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# This year, Hollis Brookline girls lacrosse writing a new chapter to program's history
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/this-year-hollis-brookline-girls-lacrosse-writing-a-new-chapter-to-programs-history/
- Published: 2024-05-05T12:00:44.000Z
- Updated: 2024-05-05T12:00:44.000Z
- Description: HOLLIS - In a lot of ways, it's been a different kind of year for the Hollis Brookline High School girls lacrosse team. Coming off the program's first championship in Division II - and first in any division since 2010 - the Cavaliers saw the graduation of six seniors who had been at the core of thre
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, girls lacrosse, Hollis Brookline, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

HOLLIS - In a lot of ways, it's been a different kind of year for the Hollis Brookline High School girls lacrosse team.

Coming off the program's first championship in Division II - and first in any division since 2010 - the Cavaliers saw the graduation of six seniors who had been at the core of three-straight finals appearances.

Numbers were already low last season, but dipped a little more this spring, and through five games, HB sat with a 2-3 record in D2\. Two of those loses were by a goal to Goffstown and Windham, but the third was a four-goal setback against Merrimack Valley, a team the Cavs hadn't lost to in at least 15 years.

But that's not where the differences end for HB coach Linda Haytayan.

"This is the smallest team I’ve ever carried," the coach said. "Not to discredit our subs, but we have certain roles to fill. I’ve been kind of playing a chess game around the field. I told them at the beginning of the season, you’re going to be in every role possible, maybe even goalie if we need you. This team has one of the best cultures I’ve every coached, and Cailean (Roy) has a lot to do with that."

Roy is just one of three seniors on the roster, but its a roster that has plenty of experience, with several players having contributed to last year's championship game.

Even with that, the Cavs were in need of confidence builder, and they appeared to get it last Wednesday in a 9-8 win over Bow. HB had to come back twice, including in the fourth quarter, and held off a last-minute attempt to tie the game by the Falcons.

"I think it was crucial for us to win this game," Roy said. "When you’re a kid, and your mom is telling you the tooth fairy is real, and you’re not sure, that’s this kind of game. You don’t win it, you don’t win it, but once you do it, you know you can win it."

The Cavs followed that win up with another come-from-behind victory last Friday, as they defeated Exeter 13-12\. They've now won four in a row to sit at 6-3 in D2, with a handful of tough games still left on the schedule.

Roy has faith that the team is still capable of big things, if for no other reason than the culture her coach talked about.

"This year, our biggest thing has been our positivity and our team culture," she said. "We all are sisters at heart and we just love each other on and off the field, and I think that really helps. We have so much trust in each other. When we have all those foundations, we just come together in the end."

It doesn't hurt that the senior and coach have been working together for a long time and is excited to see her take on that leadership role.

"It’s so nice to see Cailean come in to her own," Haytayan said. "I’ve been watching this kid since she was in third or fourth grade."

During the win over Bow, the Cavs also got to celebrate a milestone for one of their most unlikely stars.

Early in the second quarter, sophomore goalie Addison Dougherty recorded her 200th career save. When she stepped in to be the starter last year, Dougherty had never played goal before.

"She has come leaps and bounds, and there’s so much more in the tank for her," Haytayan said. "She wants to be there, she wants to get in the cage. She’s not afraid of anything. She’s got a feisty attitude."

Roy credits Dougherty with having HB's defense a few steps ahead of where it was at this time a year ago.

"I’m so proud of her," Roy said. "I think she works so hard, and no matter the outcome, she always keeps her head up. She’s the glue for our defense, and honestly, the whole team. She’s just an athlete. That wasn’t an issue for her last year, and this year, she’s just continued to build on the skill and the experience."

With seven games still go in the season, and despite the lower numbers in the program, Roy feels there is still a lot left for the Cavs to do and can't wait to see how it turns out.

"I’m pretty sure every day, coach says we’re small but mighty," she said. "That’s so true. We’ve had a huge improvement already from the beginning of this season and I’m looking forward to the end."