PRESEASON BOYS LACROSSE POLL
TEAM REC PTS LAST CLASS 1. Darien (15) 17-5 150 1 L 2019 final result: Beat Wilton 13-3 in Class L final. Bottom Line: When in doubt, start with the Blue Wave. They won’t open until Tuesday at McMahon, but they will face four top-10 teams in the 10 days after that.
2. Ridgefield 16-4 122 T6 L 2019 final result: Lost to Staples 8-6 in Class L quarterfinals.
Bottom Line: Lots of high-end talent, though some of it is young. The Tigers will open Tuesday at defending Class S champion St. Joseph.
3. New Canaan 15-6 121 T4 L 2019 final result: Lost to Wilton 14-11 in Class L quarterfinals.
Bottom Line: The Rams got one more second-place vote than Ridgefield, but other votes left them one point short. In hours, no one will care. The Rams visit Staples on Saturday at 3 p.m.
4. Fairfield Prep 17-4 97 T4 L 2019 final result: Lost to Wilton 7-6 in Class L semifinals. Bottom Line: Young in some spots, the Jesuits will face a couple of conference rivals to start their season, beginning at home Saturday against Guilford. The FCIAC follows.
5. Wilton 14-10 88 3 L 2019 final result: Lost to Darien 13-3 in Class L final. Bottom Line: While other top teams have highly regarded seniors, the names that come up most with Wilton are juniors. Who were freshmen the last time they played. Feels weird to say.
6. Staples 14-6 78 T6 L 2019 final result: Lost to Darien 9-6 in Class L semifinals. Bottom Line: The Wreckers’ defense had stepped up in the final weeks of 2019. It’s almost two years later, and the defense may be the headliner again in Westport. It’ll get a test to start with New Canaan.
7. New Fairfield 22-1 48 2 S 2019 final result: Beat Weston 18-2 in Class M final. Bottom Line: The Rebels open Saturday against Stratford riding a 40-game in-state winning streak. Against everyone, they’ve won 44 of 45.
8. Glastonbury 14-4 40 8 L 2019 final result: Lost to Wilton 11-8 in Class L first round. Bottom Line: As usual, Glastonbury has a solid out-ofconference schedule, starting at Wilton on Saturday. Three of its first five are against top-10 teams, and the fourth is against perennial Class S contender Somers.
9. Greenwich 9-9 26 NR L 2019 final result: Lost to Fairfield Prep 16-3 in Class L first round.
Bottom Line: The Cardinals drew some preseason respect despite, perhaps, not having some of the area’s bigger names. But they’re in quarantine as the season begins and now are set to start April 22 at Staples.
10. Cheshire 6-10 15 NR L 2019 final result: Did not qualify for Class L tournament. Bottom Line: The Rams “have a lot of guys who can play,” one conference-rival coach said. Assistant Mike Devine replaced coaching legend Rich Pulisciano, who retired in 2019. They’ll start with Southington on Saturday.
Dropped out: Weston (9), St. Joseph (10). First-place votes in parentheses and points tabulated on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
Others receiving votes: Hand (12-8) 12; Weston (19-4) 11; St. Joseph (14-5) 9; Newtown (14-7) 4; Guilford (16-5) 3; Simsbury (13-5) 1.
The following voted: Brian Adkins, Foran coach and Connecticut secondary schools assistant liaison to U.S. Lacrosse; George Baldassare, CHSLCA Executive Secretary Emeritus; Sean Patrick Bowley, GameTimeCT; Jeff Brameier, Darien coach; Scott Bulkley, Newtown coach; Chris Dehnel, Patch Media Corp.; Michael Fornabaio, Connecticut Post; Ned Griffen, The Day; Scott Hinchey, Glastonbury coach; Greg Lederer, Cheshire Herald; John Mathews, Greens Farms Academy coach; Ken McCarthy, Somers coach; Dan Nowak, New Haven Register; Dave Ruden, The Ruden Report; Bob Russell, Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Special Counsel and Hand assistant coach.
Poll compiled by: Michael Fornabaio.