Excitement.
Athletes, coaches and schools are all excited to get on the lacrosse field and play. After a 2020 season lost to time and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hard to tell who will be at the top of their respective divisions.
Both Hanover squads will be looking to build on productive 2019 seasons, including a drop from NHIAA D-I to D-II for the boys. Stevens will look to begin a winning culture with the help of a new head coach, 25-year veteran Dennis Reilly. Lebanon looks to be in the same boat, attempting to boost two programs that finished out of the playoff picture in 2019.
Across the Connecticut River in Vermont, the Hartford boys and girls are hoping to regain some of the magic that saw them make deep runs in VPA D-II tournaments. Meanwhile in Woodstock, the girls program will hope to regain the momentum gained from pushing eventual 2019 D-II state champion Vergennes to the limit in that year’s quarterfinals.
Coach: Ryan Gardner (seventh year).
Last time: 11-5, lost to Souhegan in NHIAA Division I quarterfinals.
League: NHIAA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors — Noah Fahey (A), Brett Simmons (M), Noah Bradley (D), Danny Pitiger (G).
Newcomers: Seniors — Charles Healy (M/A) Jon Hurd (M/D), Sawyer Brown (A), Jack Badams (A), Teddy Ruth (D), Brendan Wolter (A). Juniors — William Ciardelli (M/D), Ian Keeffe (LSM), Mitchell Rowley (M), Roan Downard (D/LSM), Ethen Derksen (D), Seamus Murphy (M), Dylan Hendrick (M/A), Luke Cantone (G). Sophomores — Brendan Logan (M/LSM), Brendan Kwaku (M), Jack Gardner (M/D), Matthew Brock (M/D), Alex Brackett (M), Mack Levy (M/A). Freshmen — Angus Frew (M), Devon Pleger (M), Caleb Buskey (M), Nicholas Reiss (M), Mateo Trimble (M), Jack Wilkinson (M), George Dominiak (D).
Analysis: Following a strong season in New Hampshire’s top division that concluded with a loss in the quarterfinals, the Hanover program moves to Division II for the first time. While the long layoff has led to high energy on the practice field, coach Ryan Gardner believes inexperience may be a factor.
“We return only three players who saw significant varsity time in 2019, so there are a lot of unproven players, which also leads to great opportunity for some of the underclassmen,” Gardner said.
Coach: Grant Whiteway (4).
Last time: 12-5, lost in semfinals to Harwood.
Leagues: VPA Division II, Southern Vermont League.
Returnees: Seniors — Bentley Boonyaharn (M), Ethan Schaal (D), Remy Lambert (M), Jackson Balch (D), Colston Allen (D), Carter Nalette (A). Juniors — Gordon Willey (M), Train Prior (G).
Newcomers: Seniors — Paul Cormier (D), Dan Kelliher (D), Jack Hinckley (D). Juniors — Simon Spaulding (A), Matt Derosier (A), Memphis Johnston (A), Chris Pierce (M), Alex Mason (M), Aidan Boonyaharn (M). Sophomores — Joe Barwood (A), Ozzy Defelice (M), Blaine Gour (M), Connor Tierney (D), James McReynolds (M). Freshman — Ezra Mock (M), Evan Lyons (D), Brayden Trombley (M).
Analysis: With multiple starters returning from 2019’s D-II semifinalists mixed with an influx with new talent, the outlook is bright for this year’s Hurricanes. According to coach Grant Whiteway, the team’s biggest strengths will be its athleticism and leadership.
“We have an athletic group this year,” Whiteway said. “We are all excited to be back on the field after missing a season. We have great leadership across positions and young players who are progressing quickly.”
Coach: Cole Flannery (1).
Last time: 2-12, missed state tournament.
Division: NHIAA Division III.
Returnees: Juniors — Griffin Auch, C.J. Childs, Noah Mekus, Colbie Delisle, Simon Amaro.
Newcomers: Senior — Stephen Krueger. Juniors — Alisdair MacPhail, Cameron Davio, Ethan Eshbaugh, Hunter Grant. Sophomores-Ethan Price, Cesar Salcedo. Freshman — Daniel Keefe.
Analysis: The Raiders expect to use 2021 as a rebuilding season, with the team focusing on fundamentals. However, the reconstruction process may be moving faster than anticipated.
“I’ve already seen improvement in the first three weeks of practice,” first-year coach Cole Flannery said. “And with the addition of some new players, I anticipate this team will be more competitive than teams in the past.”
Coach: Dennis Reilly (1).
Last time: 0-13, missed state tournament.
League: NHIAA Division III.
Returnees (classes not provided): Hunter Christian (M), Luke Forrest (M), Noah Osgood (M), Teah Vasquez (A).
Newcomers (classes not provided): Tyler Christian (D), Landon Norton-Avery (M/A), Brayden Rostron (D), Sienna Mann (A), Ashley Michaud (G).
Analysis: First-year head coach Dennis Reilly comes to the Cardinals with 25 years of coaching experience. With former Eastern Connecticut standout Harrison Urda on the staff, the two hope to turn around a program that has gone 0-41 in the prior three seasons. The young Cardinals, having only one senior and three juniors, will be also include three girls competing with the boys.
