By RUSSELL JONES
Otter Valley boys’ lacrosse coach Jesse Milliman has a large squad of varsity lacrosse players to work with this season, in fact it’s his largest ever in his five years as the OV coach. Milliman attributes this large influx mostly to the town recreation department’s success with the seventh- and eighth-grade programs.
Milliman has 24 players who suited up this spring where he usually only sees around 15 come out. It will be a strong team with quality, veteran leadership. He has eight seniors returning this year, and his goalie, Alec Stevens; two attackers, Hayden Gallo and Tim Kittler; and midfielder Ethan Sulik-Doty were all-state selections last year.
“It certainly helps to have that senior leadership in place,” Milliman said. “But we’ll also have young guys in key roles.”
There are nine freshmen that will be expected to contribute throughout the season and the team should have a really deep bench that will help with the tough schedule they’ll face.
“We’ll need to get the young guys adjusted to the game at this level,” said Milliman. “The intensity and speed is different than what they’re used to.”
The Otters opened play last week with a scrimmage at the Norwich Jamboree. They will need to get adjusted early on because they have a very difficult early schedule and will face three Division I teams in Rutland, Woodstock and Brattleboro. They will also take on perennial powerhouse Hartford as well as Stratton and Green Mountain.
“Our first three games are against Rutland, Hartford and Brattleboro,” Milliman said. “But I’m always telling them, if you want to improve you have to step on the field with the best.”
