Hopkinton High School’s boys lacrosse team started the 2025 season with a deep attack that coach Dan Norton said should be a driving force behind the team’s success.

“We have a lot of returners on offense,” Norton said. “It’s kind of a tale of two ends; we have a veteran offense and a younger defense.”

But Norton said the defensive corps is improving every single day, something he has enjoyed watching. Part of that is due to the leadership of senior goalie (and captain) Nate Burns, one of 10 seniors showing the way for some of the less experienced members of the roster.

In addition to Burns, senior Brayden Jochim is back on the defensive end.

“They have taken on a huge role with us leadership wise, because we have a lot of younger guys out there,” Norton said.

The offense is a different story, with several skilled seniors seeing significant minutes. Senior captains Owen Champlin and Sam O’Brien are back in the midfield, along with fellow senior Tyler Walkiewicz, and all have shown enough versatility to be factors on the attack as well.

On the front line, seniors Cooper Goodman and Pat Dacey are back to provide depth at the attack position. Shortstick midfield is a position with a tremendous amount of experience and depth for the Hillers, with seniors Jake Garron, Anthony Nicolazzo and Quinn Keeler all returning from last year.

The group has Norton optimistic that the team will be able expand on the growth of the past several seasons and continue to compete with top programs like Dover-Sherborn, Westwood and Medfield, among others.

“I feel like, these past few years, we really brought the program back,” Norton said. “We want to continue to take steps forward in that regard. It’s the same measuring stick this season that we have had for a while now, we are in the same ballpark with the other top teams in the area and we want to get better every day.”

Norton said he is impressed with the maturity of his squad and how the players handle themselves every day in practice and in games, whether they are playing another top team or an opponent that might not be quite as skilled.

“What we have so far is really good buy-in and really good leadership from those returners,” he said. “The guys who have been here are getting more comfortable leading the younger guys, and the younger guys are seeking feedback and looking to get better. It’s been a lot of fun to coach them and see these guys get better minute by minute.”