Lot to learn this week for teams in the NHHSSports Boys Lacrosse Coaches Poll
With many schools going on spring break next week, it appears this week will serve as a midterm for many teams in the NHHSSports Boys Lacrosse Coaches Poll.
With many schools going on spring break next week, it appears this week will serve as a midterm for many teams in the NHHSSports Boys Lacrosse Coaches Poll.
There are six games scheduled this week between teams either in the top 10 or receiving votes, plus three of the top four teams have games against out-of-state competition. By this time next week, the poll position should be a little bit clearer.
For the 12th week in a row, Bishop Guertin is the No. 1 team, receiving all first-place votes, after the Cardinals opened the season with three convincing wins. This week, Bishop Guertin will play its first real home game of the year against Xaverian Brothers, of Westwood, Mass., on Tuesday at 6 p.m., and then host Souhegan on Friday.
Exeter moved out of a tie for second with Pinkerton thanks to a three-win week. We’ll see if that was the right move by the coaches as soon as Monday, as the Blue Hawks will host the Astros at 5 p.m. Exeter then heads out on the road for two games, going to Souhegan on Wednesday and St. Thomas on Saturday. Pinkerton, which split its first two games, hosts Salem on Wednesday and Andover (Mass.) on Friday.
Portsmouth is the top Division II team for the second straight week, staying at No. 4 after two wins. The Clippers will host Coe-Brown at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday before heading to Newburyport (Mass.) on Wednesday. Derryfield rounds out the top 5 after getting a pair of wins. The Cougars go on the road for the first time on Tuesday, when they visit Bow, and then host Timberlane on Friday.
The bottom half of the poll starts with Nashua South for the second straight week. The Panthers opened with a pair of wins and will host Londonderry at 4 p.m. on Tuesday followed by games at home against Manchester Memorial-Central on Thursday and Concord on Saturday.
Bedford made the biggest jump of the week, going up three spots to 7th after winning its opener against Salem and dropping close games to Pinkerton and Derryfield. The Bulldogs have just one game this week, as they head to Concord on Tuesday. Timberlane, capped a busy first week with four wins and remained at No. 8; the Owls don’t play against until heading to Derryfield on Friday.
Concord stayed at No. 9, and after hosting Bedford, the Crimson Tide host Nashua North on Thursday before traveling to the Gate City to face Nashua South on Saturday morning. Windham moves into the 10th spot in the poll after opening with two wins. The Jaguars host Alvirne on Monday, head to Hollis Brookline on Wednesday and host Salem on Friday.
Here is the NHHSS Boys Lacrosse Coaches Poll for the preseason. These are the top 10 lacrosse teams in the state, with first-place votes/points and final ranking in 2021 (T=tie).
- Bishop Guertin (3-0), 12/120, 1st
- Exeter (3-0), 102, T-2nd
- Pinkerton (1-1), 91, T-2nd
- Portsmouth (2-0), 80, 4th
- Derryfield (2-0), 73, 5th
- Nashua South (2-0), 70, 6th
- Bedford (1-2), 27, 10th
- Timberlane (4-0), 24, 8th
- Concord (1-2), 23, 9th
- Windham (2-0), 19, ARV
Dropped out: Londonderry.
Also receiving votes: Londonderry (1-2), 17 (No. 7); Winnacunnet (1-1), 11; Campbell (3-0), 3; Hollis Brookline (1-1), 1.
The coaches poll is voted on by coaches from all three divisions, as well as members of the media. If you would like to sponsor the coaches poll, send an email to nhhighschoolsports@gmail.com or go here.
