D3 Boys Lacrosse Preview: Hopkinton looks to continue run in deep division

It’s been quite the run for the Hopkinton High School boys lacrosse team the last seven seasons.

Of the six Division III championship games played in that time, the Hawks have been in five of them, winning four. Last year’s title might have been the most improbable, as Hopkinton went into the playoffs as the fifth seed and had to pull off a few upsets to get there.

Can the Hawks do it again in 2024? They have the roster returning to make it happen, but it might be a tough ask against a field that has quite a few teams ready to make the jump.

Laconia lost only one player from last season’s playoff team while Campbell, Bow and Pelham all reloaded. Plymouth and Coe-Brown should be among the other teams contending for a playoff spot with a shot at making a run.

Favorites

Hopkinton (13-5, won title): The Hawks graduated nine seniors from last year’s championship team, but the core returning helped contribute to that title and should keep them in contention again this year.

The defense once again looks solid for Hopkinton, with seniors Cam Bassett and Avery Condon returning along with senior goalie Colby Boissy. Senior Patty Buss and junior Merrick Chapin are back on attack while freshman Jackson Westover will join them.

Senior Thaddeus Maughan is back at midfield along with junior Ozzie Rosenholm, who will also handle faceoffs, and sophomore Shane Smith. They’ll be joined by junior Tim Sommer and sophomore Nolan Linstad.

Laconia (10-6, lost in quarterfinals): The Sachems enter the year with almost their entire lineup back from last season, having lost just one senior to graduation.

Laconia’s offense will be led by a handful of seniors, with J.P Harriman, Gavin Fordham Stevens, Carson Tucker and Sam Mize all returning; Harriman and Tucker will see time at midfield as well. Junior Brady Stevens and sophomore Ben Hogg also return up front.

Senior Brody Rollin is back at midfield along with junior Eli Nadeau, who will also handle faceoffs, and sophomore Ryan Walsh. Freshman Wady Minaya will see time at midfield while freshmen Paul Ganchi and Kyle Cameron will see time at midfield and attack.

The defense returns junior goalie Stephen Mingo-Timmins along with senior Alex Richardson, juniors Caden Tucker and Laden Brothers and sophomore LSM Chris Amato. Sophomore Braydon McMath will see time on defense as well.

Challengers

Bow (15-1, lost in semifinals): In their first year in D3, the Falcons were undefeated before running into Hopkinton in the semifinals. While six seniors graduated from that team, Bow returns a solid group that will keep it in contention.

Senior Gavin McCabe leads the Falcons at midfield while sophomore Sam Bennett will join him. Seniors Brodie O’Neil, Logan Rain and Ryan McCabe are back on attack and they’ll be joined by seniors Nate Davis and Billy Smethurst.

Sophomore Eli Ayers returns on defense while sophomore Brad Ekstrom is back in goal. Senior Luke Virta joins them on defense and junior Jake Antuna will handle faceoffs.

Campbell (15-3, lost in final): The Cougars continue to take a step each season, going from first playoff win to first trip to final four to a final appearance last year. Despite graduating seven key seniors, Campbell has enough returning to be among the top teams.

That starts with senior Andrew Willnus and junior Cruz Sandquist returning on attack, with junior Zach Hannah joining them. Senior Lucas Craig is back to handle faceoffs while seniors Hunter Grant and Brandon Portillo and sophomore Nathan Lencki are back at midfield with freshman Evan Molino joining them.

Junior Nick Hershberger returns on defense while junior Scott Hershberger is back at LSM. They’re joined by senior defensive middies Alex Kirby and Tyson Landry while freshman Jake Landry will be in the mix. Sophomore Will O’Brien will step in at goalie.

Pelham (11-5, lost in semifinals): The Pythons made a run to the final four last year, but played on of their worst games of the year in a shutout loss. Despite graduating eight seniors, Pelham has its sights set on a deeper run.

Leading the way will be senior midfielders Memphis Patterson and Cam Cooke, who will be joined by senior Russell Leonard and sophomore Matthew Sprague, who will also be on faceoffs. Senior Jesse Killian and junior Mason Frechette return to lead on attack.

Seniors Bradley Sprague and Deigo Sanchez return to lead the defense, along with sophomore Mark Waden, senior LSM Kyle Elie and defensive middies Aidan Lynch (senior) and Ben Howe (junior). Sophomore Jacob Chafe is also back in goal.

Freshmen Christopher Swiniarski (attack), Aiden Cote (midfield), Dominic Peranelli (defense) and Caeden Baisley (defense) will look to contribute for Pelham this season.

Contenders

Plymouth (11-6, lost in quarterfinals): This might be more of a regrouping year for the Bobcats, with just two seniors on the roster, but it’s hard to ever count out Plymouth.

The two seniors are Lincoln Manson and AJ Dobbie, and the return at midfield along with junior Luke Legacy and sophomores Eli Ibarguen and Ben Valenti. Junior Liam Shannon and sophomore Taylor Rousseau will also see time at midfield. Junior Nolan Galvin and sophomore Cooper Legacy are both back on attack, where they’ll be joined by junior Peyton Long.

