The top D2 boys lacrosse games to keep an eye on in 2023

The spring sports preseason started on Monday, but the games won’t start for real for three more weeks, so it’s the perfect time to start circling some dates on the calendar.

Here are some of the top games to look out for in 2023 in Division II boys lacrosse, in chronological order. Schedules are subject to change, so check with your respective teams to make sure a date or time hasn’t changed.

April 11: Hollis Brookline at Hillsboro-Deering/John Stark

• Not only will this be the first game for the new co-op between the Hillcats and the Generals, it will be the first lacrosse game for John Stark players since before the pandemic. The program was unable to field a team the last two years, and with Hillsboro-Deering looking at smaller numbers this year, the co-op was formed.

April 11: Souhegan at Windham

• More change for a couple of programs that have been solid over the years. This is the first game for the Sabers in Division II, after spending all but two years of the program's existence in Division I. Meanwhile, the Jaguars will have a new head coach, as Derek St. Cyr takes over for Joe Young to lead a Windham program that was in the final four a year ago.

April 11: Winnacunnet at Portsmouth

April 14: Winnacunnet at Derryfield

• What a start to the season for the Warriors, going on the road to face the two-time defending D2 champion and then last year's runner-up. Winnacunnet has played some tightly-contested games with both teams over the last couple of years, although it came up short against Portsmouth last year while splitting two games with Derryfield.

April 18: Timberlane at Portsmouth

• These two teams have played five times in just the last two years, with the Clippers winning all five matchups. That includes the D2 championship game in 2021 and the semifinals last year.

April 21: Hollis Brookline at Timberlane

• These two have met three times in the last two seasons, with the Owls winning all three matchups, including in the playoffs each of the last two years. All four meetings have also been in Plaistow, not the easiest trip to make from Hollis.

April 21: St. Thomas at Derryfield

• It will be Friday Night Lights in the Queen City, as the game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start on the Cougars' turf. Derryfield has owned the matchup since moving up to D2 in 2015, winning every contest, including in the quarterfinals every year from 2015-19.

May 9: Timberlane at Derryfield

• The Owls picked up their first win against the Cougars in last year's regular-season meeting, a 10-9 win at Derryfield that saw each team own a quarter in the second half. That game came early in the year, while this one is right in the middle, when both teams should be at peak performance.

May 11: Derryfield at Portsmouth

• This caps a tough week for Derryfield, as the Cougars will travel to the seacoast for a rematch of last year's D2 championship game. In fact, since 2017, these two teams have ended each other's season with a loss four times - Derryfield in the title game in 2017 and 2018, Portsmouth in the semifinals in 2021, along with last season.