> ## 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.

# Goalie trio ready to shine for Derryfield boys lacrosse
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/goalie-trio-ready-to-shine-for-derryfield-boys-lacrosse/
- Published: 2021-04-05T12:30:28.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-05T12:30:28.000Z
- Description: Ryan Caparrelli wasn't thrilled when he heard the news. The Derryfield School boys lacrosse team was coming off its fourth Division II championship in a row and Caparrelli, then a sophomore, had served as the backup goalie. He'd stepped in a few times to fill in for starter Avry Truex and was ready
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, boys lacrosse, Cougars, Derryfield, Jaxon Snyder, Liam Hill, NH High School Sports Insider, Ryan Caparrelli, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

Ryan Caparrelli wasn't thrilled when he heard the news.

The Derryfield School boys lacrosse team was coming off its fourth Division II championship in a row and Caparrelli, then a sophomore, had served as the backup goalie. He'd stepped in a few times to fill in for starter Avry Truex and was getting ready to do so full time the following season.

But over the summer of 2019, Caparrelli heard there would be some unexpected competition.

Jaxon Snyder, who started as a sophomore in goal for Pelham on its run to the D3 final in 2019, and Liam Hill, another goalie who had finished his sophomore year playing at Timberlane, were both transferring into Derryfield for the following year.

All of a sudden, there was going to be quite the goalie competition for the Cougars in the spring. But after the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trio spent more time getting to know each other off the field than competing on it.

"To be honest, initially, I wasn’t super happy about it, but you can’t change it," Caparrelli said. "Over the past year, I’ve been able to grow great friendships with these guys. We push each other to be our best. We don’t know who is going to start or what the situation is this year, but we’ve just got to be the best we can be as a goalie group, keep each other motivated."

While there was a period of frustration at first for Caparrelli, it was a different feeling for the two guys coming into Derryfield.

"Going into the school last year, I only knew Jaxon and Ryan as names, I didn’t know them as kids," Hill said. "That made the situation very daunting. I was thinking I’ve got to compete against these two great goalies. But now I see it more as I get to play with these two great goalies. We’ve got one of the strongest goalie lines. I feel like now, I’m not competing against them, I’m competing with them."

For Snyder, he was able to get a head start by playing on the basketball team - he was a captain as a senior - and while the Cougars weren't able to get on the lacrosse field together, they found opportunities off it to get to know each other.

"We had some classes together and during free periods, the lacrosse guys would spend time together," he said. "That’s really where we started building our friendships. Going into that season, it felt like it was going to get stronger."

Missing out on last year also meant that any decisions made in regards to the depth chart at the position would be put off until this spring.

"I would have had more of an idea of if I have a No. 1 or do I have two or three No. 1s," Derryfield coach Chris Hettler said. "It’s still early to tell, but all of these guys have had amazing attitudes and worked hard in the offseason. Honestly, all three have looked great. It’s a great problem to have.

"Right now, I’m happy with a rotation. My plan is to rotate those guys. Just by competitive nature, you want to win, and maybe you get into a game and somebody is hot. But I feel like I owe it to these guys to give them all a shot."

All three goalies hope to make the decision on who gets to play as tough as possible, but they're also coming to a realization that Hettler believes will help the team in other ways.

"They have all picked up a pole and said only one of us can be in the cage at a time, so why waste our athletic ability?" Hettler said. "Let’s get out and add something to the team, if its two minutes or 20 minutes, it helps rest the rest of our guys. They’re good enough athletes they are going to be able to contribute outside of the cage."

Snyder and Caparrelli are both signed to play in college next year, going to Maryville University in St. Louis and Lake Forest (Ill.) College, respectively, while Hill's final decision on where to play has come down to Lasell University and Bentley University. With all three knowing their lacrosse careers are going to continue, the possibility of sharing time or playing another position is a little easier.

"We’re all team guys and if that’s what the team needs, we’ll fill that role," Snyder said. "I joke around with coach about my shot, so maybe I’ll get in with a short stick. But I’m a defensive-minded player and I know the rotations."

Regardless of who is playing in goal, he'll have at least two teammates cheering for him.

"I think friendly would be a great way to describe it," Caparrelli said. "There are no hard feelings between any of us. We’ve all worked together really hard. We’re going to play as best as we can and whoever starts, starts. Regardless of who starts, I’m always going to be working to get that starting spot."