Junior Ryan Killion and sophomores Logan Libby and Caedon Manseau are back to lead the defense in front of junior goalie Robbie Thorne. Sophomores Cooper Mack and Harper Preston will also be in the mix and freshman goalie Cullen McNair will see some time.

Coe-Brown (10-6, lost in preliminary round): The Bears set a new mark for their most wins in a season after moving back down to D3 last year. But after losing a dozen seniors and returning only two starters, Coe-Brown will have to do a little rebuilding.

The Bears have a great place to start with senior midfielders Ryan Matson and Tully Keefe returning, along with junior Ryan Rodler. Freshmen Colby Strum and Myles Brackett will be looked to contribute while freshman Sam Frye will see time at attack and midfield.

Sophomore Joseph Fenton is back on attack while junior goalie Jack Matson also returns. The defense will feature newcomers like sophomore Shea Raymond and freshmen Cooper Copeland, Ryan Toussaint and Rorik Collins (LSM). Freshman goalie Jackson Alie should also see some time.

Gilford (9-7, lost in quarterfinal): The Golden Eagles graduated just four seniors from a team that picked up a playoff win last season.

Senior Tristan Reinhold returns to lead on attack along with juniors Colin McGreevy and Elliott Warren while senior David Boyajian is back at midfield.

Junior LSM Evan Guerin and senior Neil Downs return to lead the defense. Freshmen Collin Corcoran, Lucas Raleigh, Kael Webber and Anthony Dissito will have a chance to contribute.

Bishop Brady (6-10, lost in quarterfinals): The Giants lost seven key seniors from last season’s playoff team, but this year, Bishop Brady had 26 players come out for the team.

Returning to lead the defense are senior captains Josh Lamparelli and Evan Dow along with senior defensive middie Roman Shetpa. Senior Oscar Pupillo will join them on defense and junior Jason Doyle will handle faceoffs.

Senior Ben Abromowich is back at midfield where he’ll be joined by sophomore Jack Devlin and freshman Cam Fortier. Junior Alex King and sophomore Joey Richardson return on attack while freshman Drake Bekar will also contribute.

Kearsarge (1-13): After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018, the Cougars have seen a big increase in numbers, with 46 players in the program this year.

One of those is senior defender Noah Whipple, who returns after stepping away from lacrosse for a couple of seasons. He’ll be joined on defense by seniors Owen Garzia and Alex Tockman, who will also see time at midfield, and sophomore Chase Paquette. Junior goalie Brodie Malynowski also returns.

Seniors Elliot Asbury, Aiden Deegan, Tanner Lewis and Sawyer Slayton return to lead a deep midfield. Joining them will be sophomores Blake Grieco and Bragen Kinzer, along with freshman Quinn Cusick. Seniors Devin Selby and Ed Kinzer will also have opportunities to contribute.

Dark Horse

Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (4-10): The Lakers were a win in the regular-season finale away from making the playoffs last season and look to get that extra step this year, with experience returning at every level.

Seniors Lincoln Ferrante and Brayden Arruda look to lead the way as they return at midfield. Junior Tigel Ort is also back with sophomore Kevin Gray and freshman Finn McIntosh joining them.

The attack will see the return of senior Noah Salamanca and junior Ryan Brown, while sophomore Liam Ringelstein will be looked to to contribute. A young defense will be led by junior Garrett Hayward and sophomore O’Brien Murray, along with sophomore LSM Wyatt Buhrman.

Rest of Field

Stevens (0-14): This season will look a little different for the Cardinals, as they’ve doubled their typical roster size with 30 athletes coming out this year.

Leading the way will be a handful of seniors who will see time at midfield and attack: Tyler Christian, Jackson Fellows, Landon North-Avery, Logan Sanborn, Austin Simoneau and Ethan St. Amant. They’ll be joined by returning junior Connor Premo while sophomore Patrick Prive and freshmen James Greco and Jeremiah Van Alstyne will be in the mix.

Junior goalie Oakland Hemingway returns with a defense led by senior Brayden Rostron and junior Barrin St. Sauveur. Freshmen Carter Bastian, O’Neil Cederman and Cooper Piemontese could see time on attack or on defense for Stevens this year.

Milford (1-15): The Spartans have a roster on the younger side this season and will look to improve as the season goes along.

Leading the way is senior captain Dartagnan Boudreau, who returns for Milford on defense. Also returning to join Boudreau is sophomore Jason Daykin while senior Matt Gaumont will be in the mix and sophomore Brennan Cassidy steps in at goalie.

Senior Tyler Descoteaux, juniors Ryan Arseneau and Braydon Atwood and sophomore Simon MacFarlane return for Milford at midfield. Juniors Mitch Broadhurst and Tyler Ireland will be looked to contribute there as well. Sophomore Landon Briand returns on attack while freshman Dylan MacLeod will join him.

Lebanon (4-10)

Trinity (7-9, lost in preliminary round)

Postseason Predictions

Teams (10): Bishop Brady, Bow, Campbell, Coe-Brown, Gilford, Hopkinton, Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough, Laconia, Pelham, Plymouth.

Final four: Campbell, Hopkinton, Laconia, Pelham.

Championship: Hopkinton over Laconia.

Offensive Player of the Year: Carson Tucker, Laconia.

Defensive Player of the Year: Cam Bassett, Hopkinton.