Coach: Brandon Little (12).
Last time: 12-5, lost to Essex in overtime quarterfinal.
Leagues: VPA Division I, Southern Vermont League.
Roster: Seniors — Wesley Cloutier, Charles Greene, Andrew Gubbins, Mason Harkins, Parker Kuhnert, Ronaldo McDonald, Ethan Mello, Louis Mills, Riley Shepherd, Colby Warren, Field Willis. Juniors — Eric Blanchard, Jackson Cayer, Colby Eaton, Evan Kurash, Keaton Piconi, Corey White. Sophomores — William Coates, Michael LaCroix, Graeme McKeon, Izaiah Moses, Simon North, Colin Peacocks, Willy Underwood. Freshman — Jaedon Beardsley, Cormac Farrell, Sam Hambsch, Owen Cross, Griffin Piconi, Jacob Roth, Ryan Seiple.
Analysis: The Wasps remain comfortable banging heads with the large schools of Division I. They’ll be counting on a large senior class as a foundation for Little, who is back on the sidelines after stepping down following the 2019 season.
Coach: Sarah Martin (2).
Last time: 9-8, lost in quarterfinals.
League: NHIAA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors — Wylie Lucas (M), Emma Taylor (M). Junior — Caroline Adams (M).
Newcomers: Seniors — Sienna Curtis (G), Lilly Colberg (D), Macy DeMara (G). Juniors — Lia Naughton (M), Danielle Rudd (D). Sophomores — Kai McDonnell (M), Sadie Higgins (M), Reilly Loughman (M), Mia Madden (M), Emily Perras (A), Lauren Eller (M), Lia Stewart (A). Freshman — Maeve Lee (A), Erin Fitzpatrick (M).
Analysis: After a year spent trying to build a team remotely without games to play, Martin gets her first crack on the sidelines with the Marauders. Hanover is short on experience, with just three returning starters, but looked good in dispatching Alvirne in its season opener.
Coach: Heather Hartford (4).
Last time: 11-6, lost in semifinals to eventual champion Vergennes.
Leagues: VPA Division II, Southern Vermont League.
Returnees: Seniors — Zoey Pfeiffer (A), Ryelee Potwin (D), Jasmine Jenkins (M). Junior — Caroline Hamilton (M).
Newcomers: Seniors — Reilly Slusser (M), Davan Murphy (A), Abigail Gross (A, attends Sharon Academy), Bailey Cameron (G), Alex Gray (G). Juniors — Abby Vanderpot (M), Elliot Rupp (D, attends Windsor), Chloe Jensen (A), Nora Knudsen (D), Sophie Howe (A), Maddy Withington (D), Sarah Howe (A), Mackenzie Arnold (G). Sophomore — Ella Perreault (D, attends White River Valley). Freshman — Addison Cadwell (A; attends Thetford).
Analysis: Coach Heather Hartford has a positive outlook for a program that reached the D-II semifinals in each of her first two seasons in charge. The Hurricanes will lean on their strong midfield and defense to win games, and are expecting “solid team play” in 2021.
Coach: Sara Ecker (27).
Last time: 7-7, missed state tournament by one game.
League: NHIAA Division III
Returnees: Seniors — Sydney Gonyea (A), Rachel Harrington (M), Lena Nowell (G). Juniors — Amalia Hickey (D), Ella Longacre (M), Clara Smyrski (D), Kayla Taber (A/M).
Newcomers: Senior — Ana Goodwin (D). Juniors — Cassidy Adams (A), Catherine Cole (A/M), Anna Illsley (D), Molly Smith (M), Sydney Zagarola (A). Freshmen — Maddie Jewell (A), Sophie Longacre (M).
Analysis: While her team is low on varsity experience, coach Sara Ecker believes the Raiders have promise based on their high levels of skill and athleticism. With many of Division III’s usual powers also shorthanded, the state title race appears to be wide open.
“We are small in numbers,” Ecker said, “but big on effort.”
Coach: Amanda Hull (7).
Last time: 3-14, lost to eventual champion Vergennes in double overtime quarterfinal defeat.
Leagues: VPA Division II, Southern Vermont League.
Returnees: Seniors — Maddy Trimpi (D), Avari Shoemaker (G), Eliza Dodson (M), Lili Sorrentino (M), Laura Shands (A), Molly Shearer (M).
Newcomers: Seniors — Oona Tracy (D), Chloe McKaig (A). Juniors — Adi Wilson (D/A), Hannah Reed (M), Kellan Johannensen (M), Sofia Yates (M). Sophomores — Audrey Emery (G), Lily Gubbins (M), Isabel Konijnenberg (M). Freshmen — Carter Willis (M), Claudia Shoemaker (M/D).
Analysis: Coach Amanda Hull admits her team hasn’t played much together, but she’s hoping the eagerness to get out on the field after a year off will counter its inexperience.
“I think one of our biggest strengths for this season is going to be our team’s excitement to be playing lacrosse,” Hull said. “They have a lot of determination and are willing to work hard. They want to be on the field, giving it their all.”