Changes coming for boys lacrosse divisions

There will be some major changes to the boys lacrosse landscape for the NHIAA's next two-year cycle.

For the last few seasons, Division III has had almost double the number of teams of the top two divisions, and for the 2014-15 season, changes were made to the enrollment numbers for the three divisions. All changes have teams moving up, and none going down.

Division I

The division adds three teams, going from 12 to 15 with Bedford, Merrimack and Dover moving up, while Souhegan, Bishop Gueritn and Hanover will still petition up as they have done in recent years. The increase in teams could also likely expand the playoffs from eight to 12 teams.

Other D1 teams are: Pinkerton, Manchester Central, Nashua South, Nashua North, Concord, Manchester Memorial, Exeter, Londonderry and Salem.

Division II

This division goes from 12 teams to 18, as several from D3 have moved up. With the changes to the enrollment numbers, Spaulding, Keene and Timberlane remained in D2, but had to petition down to do so. Oyster River, St. Thomas and Bow remain as teams petitioning up.

New to the division will be the teams that played for the D3 championship, Hollis Brookline and Derryfield, which petitioned up. Also new to D2 is Milford, Pembroke, Merrimack Valley, Kennett, Windham, Kingswood and John Stark.

Other D2 teams are: Goffstown, Winnacunnet and Portsmouth. The division would also likely be in line for playoff expansion, with a 12-team, or even 16-team, format in play.

Division III

D3 goes from 22 teams a year ago to just 14, with Manchester West and ConVal petitioning to remain in the division. The rest of the division includes Lebanon, Plymouth, Pelham, Laconia, Monadnock, Kearsarge, Stevens, Gilford, Trinity, Bishop Brady and Hopkinton.

There will also be one newcomer to D3, as Coe-Brown will add varsity lacrosse in the spring of 2015.

While its unlikely any changes will be made after next season, there could be at least two additions for the 2016 season, as Alvirne and Campbell had junior varsity programs in 2014 and will likely play another JV season in 2015.