Following are the 2023 H.S. girls’ lacrosse preview capsules:

ECC DIVISION I

East Lyme

Head coach: Phil Schneider (14th season)

Key returnees: Sr. D Kaitlyn DiLoreto, Sr. A Meg Nagle, Sr. M Abbie Belleville, Sr. A Dani Bruno, Sr. M Alanna Benoit, Sr. D Bella Chambers, Sr. D Jillian Arnold, Sr. G Gigi Franco, Jr. A Lily Poletto, Jr. M Penelope Lawlor.

Top newcomers: Sr. M Izzy Pazzaglia, So. A Gianna DiLoreto, Sr. A Summer Sistare, So. M Jessica Knapp, Jr. M Riddhi Venkatesh.

Outlook: The Vikings return 17 players with varsity experience from a team that won the ECC tournament championship and reached the Class M quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Guilford. Midfield stars Sydney Sager and Meredith Healy were the two biggest graduation losses, but East Lyme returns ECC all-stars Bruno, Belleville and Kaitlyn DiLoreto. Schneider will once again challenge the Vikings with a tough non-conference schedule to prepare them for another deep state tournament run.

Fitch

Head coach: Leah Mucciarone (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. Sophia Clang, So. Karli Batty, Jr. Stella Connell, Jr. Elaina Brookhart.

Top newcomer: Fr. Bethany Lovering.

Outlook: Mucciarone takes over a program that suffered major graduation losses, including The Day’s All-Area Player of the Year Rita Sefransky, so there will be a period of adjustment for the Falcons following last season’s run to the Class M quarterfinals. “We’ll look to our seniors and juniors for leadership as they will also be relying on underclassmen to contribute early in the season,” Mucciarone said.

NFA

Head coach: Taylor Shannon (5th season)

Key returnees: Sr. D Rachel Martin, Sr. A Lauren Friedrich, Sr. M Julia Barry, Jr. M Alice-Ann Rourke, Jr. M Alexandra Tabilas, So. D Leah Burchman, So. M Hayleigh Young, So. A Molly Page.

Top newcomers: So. G Sophia Smith, So. D Hailey Iozzia, Fr. A Maeve Combies.

Outlook: The Wildcats, who qualified for the Class L state tournament last spring, return a pair of ECC all-stars in Rourke and Page and have some experience at almost every position except in goal. “We’re looking to be competitive in the ECC and in the division this season,” Shannon said.

Note: Division I includes Woodstock Academy.

ECC DIVISION II

Bacon Academy

Head coach: T.J. Morelli (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. M Maddox Burton, Sr. A Katie Graham, Sr. M Neely Hart, Sr. M Anna LeGault, Sr. D Kalie Purcell, Sr. D Grace Saldana.

Top newcomers: Sr. G Kayla Hall, Sr. A Marissa Nudd.

Outlook: The Bobcats graduated nine starters, including two all-staters in Skylar Gustavsen and Sarah Newton, from a team that went 11-5 and qualified for the ECC and Class S tournaments. “Expecations are high,” said Morelli. “We’re an experienced and talented team.”

Montville

Head coach: Nicole McComic (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. A-M Lily Tomczik, Sr. A Reagan Buscetto, Sr. D-M Kate Bowman, Sr. D Addie Concascia, Sr. D Madison St John, So. G Katelyn Koning.

Top newcomers: Fr. M-D Anna Bubucis, Fr. M-A Isabella Estelle, Fr. M-A Karissa Hochdorfer, So. D Sabria Wynn, Fr. A Kylie Spreng, Jr. A Paige Terris.

Outlook: Montville graduated a large senior class from last year’s 8-8 team, but they’ve been replaced by an exciting ... and large ... freshman class. It also helps to have some key returning players led by Tomczik, a Class S all-state pick and member of The Day’s All-Area team last season. McComic said the starting lineup will include freshmen and she’s happy to have the leadership of Tomczik, Bowman and Buscetto.

Stonington

Head coach: Jeff Medeiros (22nd season)

Key returnees: So. A Emma Logel, Sr. A Emma Spathakis.

Top newcomers: Fr. M Autumn Christian, So. M Anna Lettiere, Fr. M Lillian Louighlean, Fr. D Gianna Terranova.

Outlook: The Bears went 12-4 a year ago, winning the Division II title, reaching the ECC tournament final and Class S quarterfinals, but must replace a pair of all-state midfielders in Ivy Goodman and Gabriella Dimock. Logel (returning ECC all-star) and Spathakis give Stonington scoring threats up top, but Medeiros believes his strong freshman class will keep the Bears competitive.

