As Connecticut HS Lacrosse is is slowly moving through their State Champion Bracket, this is a repost of a great post from DuckLax back in January within the Connecticut 2019 Thread.
19 for ’19 – An attempt at a list of CT HS Class of 2019 Offensive Players to Watch
To help cure the winter blues, below are some brief thoughts, highlight reels, and 2018 stats (when available) of some of the CT HS offensive players coming back to Class L and M for their Senior season in 2019. The list tries to highlight those expected to put up some big #s this coming spring, with some thought about their respective teams’ prospects for 2019. I apologize ahead for those I missed. Listed below in order of 2018 point totals (if available, with top stats in each category shown in red):
Tucker Garrity M-(Newtown/Jacksonville) 129 Pts (69G/60A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox1vTuim6mQ
Based on available stats, Garrity appears to be the leading CT point leader among returning players. 129 Pts are MONSTER numbers, especially from a kid who is not a household name south of I-84 (ok, I know Newtown is technically south of I-84, but you get my point). Regardless of his exposure, SERIOUS props for numbers like that. Yes, Newtown doesn’t play a full FCIAC-caliber schedule, but those stats include games against legit teams like NF, Gbury, Mamaroneck, etc. Newtown came close to making some noise in 2018 (OT loss to G’bury in the Class L qtr finals), so who knows for ’19?
John Delucia -A (Guilford/Quinnipiac) 104 Pts (60G/44A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a-ZW-1NFRY
One of only two on this list of returning Seniors with a 100 pt season in 2018, DeLucia has impressively put up big #s for 3 straight years for Guilford; unfortunately he loses his partner in crime with Ring’s departure for prep hockey this year. Too bad, as much of the Indian’s offense was generated from DeLucia/Ring 2-man games, which was fun to watch. We will see if he can continue with these flashy #s with less support around him, and try to make Guilford relevant again in both the SEC and Class M.
Tom Swank – A (Daniel Hand/Tufts) 95 Pts (71G/24A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWnWh32uYWo
With stats that appear to make him the 2018 CT leading goal scorer among the class of 2019, and a cannon of a shot, Swank carried the Hand offense last year to the brink of a Class M state championship (insert obligatory illegal stick penalty reference here) for the third straight year, including netting 4G in their loss to NF. But patience for Hand’s annual bridesmaid role may be growing a bit thin up at the Surf Club. With a core of seniors that have three years experience of making the final Class M weekend, including stud Fitzmaurice in goal, is this the year that the Tigers finally break through?
Mason Reale -A (Fairfield Prep/Villanova) – 95 pts (60G/35A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6jgBvR1fWg
Reale was the first big-name CT recruit for the 2019 class, and when paired with linemate Grandolfo, they represent one of the better attack duos the state has seen not wearing a D on their helmet since G’bury’s Hawkins/Jacoby a few years ago. Turn your back and the shifty Reale has the ball in the back of the net. Add two returning studs at mid in Walton and Boyle (both UVM) and a strong stopper………does that add up to a deeper run towards an L title for prep? Or is the real question can Neimi work his magic to turn a bunch of stars into a cohesive team that contends for the Class L title?
John Morgan – A (New Fairfield/Sacred Heart) – 95 Pts (40G/55A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBJXI0vtjT4
It aint easy being a coach’s son. Even harder when you are part of a class of NF seniors that has been raved about since their CONNY days……..but everyone loves a feeder, and dropping 55As makes you LOTS of friends. Tenaglia and their pole may get more press, but someones gotta dish the rock. And Morgan does that.
Brett Tenaglia – A (New Fairfield/Furman) 94 PTs (55G/39A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N5pB4oH5jo
I think Tenaglia may have missed a portion of last season and still put up impressive #s. No one causes more havoc than a lefty attackman, and Tenaglia is a tough match up for everyone they play. After losing some fire power at mid to graduation, will more of Marty’s offense have to run through the A. Most have already anointed NF 2019 Class M champs……will be interesting to see if they can live up to the hype….they did last year.
Ethan Grandolfo – A (Fairfield Prep/Air Force) 83 Pts (53G/30A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7I8D9Br0FY
Reale seems to get all the press, but Grandolfo is the Prep attackman that makes many opposing coaches lose sleep. Maybe the best dodger in the state? He’s another nasty lefty, and his throttle is always WFO. Hard nosed kid who is fun to watch.
Justin Hazard – A (Glastonbury/Wesleyan) – 81 Pts (33G/48A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHu5reF1OuQ
He’s not flashy but at the end of the game he’s always got #s in the box score. A smart feeder, Hazard will spread the ball around to a strong group of returning finishers. G’bury is always hanging around come June, and this year they’ve got guys who have had time to gel for several years. Is this the year the north makes a statement?
Ryan Werner – M (Weston/Trinity) – 80 Pts (54G/26A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QToeXOLUDls
Physical attackman put up nice numbers as a junior. With some additional good young talent at both A and D, Weston seems to be headed the right direction within the SWC and Class M. Do they have what it takes to hang with NF and Hand to challenge for a championship?
