Todd Heritage

June 19, 2010 by Greg Lederer

Heritage Ends CHS Career With Sweep Of Jesuits

Cheshire High School senior attack Todd Heritage has been around the boys' lacrosse program for a long time. Eight years ago, he watched his brother Brad end his career as a two-time All-American, senior captain, and Division I Champion.
Heritage repeated those same feats last weekend. On June 12 at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, the Rams beat Fairfield Prep 9-8 to capture the elusive the Class L title. Cheshire (second seed; 21-2 record) finished with seven straight wins, receiving the top ranking in Connecticut.
Heritage, along with fellow captains Nick Carisio and Nate Gaudio, share a close bond among 22 seniors. Brothers Hank Carisio and Michael Gaudio joined Brad Heritage on the 2002 team that outlasted Glastonbury, 11-10.
“It's something we've been looking for since our brothers won it,” reflected Heritage.
Cheshire Head Coach Rich Pulisciano compares Heritage to having another coach on the field. He assisted on two of three goals from classmate Michael Jordan against Fairfield. Carisio also added a hat trick.
“We are all friends,” explained Heritage, who shattered the CHS single-season point record (140; 55 goals, 85 assists). “We know where each other are going to be.”
The Rams led 5-3 at halftime and scored four more times consecutively to extend that advantage in the third quarter. The eighth goal highlighted the surge. Gaudio, who made 14 saves in goal, sent a length-of-the-field pass to Heritage. He caught the ball in mid-air and since Fairfield goalkeeper Gil Long had come out of the net, Heritage had an open shot.
“It was great,” said Heritage. “We needed that because they were going to come back on us.”
The Jesuits did tally a 4-0 run of their own, cutting the lead to 9-8 with 25.4 seconds left. Senior Chris Barney won the face-off and the final seconds ticked down to zero. The victory was redemption, after Cheshire lost three games to Fairfield in each of the last two seasons. Cheshire returned the favor by winning the Class L crown, along with the Southern Connecticut Conference regular season and tournament titles.
“We've come up short against them in the last couple years,” added Heritage. “Beating them here means a lot.”
Heritage was named Connecticut Player of the Year, along with receiving All-American/All-State/All-SCC first team for the second straight season.