The lacrosse season is fully underway as the spring weather finally begins to make its way through. With multiple Western Mass. tournament appearances across both the girls and boys teams in the area, local squads are looking to make their mark with a clean slate to begin 2026.
Here’s more details on each local lacrosse team:
Boys Lacrosse
Amherst
After a Western Mass. Class B championship in 2025, the Hurricanes are looking to defend their title with a strong returning group. Rich Ferro is back for his third year as the team’s head coach, with experience coaching his senior class dating all the way back to their elementary school days.
Tri Nguyen, Brian Cruz and Taylor Leiva headline the group of veteran leaders, looking to set the tone for a squad with lofty expectations. On the backend, Jason Kim will be playing in his fourth season as Amherst’s starting goalie, giving his team stability in an important position.
Belchertown
The Orioles have had a slow start to the new season, with their young group looking to continue to improve as the season progresses. With over half of the roster made up of underclassmen, the team should benefit from more experience being gained over time.
Northampton
Last season’s Blue Devils squad came up just short in the Western Mass. Class B championship, losing a number of impactful seniors at the end of the year. Getting out to a slow start to the 2026 campaign, Northampton is hoping more experience with its young roster will help it quickly right the ship.
Smith Voc
The Vikings are hoping to make a splash in the Suburban League this season after a 5-6 finish overall in 2025.
South Hadley
Mike O’Neill takes over as the head coach of the Tigers for his first season in 2026, looking to make a statement in what will be a great chance for a bounce-back year. Brayden Blias will be anchoring down the backend in between the pipes, with Brayden Koske and Colin Lumb projecting to be strong defenders in front of him.
Hunter Skibel and Tyler Quist will serve as the squad’s main attackers, with Mason Petters and Gavin Quist holding down the midfield.
Girls Lacrosse
Amherst
Despite a slow start to this season, the Hurricanes are looking to make their way back to the Western Mass. and state tournaments this year after coming up short in both last go-around.
Kiko Bhowmik and Ava Carey headline an impactful senior class who have found success early on, looking to get the rest of the team aligned and right the ship for the back half of the season.
Belchertown
After a rebuilding year in 2025, the Orioles are looking for their young talent to take a big step throughout a hot start to the new campaign. Lia Pikul (first team), Aubrey McCain (second team), and Lily Tellier (second team) were All-Western Mass selections last year, highlighting an impressive junior class. Pikul will also be hunting for her 100th goal before the end of the year.
Maddy Philpott leads the defense in her junior year as well, with freshman Harper Laurenzo aiming to make an immediate impact on the backend as well. Senior captain Emma Almeida returns to her spot at goalie after missing the last 13 games of the season in 2025, with her fellow captain Kenzie Lepage also hoping to lead by example.
Granby
The Rams finished last season just one game below .500, with their mix of veteran experience and young talent projecting to make them a tough matchup throughout this year.
Leading scorer Kalli White went down with an injury in the team’s second game of the season, with the loss of her presence on the field making a big impact for the time being.
Hampshire
The Raiders are looking to bounce back after coming up short in last year’s Western Mass. Class C tournament, getting out to a slow start to begin the new campaign. Rylie Simmons and Reese O’Connell are looking to lead the team offensively, projecting to be the main scoring options.
Northampton
Last season featured a Western Mass. Class B championship for the Blue Devils, along with a trip to the round of 16 in the state tournament, looking to replicate a successful year again in 2026. The group will be leaning on Makayla Fydenkevez and Imanni Power-Greene to set the tone throughout the season.
Smith Voc
In their second season at the varsity level, the Vikings are looking to make their presence known in a full-length schedule. Erin Miller aims to lead the squad’s offensive attack, under Ellie Wilson’s coaching.
South Hadley
After losing a strong senior class last season, the Tigers have gotten off to a slow start to begin the new year. Ella Haber and Kelcey Zraunig project to be the team’s main attackers, with Dee Haber manning the goalie spot.
