In 2005, the St. Thomas Aquinas High School boys lacrosse team made it to the Division II championship game, only to suffer a last-second 7-6 decision to Dover.

The Saints regrouped and got back to the tile game last season. This time it was the Saints who walked out of Nashua's Stellos Stadium winners of another nail-biter, 9-8, in double overtime over rival Oyster River.

With 16 players returning this season, the drive for a second straight championship is starting in the right gear. But that also means the Saints are the team everyone in a rock-solid Division II is aiming for.

"There's no doubt about it; the targets are definitely on our backs and we know it," 14-year St. Thomas coach Barry Katz said. "This is going to be a tough division again. The parity in the league is incredible. Every game is going to be contested."

Four All-state selections from last year will lead the Saints. Katz's son, Jake, has been the starting goalkeeper since his freshman year. Barry Katz said his son has had an incredible drive to be the best since the beginning.

"When he came in the best goaltenders were at Oyster River and Bow and he decided he wanted to be a great goalie," Katz said.

"I asked him after the (2005 title loss) how long it would take him to get over it," Katz added. "He said �I'll let you know when.' I'm still waiting to hear. He has a great desire."

Midfielders Zach Goodwin and Mike Woods, along with attack Andrew Gardiner, are the other All-State selections, giving St. Thomas a potent scoring punch.

"Those four have played together since freshman year," Barry Katz said. "They developed a great nucleus to work with."

&subhead;Defense won't rest

There will be plenty of players who can core for Portsmouth High School this year. But it will be Portsmouth's defense "" led by the team's three captains ""- that figures to form the backbone of the Clippers this season.

All-State goalkeeper Scott Bridge, along with defensemen Jake Hathaway and Reed Spiller, return to a team that went 12-6 least year. The Clippers lost to Laconia in the Division III quarterfinals after reaching the semifinals in 2005.

"We're executing and getting better and better each year," said PHS coach Chris McGuirk, who is entering his third season as head coach. "This year is no exception. We expect to be among the top teams in the league."

Bridge, a senior, has started between the pipes since his sophomore year. McGuirk said that Bridge will play in college but he hasn't selected a school yet. All McGuirk knows is that he is much calmer with Bridge minding the net.

"He's one of the better goalies in the league and it is so nice not having to worry about that position," McGuirk said.

"I like to build from the net forward," McGuirk added. "With the (captains) returning on defense it'll be a strong core for our team."

McGuirk also has no reservations about his team's chances this season.

"I don't harp on it a lot, but there is no reason why we can't get to the championship game," McGuirk said. "This team has the talent to get there."

&subhead;The rookie

Bill Manchester completed a successful first season as head coach of the Marshwood High School football team in the fall. Under Manchester's guidance, the Hawks went undefeated during the regular season and finished with a 9-1 record and spot in the Western Maine Class A semifinals.

Now it's spring and Manchester is embarking on another coaching endeavor. This time it's a sport Manchester has never played or coached before, but he's more than up to challenge of leading the MHS boys lacrosse team.

Marshwood doesn't play its first game until April 27, which gives Manchester some extra time for a crash course on the sport and its complicated rulebook. Also a math teacher at the high school, Manchester heard rumblings that a coach was needed. His curiosity for the sport along with his love of coaching drew him to the lacrosse sidelines.

"It's very exciting. I know I'll be learning a lot of things throughout the year," Manchester said. "Right now, we've just got to get the fundamentals down before anything else. We're not rushing at this point."

The Hawks went 11-8 last year and lost to Deering in the first round of the conference quarterfinals, so Manchester and his team expect another playoff push this season. Senior attack David Elwell and Scott Graunke will lead Marshwood this season.

Besides the physical nature of the games, Manchester doesn't believe there are too many parallels between football and lacrosse. Manchester compares lacrosse's objectives to another sport he has coached in the past: basketball.

"It's kind of the same idea as basketball," Manchester said. "You work the ball around and try to drive to the hole and get a layup. And as a math teacher, it's all about numbers. Two-on-one, three-on-two, three-on-one. It's a very exciting game."