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WESTON, Conn. Weston girls lacrosse coach Megan Murphy knew it would be asking a lot for her team to duplicate last years success.
The Trojans went 17-6 and won their first Class S state championship. But several key players graduated from that squad, and injuries have cost the Trojans the skills of several others Murphy was counting on this season. The state championship was an added burden, as teams now come gunning for the Trojans.
But through it all, Weston has rolled to an 11-3 record and looks again as if it will contend for another state title. Even after losing to Newtown and New Milford this week, Weston still is the top-ranked team in Class S. Before its loss Tuesday to Newtown, Weston had won seven straight games.
As much as the injuries have hurt us, its creating depth that is going to help us in the long run, Murphy said. Girls are playing that normally wouldn't play. But theyre getting minutes and getting confidence. Wed love to have the players who are injured back, but its helping us out for the long term.
Weston has come a long way in a short time. The Trojans played in their first state tournament in 2010 but were a combined 7-23 in the 2007-08 seasons. Weston plays in a difficult conference: The South-West Conference includes long-time lacrosse powers such as Newtown, Brookfield and New Fairfield.
Weston is gaining on them, however, under Murphy's leadership. She starred in the sport at Wilton before heading to Gettysburg College, where she was a two-time All-American. She was an assistant coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and also coached in England. Murphy, who now lives in Easton, operates summer camps in Weston and teaches at the Sono Fieldhouse in Norwalk.
Weston will contend for a state title again this year, but the program truly will arrive when it can win a conference title. Murphy is confident it will happen.
I think on a given day, we could do it, she said. You dont know when or what group. But I truly think one of these days, its going to happen.
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