Coming into the 2018 season, the Guilford boys’ lacrosse team returned a good number of players who’ve seen their share of success on offense. As the Indians enter the home stretch of the campaign, they feel equally impressed with the growth of their defensive unit on the other end of the field.

In 2017, Head Coach Brian White’s squad just missed qualifying for the SCC Tournament, but made the Class M State Tournament and earned an opening-round victory, before taking a defeat to finish with a record of 9-9. Guilford entered last week needing one win to make states this spring and, after losing to Hand and Fairfield Prep early in the week, the Indians sealed their spot by posting a 9-4 victory at Barlow on May 5.

Coach White said that Guilford has scored plenty of goals in its victories this season, but he added that the Indians’ defense is also starting to find its footing.

“We have a really interesting group this year,” said White, whose team is 7-5. “We are experienced offensively with some talented kids. We are beginning to gain some traction on defense. Our defense is a younger group, but it is doing well and developing. The defense has had some bright spots and also letdowns, but it is improving.”

The Indians feature two senior captains who have switched their positions on the turf, along with the team’s first junior captain during White’s tenure as coach. Sean Russell has moved to the midfield after playing on attack in 2017, while fellow senior captain Sam Jankura did just the opposite by moving from the midfield to the attack. Junior attacker John DeLucia, who has committed to play lacrosse at Division I Quinnipiac University, rounds out Guilford’s trio of captains.

“We ask Sean to do a lot of things, but he is versatile and coachable. He will do whatever the team needs, and you look for that in a captain,” Coach White said. “Sam and Sean swapped positions, and they are two kids who lead by example, and their experience speaks for itself. John is an offensive threat and has a bright future ahead of him.”

Guilford is receiving additional sparks from junior midfielder Jack Ring, sophomore attacker Jack Dacey, who leads the team in goals scored; along with a pair of defensive standouts at the midfielder’s position in senior Christion Swan and junior Miles Gabriel. Junior Casey Kesselring and sophomore Devin Ahlefeld have both been playing goal for the Indians.

“Jack Ring is a do-it-all kid. He does faceoffs, plays on man-up, and offensive midfield. We lean a lot on him. He is able to create things and has a lot of experience as a two-year starter,” said White. “Jack Dacey is shooting the ball well, and Miles does a great job up top and shuts down opposing midfielders. Christion is a great athlete and does a great job up top, as well.”

Ahlefeld made eight saves in net when Guilford took an 11-5 home loss to conference rival Hand on April 30. DeLucia had two goals with an assist; Dacey, Jankura, and senior midfielder Sean Fitzgerald each had a goal, and Russell contributed two assists.

Two days later, the Indians dropped a 19-5 decision to Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University in another SCC showdown.

Then on May 5, Guilford notched a 9-4 win at non-conference opponent Barlow to punch its ticket to the State Tournament.

Guilford still has some work to do if it wants to get back into the SCC Tournament this season. With a team that features several veterans who’ve played in big games, Coach White wants the Indians to look no further than the next game on their schedule.

“Our goals are always the same, and we want to get back to the postseason in some capacity. We just missed SCCs last year. We have a lot ahead of us, but we will do our best versus tough opponents, which will be big measuring sticks for us,” White said. “We always push ourselves, and we just have to take it one game at a time.”

From the Sidelines

This is Brian White’s 14th campaign as head coach of the Guilford boys’ lacrosse team.

Scott Davidson, Jeff Sullivan, and Tom Woods are serving as the Indians’ assistant coaches this year.

The Indians are playing Amity, Cheshire, Xavier, and New Fairfield in their last four games of the regular season.