13 surprise standout players for Seacoast high school boys lacrosse. Who's on the list?

At the outset of the high school boys lacrosse season, we featured 23 players from across the Seacoast in the states of New Hampshire and Maine.

Now, as the teams have reached the second half of their respective schedules, we take a look at 13 players who are having stellar seasons, perhaps even greater than what was expected from them at the beginning of the year.

Nine schools are represented on the list which includes four freshmen, eight sophomores, five juniors and four seniors.

More: Here are 21 surprise standout players for Seacoast high school softball in 2024

Let's take a look at the surprise standout boys lacrosse players:

Riley Butters, York High School, sophomore, attack/midfielder

York head coach Bill McNamara says Butters, without scoring a goal or having an assist this year, has been “huge” for the Wildcats in their first six games.

“He’s winning the draws and controlling the ball,” McNamara said. “He does a nice job of playing both sides of the field, both offense and defense. We knew he was good, so maybe he’s not a surprise, but he he has stepped up like we hoped he would. He’s just a huge part of the team.”

Butters’ best game of the season? It came in York’s only loss of the season, an 11-10 setback to Cape Elizabeth in the second game of the year.

“He really dominated the faceoff in that game,” McNamara said. “It was a big-time game, and a big one for him. He really sprung onto the scene in that one.”

And for no goals or assists yet for Butters, McNamara says “he’ll get there.”

Nash Conklin, Portsmouth High School, freshman, defense

Conklin may be a freshman, but he stepped into a starting rotation for the Clippers, who have played in the past three Division II state championship games.

"His intelligence has allowed him to step into that roll and fortify our defense,” Portsmouth head coach Chad Vischer said. “He’s extremely coachable, and a hard-working and fun-loving kid.”

Vischer said Conklin, being a freshman, takes a lot of good-natured “ribbing” from his teammates, mostly upperclassmen.

“He takes it in stride and is widely respected by the his teammates and coaching staff,” Vischer said. “As he’s gotten more comfortable in his role, he’s become more tenacious on the field. It’s been fun to watch his maturation. We’re excited to see what the rest of the season brings.”

Conklin has 14 groundballs, six caused turnovers and one assist this season.

“He doesn’t look like a freshman out there,” Vischer said.

Hayden Demeroto, Marshwood High School, sophomore, attack

Demeroto has scored nine goals and dished out seven assists in seven games for Marshwood. Demeroto’s breakout game was a two-goal performance in an 11-10 loss to South Portland.

“After (that game) he’s been getting matched up with the team’s top defender,” Marshwood coach Matt Moreland said.

Demeroto, in the two games since the South Portland game, had three goals and three assists in a 13-4 win over Waynflete, and most recently, three goals and two assists in a 10-9 win over Cheverus.

“He’s gaining confidence that he can get his shot off no matter the defender,” Moreland said.

Cooper Dodge, York High School, sophomore, attack/midfielder

Dodge was one of two freshman to earn some minutes last year in York’s historic run to the program’s first state championship.

Dodge, who plays on York’s man-up unit, has battled some injuries this season, but is healthy now and has five goals and two assists in three games.

“He’s really a tenacious rider,” York head coach Bill McNamara said. “He causes a lot of turnovers for an attackmen, he gets groundballs and has really stepped into the starting role.”

Dodge had three goals in a 10-4 win over Windham.

“That was a big game for Cooper,” McNamara said. “He’s a good goal scorer, and a very smart lacrosse player. He’s found a role on the team, and that’s good to see.”

Riley Joyce, Dover High School, senior, defense

Dover first-year head coach Chris Ketchum says Joyce has been a “force for the Green Wave on the defensive side of the ball” this year.

Joyce is averaging more than 1 caused turnover per game and has accumulated a team-high 33 ground balls in Dover’s first nine games of the season.

“Riley is also a force in the transition game,” Ketchum said. “He’s a speedy SSDM (short stick defensive midfielder) that gets up the field quickly and gets the ball in the offensive zone and settled.”

Asa Lane, Traip Academy, freshman, attack

Lane was thrust into the attack position after injuries to other players. He has taken advantage of the situation and has ran with it with 10 goals and one assist for the Rangers.

“He’s scoring goals every game,” Traip Academy coach Raphael Matty said. “I expected he would make varsity but I didn’t expect 10 goals in eight games. Going forward I expect Asa to continue to score goals and probably play a bit more at midfield.”

Marshall Lasewicz, Exeter High School, junior, midfielder

When one talks about some of the offensive catalysts in Division I lacrosse this season, Lasewicz is certain to be in the conversation.

