Playoff Picture: Boys Lacrosse
The first Monday in May typically ends up being one of the biggest non-playoff dates in the boys lacrosse season. Most teams have played enough games to get a good sense of where the stand going into the final month of the season. And the schedule makers tend to load the day up with a lot of meaning
The first Monday in May typically ends up being one of the biggest non-playoff dates in the boys lacrosse season.
Most teams have played enough games to get a good sense of where the stand going into the final month of the season. And the schedule makers tend to load the day up with a lot of meaningful games.
The biggest of them all takes place Monday night at 7 p.m. at Stellos Stadium, when Bishop Guertin (10-0) hosts Pinkerton (9-0). The winner has the upperhand for the No. 1 seed in Division I.
Other potential key games on Monday's schedule include: Hanover at Exeter (D1), Goffstown at Hollis Brookline (D2), Bow at Derryfield (D2) and Monadnock at Trinity (D3).
With the postseason scheduled to begin on June 1, here is what each division looks like, if the playoffs started today.
Division I
Ten teams make the postseason in Division I, with the top six teams getting a bye into the quarterfinals.
Top 6 (first-round byes)
- Bishop Guertin (10-0)
- Pinkerton (9-0)
- Bedford (7-1)
- Exeter (7-2)
- Souhegan (7-2)
- Nashua North (4-3)
First-round matchups
- No. 10 Salem (3-5) at No. 7 Concord (4-4)
- No. 9 Hanover (3-3) at No. 8 Nashua South (4-4)
With half the season still left to be played, many of the head-to-head tiebreakers will be sorted out later. What also should be kept in mind is a team's remaining games against out-of-division opponents.
Bishop Guertin, Pinkerton and Bedford have games left against Massachusetts teams, while Exeter plays Goffstown in the regular-season finale.
Division II
Twelve teams make the postseason in Division II, with the top four teams getting a bye into the quarterfinals.
Top 4 (first-round byes)
- Derryfield (6-1)
- Portsmouth (7-1)
- Windham (5-1)
- Goffstown (3-1)
First-round matchups
- No. 9 Oyster River (3-3) at No. 8 Pembroke (3-2)
- No. 12 John Stark (1-3) at No. 5 Merrimack Valley (3-1)
- No. 11 Bow (1-2) at No. 6 Winnacunnet (5-2)
- No. 10 St. Thomas (3-3) at No. 7 Hollis Brookline (4-2)
Derryfield remains at the top despite Saturday's non-division loss to Concord, but the Cougars have a tough week, starting Monday with Bow, then back-to-back road games against Timberlane and Windham.
Portsmouth has started strong despite a rash of injuries, and the Clippers could be 14-1 heading into their game against Derryfield on May 23.
Division III
Eight teams make the playoffs in Division III, which starts with the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinal matchups
- No. 8 Campbell (2-2) at No. 1 Laconia (4-0)
- No. 5 Kearsarge (5-1) at No. 4 Trinity (1-0)
- No. 7 ConVal (2-1) at No. 2 Pelham (4-0)
- No. 6 Plymouth (4-1) at No. 3 Monadnock (3-0)
Clearly a lot of games still to be played, especially for Trinity, starting with Monday's key matchup with Monadnock.
Getting a playoff berth would be big for Campbell, which is in its second varsity season. But the Cougars are currently in a three-way tie with Coe-Brown - another young program - and Lebanon, and have some tough games ahead, including Monday's trip to Laconia.
