March 9, 2010
Darien goes for fourth sweep in Conn.
by Morgan Kelly/
The Darien girls and boys lacrosse programs have reigned supreme in the state of Connecticut for three consecutive seasons. After the five-time champion boys team won back-to-back Class M titles in 2005-06, the girls have joined in on the party to build a lacrosse empire for the Blue Wave.
As a result, the biggest question in Connecticut lacrosse this year is whether the Darien dynasty can keep its two streaks alive after heavy graduation losses and with some senior-loaded teams nipping at their heels.
After graduating three All-Americans, the Darien boys — 18-5 a year ago — could be expected to struggle to stay on top. Coach Joe Brameier said he will depend on senior goalie and Cornell recruit Andrew West to help the Blue Wave keep rolling.
West is arguably the best player in the country this season and will anchor a solid defense alongside sophomore Case Matheis. Returning players also include defenders Eric Parnon and George Benitez (committed to Stony Brook), as well as midfielders Bryan Annecchino (Providence) and Bobby Nolan (Gettysburg).
After a 16-6 season in 2009, Wilton will be one of the top contenders to take down the Blue Wave and end the streak, but it also has serious graduation losses to overcome, including All-Americans Joseph Sala and Peter McMahon, and goalie James Fuller. New Canaan (12-8) is expecting a solid year, and will count on returning starters like Hobart-bound Cody Newton and Providence College-bound Bobby Femia to lead the way. New Fairfield (20-2) and East Lyme (18-3) also should be contenders for a tournament run.
Ridgefield finished 20-2 last year and stunned Darien for the FCIAC title last season in a 7-6 overtime victory, but the momentum wasn’t enough to send the Tigers to the Class L finals. Ridgefield now must recover from the loss of three All-Americans, but second-year coach Roy Colsey insists that a solid midfield led by seniors Kurt Mueller (Towson), Ian Vasquez (Wesleyan) and Aaron Mathias (Amherst) will make the team contenders for the division crown in 2010.
Four-time Class L champions Fairfield Prep — 17-6 last year — will stand in Ridgefield’s way again after adding another notch to its belt by defeating the Tigers in the semis and Simsbury in the 2009 title game. While Prep loses All-Americans Chase Bailey and Harley Brown, it returns a solid and competitive lineup. Simsbury, which defeated Prep 11-9 during the regular season, lost 10 seniors, but could contend again on the strength of standout midfielder Thomas Woessner (Sacred Heart) and returning goalie Conley Cummings.
Greenwich didn’t pose a big threat in ‘09, but could be much more dangerous this season with the arrival of standout attackman David Dixon from Brunswick. Other threats to Prep’s crown will be Cheshire (14-6 a year ago) and Glastonbury (15-6).
The Class S championship shapes up as a potential 2009 rematch. Last year ended with a 12-11 thriller with St. Joseph’s edging the Weston Trojans for the title. Expect St. Joseph — always competitive and coming off a 16-5 title-winning season — to be near the top, with Weston’s high-powered offense lead by attackmen Robbie Cordisco (Providence) and Morgan Faller (Marist) to be out for revenge. Somers looks to go a step further in 2010, and the team it lost to in the tournament — Joel Barlow — could contend if its young players mature quickly.
On the girls’ side of the ledger, Darien romped over New Canaan’s Rams in a 16-8 victory for the Division I title last season, but no one expects such a one-sided match-up this year. A stacked New Canaan roster returns for revenge in 2010 and if there is one team that can knock out the Blue Wave, it will most certainly be the Rams.
Darien has All-American Caroline Ceglarski and seven other college-bound players, but still must replace All-Americans Courtney Bennett and Amy Marchesi.
The Wilton Warriors competed in five consecutive state finals prior to being knocked out early in 2009. The Warriors lose All-Americans Kyra Hansson and Kacie Johnson, but should thrive with leadership from senior attackers Amy Drummond (Dartmouth) and Lindsey Harkness (Colgate), as well as defender Brittany Conner (New Hampshire).
It will be a rebuilding year for Glastonbury (16-3), which graduated three star players last season including All-American Sarah LaRose. Despite the losses, Glastonbury returns goalie Erin Murray, attacker Jess Searl and standout midfielder Lauren Peirce (Columbia), whom Coach Kris Cofiell expects big things from this season.
Also contending in Division I will be Greenwich, led by Richmond-bound midfielder Sarah Kramer, Hall — which returns senior midfielder Katie Mascolo (George Mason) — South Windsor, and Daniel Hand, the latter led by Kaila Gottlick (Stony Brook) and Rebecca Church (BU).
In Division II, St. Bernard was 20-1 entering the finals, but got blown out by Immaculate, which won the state title despite finishing the season just 13-8. Both teams will be back in the title picture this year, along with last year’s semi-finalists New Milford and Old Lyme. New Milford returns starting goalie Maria Ortiz, an Iona commitment, to anchor a solid defensive unit. λ
