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# With roster likely intact, Oyster River boys lacrosse refocusing for next season
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/with-roster-likely-intact-oyster-river-boys-lacrosse-refocusing-for-next-season/
- Published: 2020-06-09T12:30:53.000Z
- Updated: 2020-06-09T12:30:53.000Z
- Description: The previous two springs followed a similar pattern for the Oyster River High School boys lacrosse team. Take a small roster, get into the playoffs and fall in the opening round to one of the top seeds. But despite those playoff losses, the Bobcats had reason to believe they were headed in the right
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, Bobcats, boys lacrosse, NH High School Sports Insider, Oyster River, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

The previous two springs followed a similar pattern for the Oyster River High School boys lacrosse team.

Take a small roster, get into the playoffs and fall in the opening round to one of the top seeds.

But despite those playoff losses, the Bobcats had reason to believe they were headed in the right direction. Their win total improved each year, and last season, coach Ruppy Hailey knew his young roster was gaining valuable experience for a 2020 season that would be another year of growth.

With no seniors expected to be on the roster, and with 11 sophomores and talented freshmen coming in to support a talented junior class, Hailey felt there was plenty of time for the team to take the next step.

"I knew the kids who were juniors this year, they were going to be some of the better players on the team," he said. "It was going to be a very exciting year for us. Oyster River has had success, but it's been a while. Everyone was excited."

Now, with the season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hailey hopes that the Bobcats can stay on the same page and ramp up to try again next year.

"You always have to find a balance," he said. "Are you on them too much? But you want to get them excited enough that they are going to show up (in the offseason). There's a lot of guys in the right frame of mind now."

Two of those guys are juniors - Hayden Marshall and Ethan Todd - who were going to be looked upon to fill big leaderships roles this year, and will be next season as seniors.

"I did think it was going to be difficult, not having any seniors and having to rely on a few juniors," Marshall said. "Obviously, with a lot of underclassmen, it could have been difficult to get on the same page. I think halfway through the season, we would have started clicking and started winning games."

Todd felt that Oyster River could have gotten on a roll early because so many of the team's younger players had put in so much work during the offseason.

"Every single one of those guys wants to be there, wants to play," he said. "That's how it felt last year. We were hoping to solidify a spot early on and have a better seed. We were ready to make that step."

Losing out on this season not only set back Todd and Marshall as they try to make a decision for playing beyond high school, but it was a disappointment to not be on the field.

"I understood the decision," Todd said. "It definitely took out of me a piece of motivation. It was like getting punched in the gut."

Todd, who has been a starter on defense since he was a freshman, hopes to have a decision made by the end of August.

"Whenever we are doing something, he's always involved, whether it's on or off the field," Hailey said. "He's the first one into the huddle. It's just so natural to him, to speak up and get involved."

Marshall plans to continue talking to coaches throughout the summer and updating his highlight video as much as he can, but without being able to do much more than drills, it could be a challenge.

"We were expecting a monster year out of him," Hailey said. "He's a leader, but a quiet leader. He's one of those kids who is really approachable and has no problem working with the younger kids."

Both players are hopeful that as restrictions on gatherings and activities loosen up, they'll be able to get together with teammates just to do something, with the 2021 season.

"We've been talking about it since (early May)," Marshall said. "For the younger kids, it's going to be a lot of relearning stuff and teaching. But even in small groups, just to be with the guys and work around them will be great."