ECC Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Gary Wight (16th year)

Key returnees: Jr. A James McCoy, Sr. A Connor Schofner, Sr. A Rob Swenson, Sr. M Andrew Alden, Sr. M Ryan Bellandese, Sr. M Aidan Patterson, Sr. D Andrew Noorigian, Jr. D Dalton Franco, Jr. D Trevor Somes, Jr. LSM Rich Galbo, Sr. LSM Chris Walters, Jr. G Eric Brodeur, Jr. G Mac Fusaro.

Top newcomers: Jr. A Suneal Lall, So. M Scott Galbo, Jr. M Will Flaherty, Jr. M Alex Jakubczak, Jr. M Ben Jakubczak, So. M Blane Hart, So. M Cam Hart, Sr. M Anthony Lee, Sr. M Tim Jantori, Sr. M Ben Prouty, Sr. M Zach Bradley, Sr. M Tyler Smallidge, Sr. D Chris Cicchiello, Jr. D Nolan Liska, Sr. D Isaac Tomblin, Sr. D Zeke Smallidge, Sr. D Dan Moore, Sr. D Sam Angiolelli, Sr. G Quinton Sefton.

Outlook: The reigning ECC Division I and tournament champions had some big graduation losses, including The Day's Player of the Year Sean Williams, but there is still plenty of talent and experience returning for Wight, who will once again play a competitive non-conference schedule starting with the season opener against Guilford. McCoy and Noorigian are returning ECC all-stars and Wight has been happy to see some of his newcomers press his veterans for time on the field.

Fitch

Coach: David Sabilia (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. A/M Noah Reuling, Sr. A/M Bray Wilson, Sr. A/M Riley Jordan, Sr. G Christian Snodgrass, Sr. A/M Zach Letellier, Sr. A/M Jack Meyer, Sr. A/M Adrian Abbiate, Sr. A/M Jon Russack-Baker, Jr. D Austin Beebe, Sr. D Jack Behrens, Sr. D Paul Panciera.

Outlook: Sabilia takes over the program and loves the Falcons' versatility. Some of his top players can play in the midfield or up on the attack, including Reuling, a 2017 ECC Division I all-star. Wilson and Jordan are also proven scorers while Snodgrass provides stability in goal. Fitch went 8-10 a year ago and qualified for the Class M state tournament. Sabilia expects the Falcons to challenge for ECC and state tournament bids again.

Ledyard

Coach: James Cook (1st year)

Key returnees: Jr. D Jacob Hobbs, Sr. M Will Silva, Sr. D James Robillard, So. A Isaiah Spaulding.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Chace Barnett, So. M Jacob Foster, Fr. A Ryan Kinney, Jr. A Seamus McGrath.

Outlook: Cook replaces Steve Bilheimer, who coached the Colonels on an interim basis in 2017. Cook will start to rebuild the Ledyard around a good nucleus of returning players, some young, skillful newcomers and a group of athletes trying lacrosse for the first time.

NFA

Coach: Nathan Wheeler (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. A Mathew Kolashuk, Sr. M Chris Ladyga, Sr. G Alex Medeiros, Jr. M Rye Walenciewciz, Sr. M Andrew Bannon, So. D Mason McMahon.

Top newcomers: So. A Jackson Vinkels, Fr. M Sam Thompson, Fr. M Dominic Renfree, Fr. LSM Micah Tarlton, Fr. A Matthew Langley.

Outlook: The Wildcats must replace eight starters from a team that went 5-11 a year ago (3-3 in the division), but NFA does has some senior experience, especially with Medeiros back in goal and Ladyga being one of the ECC's top faceoff middies. Wheeler said there will be plenty of competition for spots on NFA's depth chart and freshmen could play prominent roles.

ECC Division II

Montville

Coach: Mike Murphy (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. D Nick Tibbetts, Sr. M Sam Kury, Sr. M Joey Andrews, Sr. LSM Noah Caskey.

Top newcomers: So. G Tim Leitzinger, Fr. G Steve Turchetta.

Outlook: Murphy takes over the Indians after a successful run at Old Lyme. They have experience in the offensive midfield with the return of Kury, Andrews and Caskey, while Tibbetts anchors the defense. Kury was a Class S second team all-state pick as a junior and Montville's top faceoff man. Murphy said the keys to being able to improve upon last year's 6-10 record (4-8 in Division II) will be developing better play in goal and midfield defense, as well as building a more consistent offensive output.

St. Bernard/Wheeler

Coach: Kyle Legnos (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. A Pat Brady, Sr. M/A Jack O'Leary, Sr. M Kevin Velez, Jr. D Emmett Brady, Jr. D Josh Terry, Jr. A Roland Long, Jr. D Burke Niles, So. M Scott Pion, So. M Billy Niles, So. M Jeremey Foular, So. A Aaron Clark, So. A Zach Weimert.

