SWHS girls ready for new lacrosse season

Coach Ed Duclos oversees a recent practice of the South Windsor High School girls’ lacrosse team. Photos by Wally Robinson.

With 18 veteran players returning from last year’s squad, the South Windsor High Schoolgirls’ lacrosse team is likely to be a force to be reckoned with in the Central Connecticut Conference this season.

While the athletes has been working out extensively during the off-season, formal practice for the spring season got underway last week, under the watchful eye of coach Ed Duclos.

“We’re going to miss All-State player Kelsey Daniels, who’s now playing at Western New England College, but we have good leadership in our core group of six seniors,” Duclos said. That group is led by All-Conference and 2nd Team All-State midfielder Rebecca Libutti, and also includes standouts Amy Chalmers, Avery Desrosiers, Meg Eremite, Michelle Gilligan and Tori Mitchell.

“Our strength will be in the midfielders’ play. We’re fast and quick and Rebecca’s there to lead us,” Duclos said.

The Bobcats will be strong in goal, too. “Sophomore Meg Breault is going to be just terrific,” Duclos grinned. “She’s an ice hockey player, she’s fearless, and she’s got a year’s experience under her belt.”

The team will play a 16-game season, with playoffs in the newly-formed CCC North Division to follow. “The team to beat in the CCC North will be Glastonbury. That team is a perennial power,” the coach said.

Duclos has coached the SWHS girls’ lacrosse team since its inception in 1990. “I was helping out with the boys’ program, which also had just started, and I jumped at the chance to put together this program from scratch, even though I never played the game,” he said. “It’s been a very rewarding 21 years.”

For a full schedule of the SWHS girls’ lacrosse team’s upcoming games, visit the website www.casciac.org.

Coach’s Corner-

South Windsor High School Girls’ Lacrosse Coach Ed Duclos

Number of seasons with team: 21

The season ahead: “The keys to success are found in the basics: conditioning, agility, throwing and catching,” Duclos said. “The first two are about hard work and the last two are about practice and experience. With seven freshmen playing last year, we had a hard time moving the ball. That area should be much improved.”          

Complete schedule on www.casciac.org