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# Merrimack boys lacrosse keeping D2 playoff hopes alive
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/merrimack-boys-lacrosse-keeping-d2-playoff-hopes-alive/
- Published: 2012-05-14T18:55:28.000Z
- Updated: 2012-05-14T18:55:28.000Z
- Description: MERRIMACK – There will be several teams fighting for a playoff spots in the next two weeks.
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, Spring Sports, boys lacrosse, Merrimack, Spaulding, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

MERRIMACK – There will be several teams fighting for a playoff spots in the next two weeks.

The Merrimack High School boys lacrosse team is no different, except that the Tomahawks have been fighting for their postseason lives for some time now.

Going into Monday’s game at Timberlane, Merrimack had won three in a row in Division II, and to have any hope at making the postseason, the ’Hawks need to win their remaining four against division opponents.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/merrblax051212-m5-5.jpg "MerrBlax051212 M5-5")

Merrimack also needs some help from a few teams in front of it, but right now, the ’Hawks can only worry about themselves and that’s been the reason they’re in this position, according to coach Bill Cosentino.

“When we show up, and the boys are hungry and intense, we’re very good,” he said. “There’s an outside chance. If we win out, and that means we have to go into Bedford and play them tough. A couple teams need to have some loses, too. It’s not foolproof, but we can do it if a couple of other games work in our favor.”

It’s been a bit of an up-and-down season for Merrimack (4-8). Among those wins was a 9-8 victory over Goffstown, which handed undefeated Bow its first loss last Friday.

But among those loses are a 10-9 defeat to Portsmouth, an 8-6 loss to Bow and a 13-11 loss to Dover, which Cosentino referenced an example of what the ’Hawks are capable of doing when they play their best.

“We don’t get off the bus until the third quarter,” Cosentino said of that loss. “We’re down 10-3 at one point and lose 13-11\. If the kids played with that consistency the entire game, we could have won that game. It’s a matter of us not coming to play. The days we do, we’re a good team. The days we don’t, we’re not.”

Merrimack lost its next game after that loss to Dover, a 13-6 setback against Keene (5-5). After that game, Cosentino pointed out the task his team was facing if it wanted to make the postseason.

“I told them after the Keene loss, if we don’t win our next seven, there’s not a chance in the world,” he said. “So far, three wins in a row since that loss.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/merrblax051212-m21-1.jpg "MerrBlax051212 M21-1")

“The difference has been at practice. We’ve been holding each other accountable. We’re trying to come together as a team, supporting each other and not being negative when things don’t go our way.”

Cosentino has noticed a difference in the way his seniors have been playing during that stretch.

“They are starting to realize that (the end is near),” he said. “You can see it in their eyes. You can’t teach being competitive. You can teach skills, you can teach strategy, but when it comes down to it, I can’t strap up for the kids. And sometimes, they don’t do it.

“We’re going to Timberlane on Monday and that would be a huge win if we can do it. If the boys show up and execute, we can win. The seniors know that, but I need the whole team to do it.”

Merrimack needs wins against Timberlane (3-8), Manchester West (0-9) and Bedford (9-0) in its final three division games and needs Winnacunnt (5-4) and Keene to lose a few games to sneak into the eighth and final playoff spot in Division II.

“We lose one and it’s most likely that the playoff run is over,” Cosentino said. “(The division) is very competitive and on any given day, it’s who shows up who is going to win the game.”