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# Timberlane boys lacrosse was ready to prove something in D1 before dropping back down
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/timberlane-boys-lacrosse-was-ready-to-prove-something-in-d1-before-dropping-back-down/
- Published: 2020-05-10T13:00:36.000Z
- Updated: 2020-05-10T13:00:36.000Z
- Description: The last couple of years had already been some turbulent ones for the Timberlane Regional High School boys lacrosse program. The Owls made the playoffs in three out of four seasons in Division II, but came up empty in each postseason appearance. With a new, two-year cycle set to begin for the New Ha
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, boys lacrosse, NH High School Sports Insider, Owls, slider, Timberlane, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

The last couple of years had already been some turbulent ones for the Timberlane Regional High School boys lacrosse program.

The Owls made the playoffs in three out of four seasons in Division II, but came up empty in each postseason appearance. With a new, two-year cycle set to begin for the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association, Timberlane found out it was moving up to Division I in the middle of the 2018 season.

Last year, playing in D1, the Owls made the playoffs again, and this time pulled out a win, beating Nashua South in overtime in the preliminary round.

Despite losing a lot seniors from that team, Timberlane coach Ken Blaszka felt like the team that was returning was ready to take another step forward in D1.

"I know we graduated 14 kids, but we were in way better shape this year than last year," Blaszka said. "We had a bunch of guys who put in a lot of offseason work. We were doing the homework we were supposed to do in order to be better."

Whether that led to another playoff spot, or a top-four seed, no one will ever know. What Blaszka and the players who will return next year for Timberlane do know is that they won't be in D1 next season.

With the 2020-21 year the start of another two-year cycle, Timberlane's enrollment dropped enough that it's moving back down to D2\. And if the Owls get another offseason of participation like they did this year, Blaszka feels good about where Timberlane will be despite the lost season.

But without any games this spring, that's a big if.

"It's extremely difficult on the juniors," he said. "We've got a bunch of guys who were going to see a lot of time filling spots and now get nothing. They're going to be behind. All those things add up, especially for a program like ours, where we've got a lot of blue-collar guys."

Not only does Blaszka wonder what his team could have done this year, he wonders what might have been for one of his returning seniors, Matt Licata.

Licata, who started on varsity as a freshman, was close to breaking the program record for career points and would have had a shot at earning US Lacrosse All-American honors this year.

"He should have been one this year," Blazska said. "It would have made him my first (All-American) and probably would have cemented him as the best player to come out of Timberlane."

Being able to earn that honor while playing a D1 schedule would have made it even sweeter.

"That would have been huge," Licata said. "It's super tough. I'm really focusing on the next step. Finishing school, moving on, playing a lot of lacrosse on my own. We're all trying to work hard with what we have."

Licata will continue playing in college at Villanova University, and a handful of his classmates will have the opportunity to play at the next level as well.

"I'd be more upset if I wasn't continuing to play in college," senior Cody Fleming said. "It's been devastating (for guys who aren't). There's nothing we can do about it, so it does no good moping around about it."

Fleming will play at Southern New Hampshire University next year, part of a big local recruiting class for the Penmen that also includes Curtis Redd (Souhegan), Joe Bodi (Nashua South) and Trevor LaRusso (Kennett).

"We had six guys who were supposed to be going to college with an opportunity to play," Blaszka said. "Probably the most we've ever had. There is so much opportunity."

With two senior classes now needing to be replaced the next time Timberlane steps on a high school field, there will be plenty of chances for guys to step up and make an impact for the Owls. It will just be a matter of who puts in the work, something the underclassmen were willing to do to get ready for this season.

"I think it's going to be tough," Licata said of returning high school players. "The younger guys joining the team are going to have to make a pretty big impact. Dropping down will probably be helpful to them, but if (Timberlane) goes back up and down, it could be tough.

"But with Blaszka as coach, they can figure it out."

Fleming thinks what happened this year will fire up everyone up for next season.

"They'll have more of that (last-game) mentality this upcoming season," he said. "They saw how it got taken away. They're in the same boat (as seniors), just in a different way."