Top newcomers: Jr. M Zack Spiers, Sr. G Danny Schroeder.

Outlook: Prospects are bright for this cooperative program, which is coming off a winning season (10-7, 5-3 in the division) and returns a veteran cast, including all three starting attackman: Pat Brady, O'Leary and Long. Brady has already surprassed 100 career goals and will attend Division III Wheaton College next season. Emmett Brady, Burke Niles and Terry will anchor the defense, Schroeder takes over in goal and Legnos is excited about two talented new midfielders in Billy Niles and Pion.

Stonington

Coach: Nick Warhola (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. D Jeff DeLapp, Sr. M Jake Mueller, Sr. M Max Mueller, Jr. A Aaron Lahah.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Ben Huynh, Fr. M Aidan Davies, Fr. D Matt Tipple.

Outlook: Warhola takes over a program that had another successful season, finishing 12-7 in 2017 with a trip to the Class S state quarterfinals, where the Bears lost to rival Waterford 8-6. Stonington must replace three ECC all-stars, but Warhola is encouraged with a new wave of talent, adding the Bears "are primed to achieve great things in the 2018 season."

Waterford

Coach: Chris Landry (11th year)

Key returnees: Sr. M Logan Bowdish, Sr. A Michael LaForte, Sr. D Kevin Close, Sr. M Luther Wade, Jr. A Ryan Huta.

Top newcomers: Jr. A Caleb Holdridge, So. M Mason LaForte, So. M Kyle Jacobsen, Jr. D Joe Lillis, Jr. D Alex Fayan, Jr. D Dylan Eckhart, Sr. D Mac Czyzewski, Sr. D Ian McNeil, Sr. D Keegan Donahue, So. M James Hodge, So. M Harrison Searle, Fr. G Cooper Alloway, Fr. M Zander Stringer, Jr. A Peter Lincoln, Jr. A Jackson Alloway, So. M/A Zach Fayan, So. M/A Jason Blain, Jr. M Dawson Cullen.

Outlook: The Lancers are coming off a memorable 2017 season that included a 10-0 division record and trips to the ECC and Class S state tournament championship games en route to a 19-3 season. Landry must revamp his defense, but there is still plenty of offensive punch returning led by Bowdish, Michael LaForte and Huta up front.

Others

Norwich Tech/Windham Tech

Coach: Mark Farnsworth (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. G Mauro Gogolinski, Jr. M Cole Paquin, Sr. A/M Desmond Dempsey, Sr. M Evan Socha, Jr. A/M James Balogh, Sr. D/M Jordan Balogh, Sr. M Alex Ryan, Sr. D Brandon Biron, Sr. A Jared Grover.

Top newcomers: So. M Jackson Switz, So. D Michael McGuire, So. D Joshua Joseph, So. A Jack Bonetti.

Outlook: The cooperative program is coming off a winning season (7-5) and enters 2018 with a new coach and a new league affiliation (Connecticut Technical Conference). Farnsworth, who previously coached at Ledyard, will lean on veterans Gogolinski in goal and Paquin as the top faceoff middie as the Warriors work to blend together a good mixture of experience and youth.

Old Lyme

Coach: J.C. Flaherty (2nd year)

Key returnees: Jr. G James Rollins, Jr. D Henry Lahm, Sr. D John Visgilio, Sr. A Brendan Cowee, Jr. M Mike Kolesnik, So. A Jonathan Nichele.

Top newcomers: Fr. A Owen Macadam, So. M Brian Funk, So. M Ben Kelly.

Outlook: A young Old Lyme team went through some growing pains during Flaherty's coaching debut, finishing 6-10 and just missing out on a state tournament bid. The Wildcats are still young, but have plenty of experience all over the field and have shown promise during the preseason. Flaherty believes Old Lyme can compete for a Shoreline Conference title and return to the Class S tournament.

Williams

Coach: Mark Fader (2nd year)

Key returnees: So. M Harry Anselmi, Sr. M Nick Chirillo, So. M James Knowlton, So. M Eli Bunnell, So. M Sebastian Marshall, Sr. D Eric Sale, Fr. D J.D. Delaurentis, Sr. LSM Will Jarrett, Jr. G Nash Mendlinger.

Top newcomers: Fr. D Grayson Guinan, Fr. G Jack Yost, Fr. M Jack Connelly, Fr. M Phil Kaftan, Fr. D Ozzie Alam, Fr. M Alex Shirvani, 8th A Sterling Frost.

Outlook: Seniors Sale and Jarrett lead a young team that gained some valuable experience during Fader's first season as head coach. The Blues hope to build off that experience as Fader mixes in some younger talent and continues to stress fundamentals and a strong work ethic.