning on defense for Windham are seniors Andrew Trudel and Bill DiPietro, along with senior goal Casey Kramer. Senior Dane Grieco, sophomore Nolan Lamb and freshman Ethan Peluso will also be in the mix on defense.

Junior Rob DiPietro is back at midfield to handle faceoffs while seniors Dylan Suliveras, Mason Ketelaar and Austin Mulrenan and sophomores Jake Suliveras and Josh Trudel also return at midfield. Freshmen Sam Kramer and Nolan Dunn will step in at midfield as well. The attack will be led by seniors Nate Crowley, Ryan Parke and Matt Desmarais.

Winnacunnet (12-5, lost in quarterfinals): The Warriors graduated just five seniors, but their strength, at least early in the year, will be on defense.

Returning on that side of the ball are seniors Jake Magri, Tony Piotrowski and Laird Sullivan, along with senior goalie Noah Andronanco. Junior LSM Duane Pascal also is back along with defensive middies Drew Marelli (senior) and juniors Braden Nowak and DJ Sciacca.

Senior Tim Kollmorgen returns to lead on attack while junior Lukas Botnick will do the same at midfield. Winnacunnet also has a big freshmen class that will have a chance to contribute right away.

Oyster River-Newmarket (11-7, lost in quarterfinals): The Bobcats lost three seniors to graduation and return a team with lots of experience, despite still being on the younger side.

Sophomores Tyler Callander and Alex Moody return to lead on attack while senior Jake Failla steps back in as well. Senior Evan Plourde and sophomore Jadyn Smart make the switch from attack to midfield, but could see time at both.

Sophomore Cole Levesque returns at midfield and will handle faceoffs, while sophomore Talon Beyer is also back, along with juniors Travis Faul and Joe Hinchcliffe and sophomore Domenic DeRosa. Freshmen Dee Tsakiris, Cabot Holden-Mount and Cameron Wheeler could also contribute at midfield.

Junior Cole Norris takes over at goalie, and he’ll be surrounded by experience, with starters seniors Aidan Golding and Jon Buteau and junior Sawyer Levesque along with senior middie Matthew Monahan and sophomore LSM Kavi Weber. Seniors Costa Frangos and Pearson Stiles are also back on defense and sophomore LSM Finn Rice also returns.

Freshmen Connor Evans (goalie) and Jackson Pearson will also see time on defense.

St. Thomas (13-5, lost in semifinals)

Contenders

Hollis Brookline (11-8, lost in quarterfinals): The Cavaliers lost just five seniors from a year ago and added 11 freshmen to bring numbers for this season.

Leading the way will be senior middie Ben Dufoe, who will be joined by junior JohnPaul Torgerson and sophomore Luke Kinney at midfield. Senior Bryson Giersch and juniors Deegan Herrera and Colin Magnuszewski will also contribute at midfield. Senior Connor Cook and juniors Mason Acheson and Noah Taylor return on attack.

Seniors Rudy Rosa and Cayden Emmons are back to lead the defense along with junior Dillon Kinney and sophomore Evan Young. Sophomore goalie Charlie Dee also returns.

Souhegan (9-8, lost in preliminary round): The Sabers graduated nine seniors from last year’s team, which finished the year strong in D2 for the first time since 2012.

The defense will be led by senior Brett Bouvier and sophomore Reid Kimball, while junior Jared Kershaw will step into the mix. Senior Zach Wyborney returns at midfield where he’ll be joined by junior Muse Cross-Swartzell.

Souhegan will get a boost from the return of senior Cole Manning (midfield/attack), who missed most of last season, while sophomore Nate Hill will also contribue on attack.

Alvirne (8-9, lost in preliminary round): The Broncos will look to make the playoffs for the third straight year and improve on last year’s record win total.

Alvirne returns an experienced attack, with seniors Jonavan Santana, Preston Ball and Cedrick Bealieau all return while freshman Finn Malloy will look to contribute. Seniors Brandon Lavarnway and Cam Drohan and sophomore Carsen Mills will see time at midfield.

Senior goalie Ayden Kelly retuns along with seniors Aiden Malloy and Sam Fortin and junior LSM Jackson Hurrell.

ConVal (8-8, lost in preliminary round): The Cougars return 15 players with varsity experience, including eight seniors, after graduating just five from last year’s team.

The biggest hole ConVal will have to fill in is goal, where junior Stephen Simard will take over. The defense around him will including seniors Broden Frosch, Kermit Pope and Andrew St. Cyr and junior Liam Lambert and sophomore Brayden Boice. Senior Francisco Jaimes, junior Henry Vivilecchia (goalie) and freshmen Nikolas Rusin and Henry Taylor will be in the mix.

