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# Man Down: Pinkerton boys lacrosse ready to face an old foe
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/man-pinkerton-boys-lacrosse-ready-face-old-foe/
- Published: 2016-04-20T16:06:16.000Z
- Updated: 2016-04-20T16:06:16.000Z
- Description: When the NHIAA reshuffled the boys and girls lacrosse divisions before the 2015, it did more than just create balance between the number of teams in each division. Teams now had more games scheduled against division opponents, which for the boys teams in Division I meant adding at least one game aga
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, Man Down, Pinkerton, slider, Souhegan, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

When the NHIAA shuffled the boys and girls lacrosse divisions before the 2015 season, it did more than just create balance between the number of teams in each division.

Teams now had more games scheduled against division opponents, which for the boys teams in Division I meant adding at least one game against every division foe, and in some cases, dropping games against teams from out of state.

That led to Pinkerton Academy playing just one game against an out-of-state opponent last year, and two this season. While the Astros were able to keep their game with Longmeadow (Mass.), they've added an opponent they haven't seen in a long time.

On Wednesday, Pinkerton will travel to Billerica (Mass.) to face the Indians for a 4 p.m. game.

"We haven't played them in years, and we used to play all the time," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said. "Billerica is always a physical team, they always have been. It's something I'm looking forward to. I don't know anything about them. I haven't been able to see them, so it's a big mystery."

One thing the Astros coach does know is that his team is going up against an opponent that will let them know exactly where they're at. Billerica is ranked No. 7 in Massachusetts by ESPNBoston and No. 10 by LaxPower.

"They are one of the elite in Massachusetts," O'Reilly said. "I just want to see us play at a high level. Those games are kind of fun. I tell the kids it's like a playoff game that, no matter what happens at the end of the game, you're still alive the next game. You want to ratchet up the intensity for that game, which we will and they will."

### Strong at the top

The Souehgan girls lacrosse team is off to a 3-0 start in Division I, and has done so by averaging 17 goals in those games.

Sabers coach Maren Petropulos gives a lot of the credit to her seniors, who were thrown into the fire last year after the program graduated five players who are playing Division I college lacrosse.

"I can't stress enough, our senior leadership this year," she said. "Our seniors this year are athletes, they're lacrosse players and they have a great report with one another.

"Both Kate (Bermingham) and Hailey (Johnson) run the field, and they are such a presence out there. And Jules Donohue is such a presence on defense."

Souhegan has also been getting a standout performance on draws from Emma Estabrook, a junior who didn't pick up lacrosse until high school and is a soccer player first.

"We're working with her to go up stronger and to put it in different players," Petropulos said. "Mentally, her lax IQ has improved."

The Sabers face their toughest test of the young season on Thursday when they host Pinkerton at 4 p.m.

### Who needs divisions?

After starting the year 4-0 in Division I, including a 12-10 win over Pinkerton on Monday, Bedford faced off Tuesday against Winnacunnet, a Division II which was coming off a five-goal loss to Hanover.

The Warriors came away with a 12-9 win over the Bulldogs, while Hanover took on Laconia, the defending Division III champion, on Tuesday and lost 14-9.