> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Derryfield had to run to beat Portsmouth in Division II boys lacrosse final
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/derryfield-had-to-run-to-beat-portsmouth-in-division-ii-boys-lacrosse-final/
- Published: 2018-06-13T15:57:12.000Z
- Updated: 2018-06-13T15:57:12.000Z
- Description: The Derryfield School boys lacrosse team has been used to scoring in goals in many different ways, and in doing it as quickly as possible. But after going scoreless for the final quarter-plus in the Division II semifinals, the top-seeded Cougars still had a zero up on the scoreboard after another 18
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, championship, Derryfield, NH High School Sports Insider, playoffs, Portsmouth, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

The Derryfield School boys lacrosse team has been used to scoring in goals in many different ways, and in doing it as quickly as possible.

But after going scoreless for the final quarter-plus in the Division II semifinals, the top-seeded Cougars still had a zero up on the scoreboard after another 18 minutes in against No. 2 Portsmouth in Saturday's division championship game.

For the second time this season, the Clippers threw a zone defense at Derryfield, but this time, it seemed to change and adapt on every Cougars possession. And after holding Derryfield to a season-low goal total in the Cougars' 6-5 regular-season win, Portsmouth was able to jump out to a 2-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Despite the drought, there was no pressure felt by the Cougars.

"For me, I knew the team was going to come together," Derryfield senior Connor Glosner said. "It was just a matter of time. I was missing shots I should be hitting, so I was just trying to get mentally right to hit those shots. It came together."

It started with 5:32 left in the first half, when Gunnar Senatore scored the first of his three goals, and 19 seconds later, the Derryfield sophomore added another to tie the game at 2.

"I think the guys just kept playing," Derryfield coach Chris Hettler said. "Once we got the first goal in, and the guys saw we could match their intensity, they were going to come out hard. We can play these guys in transition and create some goals there. We had to get out on defense and play them a little bit."

Although Derryfield took a 3-2 lead into halftime, it was in the third quarter when the Cougars were able to build momentum.

After Portsmouth tied the game at 3 to open the second half, Derryfield turned two turnovers by the Clippers into breakout opportunities, with senior long pole Alex Neville picking up the primary assist on goals by Glosner and Eric Mayer.

"That’s been Alex and Max (Horton) all season," Hettler said. "As soon as the shot is taken, they’re looking to get upfield and start the break. They were effective in the second half when the Portsmouth middies were getting tired, a little slower getting to the box. Alex was finding himself open at the top."

Portsmouth came back again, tying it up on two goals by Ollie Allen, but the Cougars were able to run again. Cole Brams won the ensuing faceoff for Portsmouth, but again, the Clippers turned it over and Derryfield turned it into a transition goal by John Anderson with 1:46 left in the third.

Brams won the faceoff again, but again, Portsmouth coughed up possession, and this time, Mayer found Jon Maclean for a goal with 5.7 seconds left and a 7-5 lead after three.

"We got timely transition and then we started to find some openings on the crease and things just started to fall," Hettler said. "We want to play fast, and credit Portsmouth, they had a game plan. They came out and played a zone, tried to slow things down on the offensive end."

And with the lead in hand, Portsmouth had to extend its zone in the fourth quarter, and the Cougars were able to take advantage.

"It was really big because when we were playing them six-on-six in the zone, we were getting the goals, but they took longer to get," Glosner said. "We had to pass it around and break it first. The transition goals, they weren’t in their zone, so it was us playing our normal get like we know."

Derryfield has now won 53 games in a row, including the last three Division II championships, which is the longest active win streak in high school boys lacrosse in the country and 10th longest overall.

In the four years the Cougars have been in D2, they have gone 72-2 against division opponents, with the only losses in 2015 against Windham and in the title game against Goffstown. Overall, this year's group of seniors had a varsity record of 76-3.

"These guys lost three games their entire career and they go out as the all-time-winningest class for us," Hettler said. "The seniors next year have a real shot at breaking that record."