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# Lawhorn hoping for a big year with Souhegan boys lacrosse
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/lawhorn-hoping-for-a-big-year-with-souhegan-boys-lacrosse/
- Published: 2021-04-01T11:00:54.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-01T11:00:54.000Z
- Description: Keith Bertrand heard a lot about Riley Lawhorn before the later had ever set foot on a field for the Souhegan High School boys lacrosse team. That tends to happen when a kid is dominant at the youth level, but the Sabers coach knows that doesn't always translate into success once that kid reaches hi
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, boys lacrosse, NH High School Sports Insider, Riley Lawhorn, Sabers, slider, Souhegan, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

Keith Bertrand heard a lot about Riley Lawhorn before the later had ever set foot on a field for the Souhegan High School boys lacrosse team.

That tends to happen when a kid is dominant at the youth level, but the Sabers coach knows that doesn't always translate into success once that kid reaches high school.

For Lawhorn, it did.

"What happens is at the youth level, some develop quicker than others and they’re able to run through kids at that level," Bertrand said. "Once they get to high school, they’re met with the same force by kids their own size and they have a hard time adjusting.

"Obviously, this young man (Lawhorn) did not have a hard time adjusting. He was a key contributor (as a freshman). As a sophomore, he was one of the best players on a final four team. This year, I think he’s the best player in the state of New Hampshire. He’s physically dominant."

From the moment he put on the Souhegan jersey, Lawhorn fit in with the Sabers. It wasn't an easy transition at first, but it was something he worked at, along with teammates Luke Manning, also a senior this year, and Curtis Redd, who was a year ahead of both of them.

"It was a tough adjustment at first," Lawhorn said. "I came in with Luke Manning as well and we both came together. Curtis Redd, who was a year older, showed me the keys and how to grow in the offense and kind of told me what to do and what not to do. Coming in, I had a little confidence. You need to have a little chip on your shoulder no matter what your size is coming in as a freshman and that’s what I did."

Lawhorn and Manning had also played junior varsity football for Souhegan in the fall that year, with Lawhorn getting a sniff at the varsity, which also helped him adapt.

While his coach sees him as one of the state's best this year, Lawhorn tries to focus on going out and just playing the way he always has.

"I just play how I play," he said. "I just use my teammates. I don’t think about being the best guy. I just want to play with confidence and play with class. That’s how I’ve been all four years. I’ll let my game show that."

That was the plan a year ago, before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the season. Instead of leading the Sabers on the field, Lawhorn and his teammates were trying to help each other off it.

"We were more concerned about mental health more than anything," Bertrand said. "We checked in on guys and kept them updated on the season. We were trying to cling to hope to keep us going, but it was difficult."

Trying to move past what could have been for Souhegan was tough, too, but knowing he had another year to play gave Lawhorn something to look forward to.

"We had a solid team going in," he said. "Not being able to play was a bummer. I just played on the wall, kept my game going. I was looking forward to the summer and just kept my head up and kept moving. We had a group chat and made sure guys were doing their thing in school. We were making sure everyone was showing up to class and everyone was all right and healthy."

One thing that Lawhorn was able to do during the pandemic was decide on where he was going to continue playing in college, committing to UMass-Lowell.

"How close to home it was," Lawhorn said. "There’s already some guys there I know. It felt like home off the bat. How happy they were to have me as a recruit just made me want to be there."

His coach looks forward to the opportunity to watch Lawhorn play so close to home.

"To see him succeed in his goals through all his hard work and dedication, not just on the field, but in the classroom as well, I’m proud of him," Bertrand said. "I’m happy to see him go on and now I get to watch him play another four more years."