Wes Carpenter – M (Ridgefield/Tufts) – 77 Pts (47G/30A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd_wnDq0zTE
The big lefty was a major driver of Ridgefield’s offense last year, including leading the team with 4 goals when they shocked the world with their upset of Darien in the Class L championship game. Ridgefield is a well rounded team that I would expect will use last season’s momentum to continue to elevate their game, even in a post- Gatto world, although its gonna be tough to live up to last year’s standard.
Liam Ford – M – (New Fairfield/York) 70 Pts (44G/26A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q6C3Ssf_eo
Another one of the famous NF class of 2019, Ford put up big #s last season for Marty, including 4G in their Class M championship win. Lanky middie isn’t afraid of contact and creates havoc in NF’s transition game.
Zach Hochman – M (ND WH / UMass) – 68 Pts (59G/9A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxcUxR-og-0
Hochman set a single season goal record for NDWH last year with 59G, leading them to the semis of Class M where they got manhandled by NF. A throwback to the days when middies scored, played defense, and faced off, will Hochman be able help NDWH to take the mantle from Xavier as the “best private school team in the SCC not located in Fairfield”?
Hudson Pokorny – A (Darien/W&L) – 64 Pts (41G/23A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pWvC-gM4Y0
Good numbers last year from a Jr on a Sr-laden team, including 3G/1A in the Class L finals. Tall, athletic attackman….can he take it to the next level to be the headliner for what is always an impressive Blue Wave front line? Losing Mincus and McGovern to graduation will change the dynamics significantly this season (no more getting the #3 pole), but in classic Darien fashion they reload with Matheis v2.0, and classmate Henri Pfiefle (Drexel) which may make it hard to just focus on Pokorny. Talk is that 2019 will be a rebuilding year for the Wave…but anyone want to bet me Coach B won’t be on the sidelines at McMahon in June?
Dean DiNanno – M (Wilton/Holy Cross) – 63 pts (38G/25A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkoRzvrWt4
The slippery lefty put up numbers last year that reportedly rivaled those of his much heralded “#2 ranked 2019” classmate who is now off to greener prep pastures. Combined with two of the best defenseman and in the state and a stud goalie, is Wilton (who fell one goal short to the Wave in the L Quarters last year) able to take it to the next level under the radar in a year without the distraction/noise around their departed superstar?
Quintin O’Connor – M (New Canaan/UNC) – No 2018 stats found
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x24V5l_1k6I
I can’t find his 2018 stats, but the short version is this: You know a kid is legit stud when he isn’t referred to by his last name, or even his first name; but just one letter……..Q backpacked NC through much of last season, a year when expectations for the team were low…and ended up one goal away from the championship game with losses to Darien in both FCIAC and Class L semis. He’s big, fast, strong, and seemingly shoots the ball better with his “off” hand than his strong right. Most of the rest of NC’s offense is back again this year with another yr of experience (including linemate Matt Cosco (NC/Furman) who might be on this list if his stats or a highlight reel could be found), so it will be even harder for teams to game plan shutting Q off. Can he one-up his big bro and finally break the D curse and bring a FCIAC/State champ to the Farm Rd faithful?
Jack Feda – A (Greenwich/Bucknell) – No 2018 stats found
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz4Q-3IhSds
Another guy (see Delucia and Tenaglia) who has been putting up big #s since freshman year. Had a lot of help last season from frosh phenom Leo Johnson, who is now off to play semi-pro ball at Salisbury. Feda is a true finisher, in the Canadian sense of the word. Not certain, but would expect there is a good chance Feda may be on track for a 200-goal career for the Cardinals. Is this the year Bobby’s boys create some waves on the back of Feda, or is the prep school vacuum too much for the Cards to overcome?
Nick Consoli – A/M (Glastonbury) – No 2018 stats found
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont … 6_Jp-nW9G8
Another major impact player returning for G’bury. They were one goal away from beating Ridgefield in the L semis – will be interesting to see what their stacked senior class can do this year.
Torben Wunderle – A (Simsbury/Hamilton) – No 2018 stats found
https://wwkw.hudl.com/video/3/7386645/5 … 0d5cd16e18
Another guy who has been a major contributor for several season. A hoss of an attackman who will try to bring Simsbury back to their past glory (beating both Wilton and Prep to make the L finals in 2016) after a disappointing 2018 season, which ended in an early out of Class L tourney at the hands of Cheshire.
Tyler Starrett -A (Barlow) – No 2018 stats found
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjXGb8qbjsAm
Has a big gun from the outside, and has been an offensive force for Barlow going all the way back to his freshman year. Can he carry Barlow to challenge NF’s reign in SWC and Class M this year?
So again, apologies to all the deserving players I missed…this list is not intended to be all inclusive. I know there are guys who put up big numbers, including some in the smaller conferences/tiers that probably deserve to be listed here. I tried to spread it around the best i could, with a focus on guys who’s teams may still be playing come june. No offense intended to those I missed. Others can feel free to add posts with those I missed.