Waterford

Head coach: Christine Dulin (5th season)

Key returnees: M Marin Mahoney, M Ella Bousquet, M Amelia Allen, M Payton Smith, M Madison LaForte, M Victoria Sturm.

Top newcomers: G Clara Mahoney, A Adyson Wiseman, A Sadie Tiven.

Outlook: ECC all-star Marin Mahoney is back to lead the Lancers, who qualified for the ECC and Class M tournaments last spring but graduated all-state attack Emily Gates and All-Area goalie Ilyanna Rivera. “We have a strong group of athletes with multiple players who have the flexibility to play anywhere on the field,” Dulin said. “I’m excited to see them play as a team this season.”

Note: Division II includes Killingly.

ECC DIVISION III

Griswold

Co-coaches: Scott Caron, Martin Balchunas

Key returnees: Sr. M Emily Aviles, So. M Sienna Caron, Jr. D Kianna Ego, So. A Alexis Emanuele, Jr. M Keira Fleming, So. A Kaylin Stockwell.

Top newcomers: So. D Ella Brown

Outlook: Caron joins Balchunas to serve as co-coaches this spring and the Wolverines will be young, featuring a number of freshmen and sophomores in the staring lineup. They are working to develop a starting goaltender and the defense, but the coaches are optimistic about Griswold’s future.

Ledyard

Head coach: Tinita Larmann (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. M Jess English, Sr. D Madelyn Poulton, Sr. D Leilani Garcia, Jr. A-M Madisen McLeod, Jr. A-M Helena Robinson, So. G Lorelai England.

Top newcomers: Fr. A-M Tatianna Irizarry, Fr. D Tianna Winkelman, Fr. A Mackenzie Boyer.

Outlook: William Glenn retired after 13 seasons and Larmann, Glenn’s assistant each of those seasons, takes over. The Colonels bring back experience at virtually every position, and Larmann is excited to see how a talented freshmen class fits in. She believes qualifying for the ECC and state tournaments are realistic goals.

New London

Head coach: Chelsea Grillo (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. M Kayla Ferryman, Sr. M Princesse Omotosho, Jr. M Keshvi Patel.

Top newcomers: Fr. D Tatiana Henry, So. D Raelyn Lopez.

Outlook: Grillo returns to lead the program she started and will field a young, inexperienced team this spring. “Even though a lot of our girls are new to the sport, they're athletic, energetic, eager to learn and ready compete,” Grillo said.

St. Bernard

Head coach: Patsy Fowler (5th season)

Key returnees: So. G Catherine Hannaford, Sr. M Chloe Jennings, Sr. M Gwen Howes.

Top newcomer: Sr. D Addie Arvidson.

Outlook: The Saints, who went 3-11 in 2022, must replace a pair of ECC all-star midfielders in Liz Hannaford and Erin Londregan. “We look to continue to improve over this season,” Fowler said. “We have a core group of experienced and hard-working juniors and seniors, with great support from sophomores and freshmen.

Wheeler/Grasso Tech

Head coach: Amy White (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. D Skyler Morgan, Sr. D Payton Osborn, Sr. D Michelle Macina, Sr. A Ava Davino, Jr. D Sophia Sellins, Jr. A Stella Mastroianni, Jr. A Naomi Boord, Jr. D Rose Tardiff, Jr. D-M Ellen Anderson, Jr. M Katelyn Pierce, So. M Sophia Gouveia, So. G Anna Barber, So. A-M Carissa Browne, So. A Grace Cassata, So. A-M Katheryn DelGrosso.

Top newcomers: Sr. Anna Rugeri, Fr. Ava Vangieri, Fr. Muryn Mason.

Outlook: White takes over a cooperative program that qualified for the Class S state tournament, returns 15 players with varsity experience, and should contend for a division title and another postseason bid. “We have experience and skill returning to all parts of the field,” White said, “and I am excited with the potential.”

OTHERS

Old Lyme

Head coach: Emily Macione (10th season)

Key returnees: Jr. M Alexis Antonellis, Jr. M Ella Curtiss Reardon, Jr. M Sydney Goulding, Sr. G Kylie Dishaw, So. M-D Grace Ferman.

Outlook: The Wildcats expect to bounce back from a rare losing season (4-12). Old Lyme has a veteran cast in the midfield, but a big freshman class and solid group of sophomores will play vitals roles. “We hope to make a run at the Shoreline Confernce title and be a presence in the state tournament,” Macione said.