Veteran LAX Team Seeks Championship Level

April 6, 2010 by Greg Lederer

Cheshire High School senior captains Todd Heritage, Nick Carisio, and Nate Gaudio share a common legacy inside the lacrosse program. Their older brothers each earned All-American, contributing heavily to the school's lone Division I Championship in 2002. Brad Heritage (Dartmouth College-Hanover, New Hampshire) and Mike Gaudio (Princeton University-New Jersey) were mid-fielders, while Hank Carisio was a physical defenseman and played collegiate ice hockey.
“It's a big thing to look back on,” said Heritage, who has committed to Bucknell University (Lewisburg, Pa.). “We are trying to put everything into our work and get to the same point they did,” said Heritage.
“I feel they've put their time in,” added Cheshire Head Coach Rich Pulisciano. “They've been around since their brothers played. They came up through my youth program. Those guys know the program very well and what the coaching staff expects from them.”
The class of 2010 has accumulated many accolades in high school, only championships have eluded them. Fairfield Prep has been the common obstacle. The Rams have lost to the Jesuits in the last two Southern Connecticut Conference Finals and were then eliminated by them again through the Class L first round. Fairfield is the four-time defending Class L Champions and first school to win straight SCC titles.
“It's definitely a big motivator. I'm 0-8 in my three years against Prep,” reflected Heritage. “They are top competition and we circle that date on the calendar every year.”
Cheshire has all the ingredients for a title run. Letter winners return at every level. Just two starters graduated from the lineup that started the first round (12-7) loss to visiting Fairfield. Twenty-two seniors have shown potential since winning Connecticut-New York (CONNY) titles in the youth program. The Rams compiled a 14-6 record last spring
“It's a good feeling knowing there is a lot of experience and leadership in that group,” stated Pulisciano.
To see their familiarity, look no further than the senior group on attack. Heritage (66 goals, 58 assists), Carisio (60 goals, 18 assists), and Mike Devine (37 goals, 16 assists) were the top scorers last season. Michael Jordan added 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists), earning Most Improved-Offensive Player.
“If you don't learn to play together, you won't be successful,” added Pulisciano. “They know where each other is going to be and their moves.”
Heritage, a four-year starter, has been an offensive initiator from day one. With 124 points last year, he surpassed his brother's single-season record (121) at CHS. His 274 career points (146 goals, 128 assists) is fourth behind 1990 graduate Ricky Bontatibus and Heritage needs 50 goals to break Brad's goal record of 195. He produced career-best numbers last season and rewarded with All-American/All-State/All-Southern Connecticut Conference honors. Heritage was the lone junior selected All-American in the state.
“I think it's a great fit for him academically and athletically,” said Pulisciano, who enjoys the unselfish attitude Heritage takes to the field. “It's very important. He doesn't look at himself, but the team. It's the same thing with Nick Carisio. He has put a lot of numbers, too.”
Carisio is moving up the scoring list, despite coming off the bench in his freshman season. He joined Devine on the 2009 All-SCC second team. While growing up with his classmates, Devine spent his first two years at Avon Old Farms School. His addition last year made it even tougher for defenses to key on one person. Devine plans to play at Eastern Connecticut State University.
“Nick is big and strong. He has a very good left-hand shot. He can dodge the cage and take that hard shot,” explained Pulisciano. “In a game, if you have only person, you can be shut down. If you don't have it (teamwork), you don't score.”
The mid-field returns even deeper than attack and will play a vital role in keeping the offense balanced. Seniors Brian Havlicek (seven goals, four assists), Colby Olin (11 goals, five assists), Nick Guarino (seven goals, 16 assists), Chris Barney (two assists), and Jake Reid (assist) saw their most varsity time in 2009. Cheshire welcomes junior transfer Zach Poulin and senior Shane Russo, who missed last year with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
“In the past, some people through our middies weren't very strong,” said Pulisciano. “People are going to jump on our attack, so we need that experience. I like what we have.”
Numbers will help off-set the graduation of Tyler Arpin and captain Dan Reynolds. Arpin contributed at face-offs, but Barney returns with experience and has looked strong in practice.
“Chris Barney has done a lot of things in the off-season to establish himself at face-off. I think he will be a force to be reckoned with at the mid-field line,” added Pulisciano.
Olin is working back into the team, following a tough end to his hockey season. He suffered a concussion in the final minutes of the Division II quarterfinals against Branford.
“I held him out for the first four scrimmages,” Pulisciano said. “He has been cleared to play, but it was my decision to hold him out another week. You don't play games with head injuries. I know what he can do.”
According to Pulisciano, he has never returned more players on defense. Senior mid-fielder Matt Sansone and junior Torrey Martone were All-SCC first team last year. Junior Evan Gaudio helps protect his older brother. Seniors Joe Klemenz, Connor Hepler, Dan Sweeney (two goals), and Jordan Celestino also share chemistry. Klemenz joined Heritage, Nate Gaudio, and Devine as 'Super Junior' selections.
“It's good. We had a good defensive campaign last year and hopefully, that experience helps us again,” reflected Nate Gaudio.
Cheshire graduated leaders in captain Nolan Farrell and Kevin Dykty. Sophomore Dylan Baumgardner stepped up last year, when injuries struck the defense. Martone has started since freshman year and verbally committed to the University of Massachusetts (Amherst).
“Whenever you return that many players, it makes you faster,” said Pulisciano. “Torrey is one of the best defensive players we've had in awhile. He is strong and will help us down low.”
Senior goalkeeping is another luxury for the Rams. Nate Gaudio (All-SCC first team; 255 saves) and Colin Nesdale (37 saves) both played last year.
“You have great goalies you can go far,” explained Pulisciano. “They will both see considerable time. I will sit down with Lee Bailey, our defensive coordinator, and make that decision. Nate is going to Middlebury College (Vermont) and Colin will go to a prep school.”
After gaining All-SCC second team as a sophomore mid-fielder, Nate Gaudio had his opportunity to start between the pipes. Nate and Evan are among four brothers to play for Pulisciano.
“Nate has been around for a long time,” said Pulisciano. “You can put him anywhere and he will be successful. Nate is that type of kid. He knows the game so well.”
The Rams have never missed the state tournament under Pulisciano. In order to prepare them for the top competition they will face, he has scheduled three games out of state. Cheshire will visit Lynbrook (New York) on April 17, while hosting Massachusetts powerhouses Minnechaug (April 20) and Longmeadow (May 12) at Wesleyan University.
“Definitely, that is one of the things we are excited for,” added Nate Gaudio. “You get that competition out of state and put Cheshire on the map as a big lacrosse school is something we want to do.”
The Rams will also face Glastonbury (April 10), Simsbury (April 28), Conard (May 8), Weston (May 15), and New Canaan (May 20) outside the SCC. On May 18, Cheshire travels north to play Fairfield Prep. Cheshire is seeking their first SCC crown since 2003.
“It is competition and our kids are chomping at the bit to play them,” stated Pulisciano.
However, Pulisciano wants to take it one game at a time. With experience back, he has talked to the team about high expectations. Cheshire hosts Southington on Thursday Night, at 5 p.m.
“Our coaching philosophy was hard work with the kids from the start,” explained Pulisciano. “We haven't done anything yet. Not the fact that we don't have a lot of kids back, but we want to get after it at practice. A lot of people say in the state that Cheshire is going to be good. I say I'll them in June.”