The top D3 girls lacrosse games to keep an eye on in 2023

The spring sports preseason started last week, but the games won’t start for real for two more weeks, 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 2023 in Division III girls 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 11: Hopkinton at Bow

• Once again, we start the D3 regular season with a bang. A year ago, these two met three times – Hopkinton won the season-opener in overtime, Bow got the second meeting by a goal, and then the Hawks won the rubber match in the final. Now the Falcons look like the preseason favorite and this is the only scheduled meeting between the two.

April 11: Gilford at Concord Christian

• The Kingsmen will face the Golden Eagles in the first varsity game in program history to kick off the 2023 season, after playing a junior varsity schedule the last two seasons. CCA will face a Gilford team that reached the semifinals a year ago with a lot of young talent.

April 11: St. Thomas at Pelham

• Both teams made the playoffs a year ago and are returning most of those teams that got there. Last year was the first times the teams had played since 2018, with Pelham getting a one-goal win.

May 5: Gilford at Laconia

• The Sachems had owned the series, winning six of the previous seven, including a quarterfinal win in 2021. But last year, the Golden Eagles turned the tables, beating Laconia by 14 goals on the way to a final four appearance.

May 15: St. Thomas at Derryfield

• Since beating the Cougars in 2018, the Saints have lost six in a row to Derryfield, including two playoff losses. That also includes last year’s regular-season finale, which the Cougars won 13-12 to clinch a top four seed in the playoffs.

May 17: Gilford at Bow

• A potential championship preview, both teams are returning a lot of talent from a year ago. The Falcons have won the last three meetings between the teams by an average of more than eight goals.

May 24: Pelham at Bow

• A playoff rematch to finish out the regular season, and possibly, a preview for this year’s playoffs. In two games last year, the Falcons outscored the Pythons 36-8.