What will the boys lacrosse season bring? Here are the teams and players to watch for
There will be a lot of new faces on the field this spring, but there might not be a lot of change for the boys lacrosse season this spring.
While there is more talent spread throughout Rhode Island, programs that have become perennial powerhouses are becoming more obvious by the year.
It’s not just La Salle in Division I, either. With a four-division, eight-team setup (perhaps one division too many), programs that have built consistent winners should find themselves back in a position to win championships again this season all the way to Division IV.
In Division I, there’s no question. La Salle and Moses Brown will reach the Rhode Island Interscholastic League State Championship game and it’s probably time for the league to take a football approach and offer up a consolation championship game for the other programs in D-I.
Division II is an interesting mix of programs whose communities have supported the sport even if there aren’t quite the same numbers as the communities in D-I. Last year’s champion, Middletown, and runner-up, Pilgrim, should be back in the mix, but the difference in the top six teams last year was minuscule. Prout could make another run, Cumberland is having a banner year across the board, so why not lacrosse, and Chariho and South Kingstown put out good teams annually. This division is really a toss-up.
The best part of Division III is the makeup of the teams. Plenty of kids in the league don’t pick up a stick until they get to high school, and sometimes not until junior or senior year, and still contribute. Last year’s finalists, Westerly, the champion, and Smithfield, have really separated themselves because of community support, which gives them a leg up on everyone. Expect a rematch of last year’s Division III final in what should be the last D-III game for both programs.
There isn’t a more fun division than Division IV. Yes, the top two seeds made the final with No. 1 Rogers defeating Lincoln, but both teams got there only because of narrow wins in the semifinals. Tiverton, the No. 4 seed, was upset in the quarterfinals but brings back a healthy amount of returners and should be in the mix. With the best goalie in the division in Karter Chartier, North Smithfield might be the favorite to win.
What other players will be stars this spring? With an influx of youth programs throughout the state, lacrosse has gone from niche sport to something a little more mainstream and created a scene much different than when RIIL play started in 2001.
With apologies to countless other players we could have included, here are 10 players we think will be crucial to the 2024 boys lacrosse season.
Mark Belcher, Prout
Midfield, Senior
Belcher and the Crusaders struggled during the regular season, only to get things turned around in the playoffs, where they turned a 6-8 season into a semifinal run. Belcher’s experience is going to be crucial as Prout tries to get a little more offense-oriented this spring and tries to contend for the Division II title.
Braxton Bragg, Pilgrim
Midfield, Senior
Bragg has quietly been one of the state’s best midfielders during his career for the Patriots and expect that to continue this spring. All he’s done is help Pilgrim make three championship games, winning the Division III title in 2022, and he should ramp up his game as the Patriots try to win a Division II title, which evaded them last spring.
Ryder Casady, Westerly
Goalie, Senior
The Bulldogs won the Division III championship last spring and having Casady in net certainly helped. After graduating a strong senior class, Westerly will try to build another championship team together and Casady should play an even larger role. As one of the best goalies in Rhode Island, Casady will be ready for the challenge.
Miles Cormier, Tiverton
Attack, Junior
Division IV was highly competitive and, while the Tigers were in the mix, things didn’t end how they wanted them to. Cormier, a first-team all-division selection, was a huge part of their success and we can expect his game to grow in his junior season. If Cormier becomes a steady source of offense, there’s no reason why Tiverton won’t have a shot at winning its first title.
Jake Ignall, Barrington
Midfield, Senior
Can the Eagles do something nobody else has done in 10 years? With Ignall leading the way, Barrington’s chance is as good as any to end the annual La Salle-Moses Brown state championship game. Ignall was a dynamic middie, providing both scoring punch and an aggressive presence that should make a difference and have the Eagles flying high this spring.
Matt Hayes, La Salle
Attack, Senior
The Rams don’t rebuild, they reload, and the All-Stater’s return at attack is a big part of that. Hayes, who will play at Providence College next spring, was one of the state's top scorers and should be among the state’s elite playmakers again this spring. There’s going to be a big target on La Salle’s back, but with Hayes up front, it should be more than capable of dealing with it.
Patrick Murphy, Mount St. Charles
Attack, Senior
Murphy’s been one of the best players in the state since he started at Mount and should he return to the field after playing junior hockey this winter, he’ll continue to be one of the state's best scorers on the field. The Mounties will need a veteran presence on the field and Murphy should give them that leadership and scoring pop they’ll need to be successful.
Ronan Peterson, La Salle
Midfield, Senior
Peterson was an active member of a La Salle offense that couldn’t be stopped last spring and this year he’ll become its centerpiece. Peterson, who will play at Loyola University in Maryland next spring, mixes size, speed, athleticism and terrific playmaking ability to make him one of Rhode Island’s most unique talents, which helps make La Salle a favorite to win the state crown.
John Rodehorst, La Salle
Long-stick midfielder, Junior
Rodehorst was a gremlin with the long stick, disrupting opponents' offenses and sticking in the occasional long pole goal while he was at it. Expect more greatness from Rodehorst, who has verbally committed to play at Cornell in two years. Rodehorst’s presence will provide more than enough stability for a La Salle team that’s the favorite to win another state title.
Chase Wightman, Moses Brown
Attack, Senior
A Second-Team All-State selection last spring, Wightman will step into the shoes left by two First-Team All-Staters at attack as he becomes the Quakers’ No. 1 scoring option. The Babson College commit displayed his talents last spring — expect him to continue to provide elite scoring pop as Moses Brown tries to do what it can to end La Salle’s chokehold on the state title.
NOTE: The print edition of this story included a Middletown player who transferred and would not be playing for an RIIL team this spring. He's been replaced by a fellow Division II player to complete the list of 10.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: A preview of the 2024 Rhode Island boys high school lacrosse season
