A way-too-early look at the 2021 boys lacrosse season

In the best of times, predictions for a following season are based off how players and teams look and develop over the course of a season, how many of those players are returning the next year, and conversations with coaches throughout the sport and divisions.

One of those three factors is off the table in trying to look ahead to the 2021 high school boys lacrosse season, and it happens to be the most important factor.

So with a season having not been played, and the development of some teams and players slowed, the next best thing to go off is history.

It's a good assumption that either Bishop Guertin or Pinkerton will reach the Division I boys final. At least one has every year since 2004 and they've played each other in the final each season since 2013.

It's probably another good assumption that Derryfield will have a chance to make the final in Division II. The Cougars have been in the title game for seven straight years, the first two in Division III before moving up.

And you could probably throw Hopkinton into contention in D3, as the Hawks have won the last three division titles, and been in the final in five of the last 10 years.

But what about everyone else?

Editor's Note: With the number of teams making the playoffs unknown at this time, each division breakdown will have the top eight predicted teams in 2021. 

Division I

If only one of the two powerhouses reach the final in 2021, the safe bet is Bishop Guertin. Despite graduating a senior class that included some of the top players in the state, the Cardinals won't have much of a drop in regards to talent. Aidan Ahearn, Matt Cranney and John Sullivan (LSM) would give Bishop Guertin a solid defensive foundation. Dawson Clark (attack) plus middies Nick McGovern, Michael Kiely and Chris Heitmiller would be tough to stop offensively. The biggest question mark going into the offseason is in goal.

Pinkerton will likely have a good-sized group of senior back, led by Hunter Drouin, Jake Manning, Mason Barbone, Jackson Morrisette and John Ziniti, but the Astros missed out on gaining experience this year.

Despite losing All-American goalie Henry Vogt, Exeter will have a solid core of seniors returning, including Spencer Clark, Connor Holly and Jackson Hale.

A handful of other teams could have a shot at breaking into the top four in 2021, including Londonderry, Nashua South and Souhegan. The Lancers never have trouble with numbers and next year's senior class looks like another big one.

The Panthers return a talented group of seniors, including Jaden Murphy, Drew Fleury, Aiden Walsh, Tyler Armeen and Sam Flethcer, while the Sabers have a pair of players who started as sophomores two years ago in Riley Lawhorn and Luke Manning.

Concord, Bedford and Dover have pieces back that should keep them in contention for a playoff spot in D1 as well.

Top 8: Bishop Guertin, Exeter, Pinkerton, Nashua South, Londonderry, Souhegan, Bedford, Concord.

Division II

The 2020 season would have been a competitive one in D2, with plenty of teams lined up to make a run at the four-time defending champion Cougars. Instead, some of those teams will take a step back, while others could move up to challenge Derryfield.

The Cougars will return a talented senior class, a fair amount of whom got experience during Derryfield's championship run in 2019. That includes midfielders Chas Dean, Ryan Etzo and Connor O'Brien while goalies Ryan Caparrelli, Jaxon Snyder and Liam Hill give Derryfield three top-level starters.

Winnacunnet will likely be in a similar spot that it was going to be in this year. The Warriors have weapons on offense, with attackman Jack Ellis along with middies Ben Chase and Ben Merrick. Goalie Carter Renaud will have an inexperienced defense around him, but Winnacunnet should be among the top teams.

Windham might have had the best shot at knocking off Derryfield this spring, but the Jaguars look to return enough to be in contention, starting with senior middie Nate Levine, who is committed to play at Syracuse. After spending the last two years in D1, Timberlane drops back down with a team that should make some noise behind seniors Billy Savage, Jack Noyes and Ryan Freeman.

Despite some big losses to graduation the last two years, its tough to count out Portsmouth, while Oyster River-Newmarket will bring back its entire roster, including seniors Hayden Marshall, Ethan Todd and Emerson Moore. Hollis Brookline, Kingswood, Goffstown, St. Thomas and Hanover could also be battling for a spot in the top eight.

Top 8: Derryfield, Winnacunnet, Windham, Timberlane, Portsmouth, Oyster River-Newmarket, Hollis Brookline, Kingswood.

Division III

The last time Hopkinton was on the field, Colby Quiet was scoring eight goals to lead the Hawks to their third title in a row. Quiet is gone and Hopkinton will have to find a way to replace his production on offense, but defensively, the Hawks have a key returner in LSM Steven Newton-Delgado. Hopkinton's youth program has been producing plenty of players for the high school the last few years, so some of the players that could be leading the Hawks next year may not have even stepped on a varsity field yet.

Trinity may have the deepest team returning, with a number of sophomores and juniors joining a strong senior class that includes Brandon Bass, Dillon Brown, Anthony DiZillo, Sam Carpenter, Pete Alisandro and Jacob Ford. Pelham will likely also have a big group of seniors to keep the Pythons at the top of the standings, led by Mason Fecteau, Sean Connors and Josh Supernant.

This season, Laconia looked like a young team that was going to gain valuable experience, with a big sophomore class on the varsity roster. Now the Sachems will have a lot of juniors looking to get their feet wet, including Cole Roy, Evan Carignan, Jacob Mello and Edgar Conroy.

Plymouth, with seniors Nick Aprilliano, Mike Cathy, Joe D'Ambruoso and Trevan Sanborn returning, should be in the mix for a top-four finish while Kearsarge has plenty of numbers to see improvements. Monadnock always finds a way to be in the mix and Campbell has a young, talented roster returning.

Top 8: Trinity, Hopkinton, Pelham, Laconia, Plymouth, Kearsarge, Monadnock, Campbell.

A little more than 36 weeks until the scheduled start of practices for the 2021 season.