Preview: Westerly girls lacrosse

Assistant coaches: Diane Macera, Jono Seltzer

Last year: Westerly (16-1 overall, 14-0 Division III) won the Division III championship with a 15-7 victory over Narragansett.

Returning to varsity:

Seniors: Allyson Faubert (M, captain), Lily Gorman (D, captain), Makenzie Gabriele (M), Erica Nyberg (M), Maggie Scanapieco (A), Nora Zerbarini (A), Simone Hackett (A).

Juniors: Gianna Falcone (M), Casey Macera (A).

New to varsity:

Seniors: Juliana Voisinet (D), Julia Grillo (A).

Juniors: Kailyn Gabriele (D), Vittoria Illiano (G)

Sophomores: Phoebe Brennan (M), Sienna Fizzano (M).

Freshmen: Riley Cody (D), Jenna Parker (D), Ella Reyes (D).

Outlook: The Bulldogs return nine starters from last year’s group that won the program’s first state title in its first appearance in the championship game.

Macera was named the Division III Player of the Year as a sophomore scoring 89 goals with 17 assists. She was a first-team Division III pick along with graduated Hannah Seltzer. Seltzer is playing as a freshman at Division III Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Conn. with 10 goals and three assists in eight games this spring for the NCAA Division III Warriors.

Falcone (29 goals, 10 assists) and Faubert (19 goals, 8 assists) were second-team Division III picks last year.

Westerly makes the move this spring to Division II and have a schedule that includes several strong cross-over match-ups against several Division I opponents.

Coach’s take: “We have a lot of potential and are focused on building a strong culture. Our theme this year is “one team. If we commit to that, will find success no matter what.”

— Rich Zalusky