Reloaded and Ready: 2016 New Canaan Boys Lax Preview

It was a season that many of those who either were part of, or witnessed, the 2015 New Canaan Boys Lacrosse team (13-3, 10-1 FCIAC) will not soon forget—a year that culminated in a Class M State Championship. On a team that had 23 seniors, including All-American attackmen Michael Kraus and Justin Meichner; outstanding defensemen in Frank Cognetta, Logan Hart, Sterling O’Hara, Liam Harris, and Chris Keeffe; midfielders Owen Toland and Max Begoon, as well as face-off specialist, Teddy Dumbauld, the 2015 Rams were blessed with some of the finest senior talent in the history of the boys lacrosse program. But while those guys will be missed by their former coaches and teammates, Rams Head Coach Chip Buzzeo has his 2016 roster reloaded and ready to repeat. “It was great to end last year with a state championship,” Buzzeo told NewCanaanite.com. “We’re going to miss those guys.

Champions: New Canaan Boys Lax Claims Class M State Title

Heading into this season, with 23 seniors on his roster, New Canaan head coach Chip Buzzeo knew that that experience would be essential for any game of large magnitude—a game such as the Class M State Championship. And on Saturday at Jack Casagrande Field in Norwalk, behind senior co-captain Justin Meichner’s four straight goals to start off the game and strong defense led by seniors Sterling O’Hara, Chris Keeffe, Liam Harris and co-captain Logan Hart, the New Canaan Rams claimed the Class M State Championship with a 10-5 victory over the Daniel Hand Tigers. “It means a lot to our program,” Buzzeo told NewCanaanite.com. “We have a 41-year history and to win a state championship always means a lot. For this team, it’s a great way to end. You always want to win your last game and I’m very proud of the way they played today.”

Darien Sinks New Canaan Lax 13-7 in FCIAC Semifinal

Only 17 days ago, the New Canaan boys lacrosse team put together one of its best games of the season against arch-rival Darien, culminating in a 9-8, heart-stopping victory for the Rams. The win ended the Blue Wave’s 34-game winning streak dating all the way back to 2013. Tuesday night at Jack Casagrande Field in Norwalk, Darien got its revenge. Behind Colin Minicus’ four goals (three in the first quarter) and goaltender Ryan Cornell’s 11 saves, the No. 3  Blue Wave knocked off No. 2 seed New Canaan 13-7 in the FCIAC semifinals.

Undefeated No More: New Canaan Lax Sinks Darien, Ends Wave’s Winning Streak at 34

It had been two years since Darien lost a game. The last 34 games they played in, they were the victors each and every time. Three of those losses in that streak came at the expense of New Canaan in 2014—an OT loss during the regular season, an OT loss in the FCIAC tournament, and a 10-8 defeat in the CIAC Championship. But on Saturday at a packed Dunning Stadium, the Rams turned the page. With the combination of senior co-captain Michael Kraus’ four goals, stellar goaltending by sophomore Drew Morris and collapsing, shutdown defense, New Canaan (9-2, 6-1 FCIAC) defeated Darien (11-1, 7-1 FCIAC), in a 9-8 thriller.

NewCanaanite.com Athlete of the Week: Justin Meichner

The NewCanaanite.com Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins, Connecticut Sandwich Co., Joe’s Pizza and Mackenzie’s. Congratulations to Justin Meichner, NewCanaanite.com’s Athlete of the Week. The senior co-captain is capping off his New Canaan lacrosse career in style, leading the Rams to a 5-2 overall record that has them right in the mix near the top of the FCIAC. Meichner had a hat trick and two assists in a 14-6 New Canaan win last Tuesday against Ridgewood, NJ. He had perhaps his best game of the season last Thursday against conference rival Wilton, scoring five goals en route to a 14-3 win.