Several teams looking to stop Derryfield boys lacrosse's quest for a 4th straight D2 title

This will be the fifth season since the Derryfield School boys lacrosse team moved up to Division II and it sure seems like the Cougars have been enjoying the change.

In the four previous season, Derryfield has lost just twice to a division opponent - both losses came in 2015 - and overall, the Cougars have won 53 games in a row, dating back to 2016, including the last three championships.

There is no shortage of teams lining up to try to knock the Cougars off, including Portsmouth, the runner-up in D2 the last two seasons. Goffstown, Winnacunnet, Windham and Merrimack Valley should also be in the mix.

Favorites

• Derryfield (20-0 in 2018): The Cougars may not be as deep as they have been during the last three years, but their senior class will make up for that early in the season. On defense, Derryfield returns goalie Avry Truex, a four-year starter, along with long poles Max Horton and Alex Neville. Seniors John Anderson and Jon MacLean return to lead the offense, along with junior Gunnar Senatore and sophomore Ryan Etzo, who transferred from Trinity. Derryfield strengthened the schedule this season, with games against Souhegan and Exeter along with a road trip to play Westwood (Mass.) on April 15.
• Portsmouth (17-3): The Clippers have been nipping at the Cougars heels the last two seasons, and had Derryfield on the ropes for a half in last year's title game. Portsmouth returns the division's top offensive player and faceoff guy from a year ago in senior Cole Brams, while Dom Iafolla and Ryan Groleau are also back to lead the offense. Seniors Tyler Merriam and Alex Liebel (LSM) return on defense while junior goalies Jack Waldo and Nolan Pafford also return. A trio of newcomers - junior Jacob Boutin, sophomore Jack Dowling and freshman Mike Durkin - will be key at midfield.

Challengers

• Goffstown (12-6): The Grizzlies may have their best chance at getting to the title game since winning it all in 2015. Seniors Nick Mason and Griffin Cook return to lead the offense along with fellow seniors Konnaugh Donovan, Eric Dubois and Julien Kilgore stepping in to help with scoring. Brothers Andrew and Alex McCarthy will share faceoff responsibilities while sophomore Grady Chretien steps into the starting goalie position. Mark Lajeunesse is back on defense and will be joined by Connor Fitzpatrick and David Gibson.
• Winnacunnet (11-5): The Warriors had some of their biggest numbers in program history in the preseason and return some experienced talent, led by captain senior Tyler Hoar (attack) and Josh Chase (midfield). In fact, Winnacunnet returns its entire midfield, with Nick Merrick, Gavin O'Hara, Ben Chase, Ben Merrick and Cole Fisher returning. The defense will be led by seniors Lou Granger and Joe MacDougall.

Contenders

• Windham (15-6): The Jaguars made it to the semifinals, where they gave Derryfield a scare before the Cougars moved on to the final. Windham lost 10 seniors to graduation, including goalie Jack Trouple, and the Jaguars will have three players battling to replace him. Defensively, Cody Stevens returns to lead Windham, while Jack Rust, Parker Rice, Alek Tunik and Tommy Doe will look to step up on offense.
• Merrimack Valley (11-4): The Pride were upset by Windham in the quarterfinals last year after finishing in the top four, and lost their top player in Dillon Arrant, who transferred to Brewster Academy. Colby Mercier and Max Lacy return for Merrimack Valley on offense, while Nick Koufos is back to lead the defense.
• Hollis Brookline (7-10): The Cavaliers go into the year with a new coach, as Cameron Hayward, a former standout goalie at Pinkerton, takes over a team that was young a season ago. HB could have as many as 13 seniors on the field this season, including JJ Fiore on offense. Junior Joe MacDonough will be big on both ends of the field and sophomore Scott Walsh steps in at goalie.
• Oyster River (6-9): The Bobcats will need to overcome some inexperience as they try to return to the playoffs again this season, Sophomore Hayden Marshall is lone returner on attack while senior Tucker Henry will be a two-way midfielder and sophomore LSM Ethan Todd will need to step up defensively. Junior Noah Buteau is the lone starter returning on defense. Midfielders Colin Clarke (junior) and Emerson Moore (sophomore) are also looking to step up this season.
• St. Thomas (6-10): The Saints came up short of the postseason a year ago, but a strong returning cast, led by senior captains Nicholas Tosatti and William Devaney, should help St. Thomas return to the playoffs. Patrick Vetter, Brendan Tersolo and Henry De Tolla will also be key for the Saints this season.

Dark horses

• Merrimack (3-13 in D1): After being a playoff team their first couple of years in D1, the Tomahawks won just seven games over the last three years and moved back down to D2. Merrimack has nine senior starters returning, including Jay Lanigan, TJ Fasano, Jordan Petrocelli, Casey Moir, Ian Covell, Luke Russell, Josh Korsak, Jacob Newman and Garrett Murray.
• ConVal (8-7 in D3): The Cougars move to a new division with a new head coach, as Dan Fox takes over the program. ConVal lost its top three attackmen and goalie from a year ago but all-state defenders Zach Obuchowski and Andrew Stockwell return to lead the defense. Midfielders Mike Perry and Jaden Smith will look to pick up the slack on offense.
• Coe-Brown (7-8 in D3): The Bears took a step forward in their final year in D3, making the program's first postseason berth. While Coe-Brown lost some key seniors, it will still return some top-end talent, including middies Jacob Radwan and Ryan Nester.

Rest of field

• Alvirne
• Bow
• John Stark
• Kennett
• Kingswood
• Manchester Central
• Manchester Memorial/West
• Pembroke
• Spaulding

Playoff Predictions

Playoff teams: Derryfield, Portsmouth, Goffstown, Winnacunnet, Merrimack Valley, Windham, Hollis Brookline, Oyster River, Merrimack, St. Thomas, ConVal, Coe-Brown, John Stark, Bow.

Final four: Derryfield, Portsmouth, Goffstown, Winnacunnet.

Championship: Derryfield over Portsmouth.