25 CIAC GIRLS LACROSSE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Emma Abbazia, Greenwich, Jr., MF: Abbazia had a stellar sophomore campaign and returns as one of the Cardinals’ most versatile players in a stacked FCIAC field.
Kat Baseggio, Guiford, Sr., D: Baseggio has been one of the SCC’s top defenders the past two seasons and will be key in the Grizzlies’ hunt for a state three-peat. Committed to play at Delaware.
Kaci Benoit, Darien, Sr., D: The shutdown defender collected 20 caused turnovers and 25 ground balls while earning All-American honors last spring. Now a team captain, Benoit has committed to play at Syracuse.
Elena Bonatabius, Simsbury, Sr., A: Bonatabius was all over the stat sheet for Simsbury last year, racking up 41 goals, seven assists, 36 ground balls, 32 draw controls and 17 caused turnovers. The Trojans are again a top CCC contender. Keana Criscuolo, North Branford, Jr., MF: The All-State middie racked up 73 goals and 13 assists for a North Branford team which finished as the Shoreline runner-up last year.
Bella Crowley, Ridgefield, Sr., G: The Bucknell commit gives the Tigers one of the top returning goalies after the graduation of several top netminders. She was an All-State selection during a solid junior season.
Isabel DiNanno, Wilton, Jr., MF: The three-sport standout and Michigan commit returns for her third season with the Warriors. DiNanno will anchor the midfield for a team which ranked No. 3 in the state last year.
Ryan Hapgood, Darien, Sr., MF: An impact player in field hockey and lacrosse since her freshman season, Hapgood will again be a key cog in the Blue Wave machine. The All-American will continue her lacrosse career at Dartmouth. Summer Harrell, Newtown, Jr., MF: The returning All-Stater will be a key for the Nighthawks as they look to contend for the SWC title. Harrell is a UPenn commit Ava Harris, Cheshire, Sr., A: One of the SCC’s top offensive weapons, Harris is a returning All-State Class L player. She’ll take her talents to Bucknell next year. Chloe Humphrey, Darien, Sr., A: Inside Lacrosse’s No. 1 recruit in the nation for the Class of 2023 is now a captain on the country’s No. 1 team in the Nike/USA Lacrosse rankings. An All-American who had 74 goals and 26 assists last season, Humphrey will again be one of the state’s top offensive weapons before heading to defending NCAA champion North Carolina next year.
Gabby Laurentani, Ridgefield, Soph., MF: Laurentani had a spectacular first season with the Tigers. On the field, she had 65 goals and 18 assists for 83 points and led Ridgefield with 98 draw controls. Off the field, she is an ambassador for Morgan’s Message, which “strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health” among student-athletes. Dylan Lyons, Amity, Sr., MF: Lyons is entering her third season with Amity after surpassing the career 100-goal mark in May of last year. Her season included a four-goal burst in a dramatic 11-10 win over perennial SCC contender Cheshire. Ava Matikowski, Cheshire, Sr., MF: Cheshire’s roster doesn’t have many seniors, so veterans such as Matikowski and Ava Harris will lead the way. Matikowski, who has committed to Elon University, will help anchor the midfield as the Rams look to return to the SCC final. Stella Nolan, New Canaan, Sr., MF: The Rams’ top returning scorer, Nolan played a major part in New Canaan’s FCIAC and Class L titles in 2022, and led with four goals in the state final. The senior, a Michigan commit, will be one of the players picking up the offense after some key graduations.
Avery Olschefskie, Glastonbury, Jr., MF:
The junior middie was a second team All-State selection as a sophomore and will play a key role for the perennial CCC and state contender again.
Ceci Patterson, New Canaan, Soph., G: The graduation of Claire Mahoney, now
starting at Brown, left some big shoes to fill, but Patterson appears up to the task for the defending state champs. She saw some time in the net as a freshman and has looked solid during the preseason as the new starter.
Emerson Pattillo, Wilton, Sr., A: Pattillo is part of a fearsome attack for the Warriors, who reached the FCIAC and Class L semis last spring. Her college destination is Michigan.
Payton Root, Guilford, Jr., A: A scoring force the past two seasons, Root racked up 91 goals, 20 assists and 33 ground balls last spring. She’ll take on an even more important role this season after the graduation of midfielder Maddie Epke. Devon Russell, New Canaan, Jr., MF: Russell broke out in the midfield last year and is now one of the key returning players for the Rams. She has committed to play at Boston College.
MJ Santa Barbara, Guilford, Sr., MF: The midfielder is a force on attack and on the draw. Last year, the Elon commit collected 58 goals, 16 assists, and 66 draw controls during the Grizzlies’ run to a repeat Class M championship.
Molly Snow, Wilton, Jr., A: The Lehigh commit was a huge factor for a Warriors’ squad which finished as the No. 3 ranked team in the state in 2022. A returning All-American, she should again be among the league’s offensive stars in 2023.
Kaleigh Sommers, Ludlowe, Sr., MF: After leading the Falcons with 68 goals as a sophomore, Sommers missed a large portion of her junior campaign with an injury and will have her lacrosse season impacted by an injury suffered in the FCIAC basketball playoffs. The Stanford commit is electric when on the field. Lexie Tully, New Canaan, Jr., MF: Tully did something of everything last season, racking up 34 goals and 25 assists, along with 12 caused turnovers and 27 draw controls. That included three goals and three assists in an FCIAC championship win over Darien. She has committed to Cornell.
Grace Winkler, Ridgefield, Soph., MF: Another strong sophomore for the Tigers, Winkler adds to the team’s depth at midfield as it looks to contend again in the FCIAC and Class L.