Lasewicz, through Exeter’s first 12 games of the season, has 37 goals and 23 assists. His highlight game was a six-goal appearance in Exeter’s 11-8 loss to Bishop Guertin; one of just four defeats for the Blue Hawks this season.

“(Lasewicz) is a strong midfielder who can constantly create offense and is great in the middle of the field,” Exeter head coach Matt Brewster said. “He’s a leader and highly respected player amongst his teammates. We look to continue having him lead our midfield.”

Cole Norris, Oyster River High School, junior, goalie

After waiting patiently for his turn in goal the past two years, Norris has shined in his first season as the starter for the Bobcats.

“Cole has really made the most of this opportunity,” Oyster River head coach Ruppy Hailey said. “He’s very technically sound and has the ability to remain calm and focused in the net regardless of the situation. We can always count on him to make the saves that he’s supposed to, as well as a variety of other highlight-reel stops.”

Norris has a 5-3 record this season for the Division II Bobcats. He has has a 8.6 goals against average, and a 59% save percentage.

“His work in the clearing game has consistently evolved and he does a great job of commanding the defense when the ball is in our end of the field,” Hailey said. “He’s had multiple double-digit save games but his performance against Alvirne (14-2 win) really made us understand that his ability to make saves when we need him to will keep us in games while the rest of the team adjusts to the situation at hand.”

Lucas Patten, Portsmouth High School, senior, midfielder

Patten is a three-year varsity player who earned the role as team captain for his final season with the Clippers.

“He plays all over the field and never stops working,” Portsmouth head coach Chad Vischer said. “He often doesn’t get the “shine” that Zac Amend and Nick Smith does, but he’s every bit as vital on our team.”

Patten has 14 goals, six assists and 32 groundballs this season. Of those 14 goals, he scored the go-ahead tally in Portsmouth’s 11-7 win over Division I Exeter.

“(Patten) is headed to the Marine Corps this summer and he absolutely brings that level of intensity and leadership to our program,” Vischer said.

Ulysse Poulou, Traip Academy, senior, defensive midfield

Traip Academy head coach Raphael Matty really didn’t expect much from Poulou at the beginning of the season.

Poulou, an exchange student from France, had never played lacrosse before, but he has picked it up rather quickly, and contributing to the Rangers.

“He’s still improving his skills every day,” Matty said. “I didn’t expect him to be an important player on varsity, but he’s already a top choice for man-down penalty situations.”

Poulou has one goal, 14 groundballs and seven forced turnovers on the season.

“He’s an important part of our defense,” Matty said. “He’s not scoring (a lot of) goals, but he’s doing great shutting down offensive threats, scooping ground balls and causing turnovers.”

Beckett Rath, Winnacunnet High School, sophomore, attack

Rath opened his sophomore season with a three-goal effort at Marshwood. He then had six-goal games against Spaulding and Kennett, a five-goal showing against Keene, and another four against Keene.

He now has a team-high 26 goals through Winnacunnet’s first 11 games of the season.

“He has been solid in every game this season,” Winnacunnet head coach Pat Snow said. “He has been creative, usually playing on the crease and makes the most of his opportunities. He really stepped up into his new role within our offense.”

Ryan Resch, St. Thomas Aquinas, freshman, attack

Resch was thrown right into the fire in his first season at St. Thomas Aquinas as he has started in all of the team’s nine games. He has stepped up and contributed with 10 goals and 12 assists for the Saints.

One thing is for sure, Resch has earned the admiration and trust of his teammates and coaches.

“(Resch) has been extremely effective in creating ball movement within our offense and dishing out great feeds,” St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Scott Singer said. “His lacrosse career is off to a great start.”

Resch had three goals and two assists in a 20-6 win over Alvirne, and had two-goal games in wins against Merrimack Valley (7-5) and Concord (18-7).

Dee Tsakiris, Oyster River High School, freshman, midfield

Oyster River head coach Ruppy Hailey heard he had a good freshman coming in this season, and Tsakiris quickly confirmed what Hailey had heard.

“When he joined us for offseason training we realized he was going to be an impact player for us even as a freshman,” Hailey said. “He hit the ground running when our season started in March. We have watched his IQ grow throughout the season and he’s learning to use his strengths on the field to his advantage.”

Tsakiris has nine goals and three assists, and 20 groundballs in eight games, as well as playing on Oyster River’s man-up unit.

“His overall body of work and the continued adjustment to the speed and physicality of the varsity game has been the most impressive,” Hailey said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Boys lacrosse: 13 Seacoast NH ME surprise standout players in 2024