EXETER, NH – Three years removed from winning its first state championship of the decade, the Derryfield School boys lacrosse team is back on top.
Competing against top-ranked Winnacunnet High School (17-2) in the NHIAA Division II final Saturday, the second-seeded Cougars (18-2) earned an 8-7 victory at Exeter’s Bill Ball Stadium.
In defeating Winnacunnet in the championship game, the Cougars avenged both regular-season setbacks when it mattered most. They also beat rival Portsmouth, 10-7, in the Division II semifinals Wednesday to reach this year’s title tilt.
“The first time we played, it was an offensive shootout (a 14-13 Winnacunnet victory on May 11). It was also very physical and filled with penalties,” said Derryfield head coach Chris Hettler. “This time around both teams played very good defense and goalie play was excellent. Only three total penalties in the game this time around.”
After a tight back-and-forth affair, it was sophomore standout Emerson Stover who found the back of the net with 13 ticks left on the clock to secure Derryfield’s second title in the last three years and eighth state championship since 2010.
The game-winner came after the Derryfield defense forced a turnover, cleared the ball and then called a timeout.
“In the huddle, we called a play, ‘High Wing,’ that we had practiced all season long for just this situation,” said Hettler. “Winnacunnet was sliding early from the crease against our midfield dodges and very nervous to slide off our other attackmen. We used their aggression against them and the boys worked the ball around until it found the stick of Garrett, who patiently waited until the game’s final moments to dodge. He found legs to get a step on his defender and Winnacunnet slid fast and hard just as we expected. Emerson slid to the exact spot where we knew he would be open to catch and blast home the game-winner. Garrett was already celebrating before Emmy’s shot.”
It also completed the team’s #InterstateToEight rally cry this season.
“With the interstate starting at the end of the 2023 season, some roads are longer than others, but truly a sweet way for the seniors to bookend their careers,” said Hettler. “The seniors graduate and leave a legacy of 73 wins and six losses, having been a part of four straight finals appearances and two state titles.”
That relatively small group of seniors — including defenders Sam Bradley, Alistair Wright and Mitchell Grunbeck, along with midfielder Garrett Lande — also helped build and maintain the program’s winning culture and chemistry, said Hettler.
The long-time head coach specifically lauded the contributions of Lande and Wright, the Cougars’ offensive and defensive captains, respectively, who set an example that is likely to carry on for years ahead, even as new NHIAA classifications are expected to push traditional Division II rivals Portsmouth, Winnacunnet, Timberlane and Goffstown up to Division I.
“We expect to compete for the divisional title every year,” he said. “We have a great core group coming back and have some promising young incoming freshmen. Division II will be adding Division III state champion Coe-Brown, Plymouth, ConVal, Bow and John Stark, who should all come in and compete right away with the other remaining members of Division II: Oyster River, Hanover, Kingswood, St. Thomas, Hollis-Brookline, Souhegan and Pembroke.”
Game notes: Lande finished his final game with a goal and an assist, while picking up four ground balls; Stover and Dom Cereone each found the back of the net twice and assisted once; and Ryan Maxwell, Jackson Hatfield and Heath Mueller each scored in the contest as well. Goalie Laim England saved nine shots to help secure his team the victory.
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