They have a high-scoring offense powered by four future Division I players and a hard-hitting defense.
Ridgefield may be the best boys lacrosse program in Connecticut this season, and first-year coach Roy Colsey hopes the Tigers are just getting started.
Roy Colsey, Ridgefield
Photo By Gretchen McMahon
“The numbers in the youth feeder program are huge,” Colsey said. “A successful varsity program breeds kids who want to be like them. I think I walked into a good situation.”
Colsey, one of the game’s all-time great midfielders who starred at Syracuse University and in the professional ranks, coached the varsity team last year at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, where he teaches. But he decided to move on to Ridgefield, where he lives.
“Our goal is to win the FCIAC championship and the state championship,” he said.
Last year, upon his arrival, he knew right away what team he would have to get past to get there.
“The first thing I do is give (Darien) Coach (Jeff) Brameier credit,” Colsey said. “I love his program. I love his team. They don’t have down years.”
Including last season, when the Blue Wave won their fourth straight state championship. Ridgefield and Darien meet in the regular season on May 15.
“Our motto this year is ‘Unfinished business,’” said University of Virginia-bound attackman Matt White.
White, the No. 6-ranked senior in the nation by Inside Lacrosse Magazine, is one of four Division I offensive stars for the Tigers, along with fellow attackman Colin Scott (Denver) and midfielders Matt Baker (Colgate) and Brendan Walsh (Fairfield).
“The one thing I’m proud of is we’re fun to watch,” Colsey said. “Come see a game the way it’s supposed to be played. The old Syracuse run ‘n’ gun style. The kids come out and with a lot of intensity and play hard.”
Yorktown denies DarienMichael Bonitatibus couldn’t remember the exact final.
“I think it was 17-4 or 17-5,” the Yorktown senior said.
Actually, it was 17-6. I asked the Loyola-bound goaltender if it was the worst game of his four years as Yorktown’s starting goaltender.
“Yeah, probably,” he said at first, before thinking some more. “Yeah, it was.”
Which makes Yorktown’s 9-6 win Saturday all the more special. Bonitatibus made 14 saves and the ‘Huskers won the inaugural Tom Lener Memorial Cup.
“This was the first time I ever beat Darien on any team I’ve played on,” Bonitatibus said.
With defenders John Fennessy, Brendan Brunelle, Ethan Fox and Brett Cabriele, the ‘Huskers are as good in that department as they’ve been in years.
Darien, meanwhile, has had a tough go of it. The Blue Wave lost their leading returning scorer from last year, Nikki Dysenchuk to a torn ACL.
The Blue Wave have suffered other preseason and in-season injuries. But coach Jeff Brameier, who was looking for his 400th varsity win vs. Yorktown, has never used that as an excuse for losses to Manhasset, Malverne Prep and Yorktown that dropped Darien’s record to an uncharacteristic 4-3. In fact, about 20 minutes after the game ended, he sent his team out to the track to do some extra running — showing the high standards that have helped Darien reached the level of success it has.
Manhasset ends Garden City’s mastery of Woodstick ClassicThis time, they wouldn’t be denied. With University of Virginia-bound Connor English, playing for his first-ever win in the most fabled high school lacrosse rivalry in the nation, Manhasset defeated Garden City 8-2 Saturday to win the 118th Woodstick Classic.
The Indians’ win snapped a run of four straight victories in the series for Garden City, which had won 11 of the previous 12 meetings between the teams.
English had four goals to give him 37 in 10 games for the Indians.
"This was easily our best effort of the season," English told LaxLessons.com. "It shows what we can do when we prepare properly in practice and then bring it out on the field. Our defense was great, our middies were great. And we stuck shots when we had opportunities."
