Some D2 boys lacrosse games to keep an eye on in 2024

The spring sports preseason is underway, but the games won’t start for real for more than a week, so it’s the perfect time to start circling some dates on the calendar.

Here are some of the top games to look out for in 2024 in Division II boys lacrosse, in chronological order. Schedules are subject to change, so check with your respective teams to make sure a date or time hasn’t changed.

April 8: Alvirne at Goffstown

• A year ago, the Broncos opened the season with a win over the Grizzlies to jump start what was the best season in Alvirne’s program history. This will also be Goffstown’s first game on its new turf field.

April 16: Portsmouth at Timberlane

• The teams met during the regular season a year ago and the Clippers made it six wins over the Owls since 2021. In fact, Portsmouth hasn’t lost to Timberlane since the very first meeting between the teams, back in 2009, when the Clippers first moved up to D2.

April 19: Derryfield at St. Thomas

• A rematch of last year’s semifinal, the fifth time these teams have met in the playoffs, but the first that wasn’t a quarterfinal meeting. The Cougars have won all five, and all nine meetings between the two teams in the regular season.

April 29: Hollis Brookline at Souhegan

• These two played a pair of competitive, intense games a year ago, with the Sabers winning in the regular season and the Cavaliers returning the favor in the playoffs. They haven’t played much over the years, being in different divisions, but the rivalry between the schools should mean another great game.

April 30: Timberlane at St. Thomas

• The Owls and Saints have met in the quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons. St. Thomas took last year’s playoff game to reach the final four, but Timberlane had won the previous two, including in the postseason in 2022.

May 9: Portsmouth at Derryfield

• These two teams have met in the playoffs five of the last six seasons, with four of those coming in the D2 final. The Cougars won last year’s title game against the Clippers in overtime, but prior to that, Portsmouth had won five straight in the series.

May 14: Timberlane at Windham

• The Owls snapped a six-game losing streak against the Jaguars late last season. Both teams have made long playoff runs the last couple of seasons, with Windham reaching the final four each of the last two years and Timberlane getting there in 2022 and to the final the year before.

May 17: Oyster River-Newmarket at Winnacunnet

• The Warriors needed a goal at the final buzzer to beat the Bobcats last season. Winnacunnet has won each of the matchups the last two seasons, but only by a combined four goals. With the game so late in the regular season, it could be a big factor for both teams in seeding.