Seniors Seth Fowler and Eric McGrath return on attack, as does junior Owen Halliday while freshman Turner Finney could see time on attack and at midfield. Seniors Briar Bethel, Colin Pellettieri and Caden Robbins, juniors Kiernan King and Will Sulborski and sophomore Max Erickson are back at midfield. Freshmen Cadel Cox and Oliver Vivilecchia will also see time.

Merrimack Valley (4-10): The Pride look to bounce back from a tough couple of years; Merrimack Valley won 10 games in 2019, but just 10 in the last three seasons.

Defense looks to be a strength to start the year, with juniors Jackson Deyermond, Travis Garcia, Jacob Leclerc and Ryan Monaghan, sophomore Carter Garland and junior LSM Colby Scheffer returning in front of junior goalie Michael Kingsbury.

Senior Brayden Hussey is back at midfield along with juniors Mike Heine and Matt Lauren while freshmen Carter Lankhorst will step in on faceoffs. The attack will be led by senior Nolan Beck, juniors Tyler Carter and Connor Hanson and sophomore Colin Reardon.

Goffstown (7-9, lost in preliminary round)

Dark Horse

Kingswood (4-10): The Knights lost a handful of starters from last year, but have plenty of returners with varsity experience to make a run at returning to the playoffs.

That includes senior midfielders Will Crane, Troy Dow and Keegan Kilkelly along with junior Christian Sluss. Sophomore Parker Aucoin returns to handle faceoffs and freshman Collin Pelletier will be looked to contribute at midfield as well.

Senior Keegan Russo, junior Austin Emerson and sophomore Keller Peacock are back to lead on attack, while freshmen Myles O’Keefe, Reid Swinerton and Brady Walston will have a chance to step in as well.

Senior goalie Wyatt Brown is back along with senior Gavin Copp, junior Jacob Brown and sophomore Ryker Booth on defense while defensive middie Paul Guinco (senior) also returns.

Rest of the Field

Pembroke (7-9, lost in preliminary round): The Spartans were a playoff team a year ago, but will be a younger squad after graduating 13 seniors.

Seniors Caden Mix and Nathaniel Jordan return at midfield to lead the way for Pembroke and sophomore Gabriel Johnson will look to contribute as well. Junior Luke Hanson is back for the defense.

Cameron Clarke and Owen Hills give the Spartans a pair of seniors to run the attack while junior Garrett Bishop will be looked to to contribute.

Kennett (2-12): The Eagles have an experienced group of players returning, plus some newcomers who could contribute right away.

Senior Bob Murphy is back to lead on attack along with juniors Cam Fusco, Cole McAllister and Gabe Shaw. Freshmen Adam Lopashanski and Donovan Torrey will look to contribute as well.

Senior Micah White and junior Connor Wiggin return at midfield along with juniors Spencer Glackin and Nolan Proulx. Sophomore JJ Baker will look to handle faceoffs while freshmen Tucker Laughland and Owen Zipf will see time at midfield.

Junior Richie Vargus will take over in goal with senior Carter Tasker moves to defense along with senior Noah Mihelis and juniors AJ Guida and Greyson Witchley. Sophomore Bryce Needham will also handle some faceoffs and step in at defensive middie.

Spaulding (0-15): The Red Raiders have a good core of returning players, led by senior captains Justin Lubby (attack/midfield), Gannon Hughes (attack/midfield) and Jackson Morgan (defense).

Also returning is senior Will Godbout and sophomore Colin McIntyre on attack while senior Leighton Ducharme will back in action on offense after missing last season with an injury. Freshman Rowan Hughes will also be in the mix.

Junior Seth Cortina returns to handle faceoffs for Spaulding while junior Jonas Levesque will see time at midfield and attack. Joining Morgan on defense will be juniors Wade Jones and Logan Barker and junior goalie Dylan Gravelese.

Freshman Jackson Shapleigh, John Hebert and Seth Jones (goalie) will also see time on defense.

Hillsboro-Deering/John Stark (1-13)

Hanover (4-11, lost in preliminary round)

Keene-Monadnock (5-12)

Postseason Predictions

Teams (14): Alvirne, ConVal, Derryfield, Goffstown, Hollis Brookline, Kingswood, Merrimack Valley, Oyster River-Newmarket, Portsmouth, St. Thomas, Souhegan, Timberlane, Windham, Winnacunnet.

Final four: Derryfield, Portsmouth, St. Thomas, Timberlane.

Championship: Derryfield over Timberlane.

Offensive Player of the Year: Zac Amend, Portsmouth.

Defensive Player of the Year: Gary Shivell, Timberlane.