Lacrosse Notes: Londonderry boys taking week off in stride

The Londonderry High School boys lacrosse team would like to be getting ready to play games this week, but coach Roger Sampson isn't going to complain about the time off.

The Lancers were scheduled to play Nashua South twice this week, but Covid-19 concerns for the Panthers saw both games cancelled.

Instead, Londonderry (5-3, No. 4 in the NHHSS Coaches Poll) will have a week in between games, after beating Bedford 10-6 on May 1 and hosting Exeter (7-1, No. 2) on Saturday.

"I wanted to play South," Sampson said after the win over the Bulldogs. "We’ve got a big practice week ahead. That’s going to be helpful for us because we have not been able to practice two days in a row."

Londonderry had a pause of its own, but it came during the preseason, meaning the Lancers spent most of those two weeks of prep on the sideline. They then opened with two games against Bishop Guertin, and despite putting up some goals late in those games, weren't on the same page offensively.

But in two wins over Concord last week, and in crunch time against Bedford, the Lancers were able to play the possession game they need to in order to have success.

"Whoever owns possession is going to control it," Sampson said. "We have to play that way. We weren’t able to play that way at the beginning of the season because we were quarantined right after tryouts.

"We didn’t have any practice time. Then we play BG twice and we play Exeter. We weren’t conditioned and trying to figure out who we were. We put it all together. We’ve had some good practices and they’ve started to believe in themselves as a team."

An early turning point might have been that first game against Exeter, which the Lancers dropped 21-8.

"After the Exeter loss, I sat them down and said we’re playing as individuals and not as a team," Sampson said. "We need to refocus in that direction. They did, to their credit."

Sampson also elevated sophomore goalie Dane Duarte into the starting lineup after he opened the year on the junior varsity.

"My message to my goalies, and I’m sure all lacrosse coaches say the same, you’ve got to stop the long shots," the coach said. "If you can do that, great. If they’re scoring inside of 10 feet, that’s the defense’s fault. If you can make that save, we’ll take it. He’s a head’s up kid. He’s pretty solid fundamentally as a sophomore."

Playing Up

The Derryfield girls lacrosse team's 11-5 win over Winnacunnet on May 1 was the program's first game and first win against the Warriors. It's one of seven games the Cougars, who are in Division III, have on their schedule against teams from Division II.

They've already beaten Goffstown twice, along with wins over ConVal and Hanover, with another game schedule for Thursday against the Marauders and a game against Manchester Memorial-West. That doesn't include two games with Oyster River-Newmarket that were cancelled and another against ConVal that was called off.

"I knew they were going to challenge us because (Winnacunnet) always challenges the D1 schools," Derryfield coach Mellissa Catenza said of the win over the Warriors. "I said we have to play lights out. We can’t get better unless we play teams that are better than us."

Derryfield (6-0) is getting done with a roster that's heavy on inexperienced players. The Cougars have a handful of talented upperclassmen - led by seniors Lucy Licata, Shawn Lesmerises and Lauren MacLean - and they've been trying to mesh with a group of sophomores and freshmen getting their first taste of varsity lacrosse.

"I have 10 freshmen, which is amazing, and a handful of sophomores," Catenza said. "They’re so athletic and willing to learn, and that’s been really great."

The defensive end has been key for the Cougars, with Lesmerises back in goal and MacLean and Leah Hoey also returning. The other positions have been filled with players who have experience in other sports.

"Luckily on the defensive side, we’ve got basketball players," Catenza said. "They get it. Leah Hoey, she was playing middie and now she’s on defense. She has great defensive sense. Our unit has really come together. The basketball players know slides and second slides. They have that mentality that is to easy to teach."

Quick Turnaround

Saturday's game against Exeter will be the first in a week for Londonderry, but it will be the second in two days for the Blue Hawks.

Exeter travels to Stellos Stadium in Nashua for a 3 p.m. game Friday against Bishop Guertin, which won the teams' first meeting on May 3 21-8. Then the Blue Hawks get back on the bus for a 10 a.m. start on Saturday at Londonderry.

Bishop Guertin also plays back-to-back games this weekend, as the Cardinals host Concord on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Stellos.