H.S. girls lacrosse: Exeter's Benevides off to shining sophomore season

EXETER - Exeter High School's Riley Benevides scored 39 goals in a very impressive freshman girls lacrosse season in 2025 for the Blue Hawks. Now a sophomore, Benevides, a midfielder, has scored 24 goals in Exeter's first five games this season, and is on pace for nearly 90 goals this season. "That's incredible, especially as a sophomore," Benevides smiled and said on her current pace.

"It comes from the support of all of my teammates; I'm definitely not doing it alone at all. " Her latest goal was the game-winning overtime goal in Exeter's 12-11 win over Londonderry on April 23. Exeter has won three straight games and is 4-1 entering Friday's rivalry clash at home against Winnacunnet, the defending Division II state champion.

Benevides, who had eight assists to go along with her 39 goals as a freshman, scored six goals in Exeter's win against Londonderry. It was the second time in as many games in which Benevides has scored six goals this season. Benevides scored five goals in Exeter's 17-3 win over Windham in the season-opener.

She had five goals in a 16-0 win over Concord, six in a 15-3 win over Salem, and two in a 11-4 loss to Souhegan. More on game-winner against Londonderry Benevides' game-winning goal , the first one in her high school career, occurred in the first minute of overtime against the Lancers. "When we went into overtime, we had our mind set on winning," Benevides said.