2021 Preview: Jones takes over Centaurs program

Mikayla Jones was supposed to takes over the reins of the Woodstock Academy girls lacrosse team a year ago.

Kathleen Johnson had stepped down after taking the Centaurs to a 15-4 season in which Woodstock Academy won the Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament title with an 11-9 win over Stonington in 2019.

Gone from that team were eight seniors.

But Jones was happy with the team that was coming back in 2020.

That season never happened, but Jones’ enthusiasm has not waned as the calendar has turned to 2021.

“I’m so excited. We still have an awesome group of girls even though we lost a bunch of them. We’re still coming back pretty strong,” Jones said.

The players are just happy to get a chance to wield their sticks again.

The first regular season game for the Centaurs takes place Tuesday night at Stonington at 6 p.m. .

“It’s so great. I was a little worried that we weren’t going to have a season but it’s so great to be out here with the girls and having a fun time,” senior Rachel Canedy said.

With Jones now at the helm.

“I love Coach,” Canedy said with a smile. “She definitely makes us work hard but we need it this season because we’re running out of time and need to be in shape. It’s nice to have a younger coach because she is relatable to us and gets all of our girl problems.”

Jones admits there are plenty of question marks coming into the season.

But the Centaurs have some players back who will make an impact this season.

Senior Kileigh Gagnon, one of the heroes of the ECC tournament championship in goal for the Centaurs, returns to that position in 2021.

Sofia Murray will share time with Gagnon in the cage.

“They are both awesome and both deserve as much time as they can get. We’re happy that we have two strong goalies this year,” Jones said.

Offensively, the Centaurs have senior Peyton Saracina who contributed 26 goals and six assists in 2019 along with Canedy (6 goals, 5 assists), Sydney Haskins, and Caroline Harris.

The group between the girls up front and the goalies is the one that Jones is working on most.

“Our defense is the weak point this season, only because we lost so many from the last senior class and losing a season last year. That’s where we have to rebuild,” Jones said.

Another concern is getting used to one another again.

And that spans team wide.

“We have so many new girls. We’re having all the returners talk to the new girls so that we can get the hang of things way quicker. It’s a lot harder to get chemistry, but we’re doing a lot of teamwork and team-bonding and we’re hoping that does the job,” Canedy said.

And the Centaurs are also dealing with limited numbers.

The team usually dresses 21 players for varsity games.

They have only 27 out for the whole program.

“I’m thinking it’s because if the students do not come to school in person, they can’t play sports. We’re low but we’re happy that they are out here and get to be outside,” Jones said. “They love to come here every day.”

It has made practices a bit difficult as the team can’t separate the skill levels to start the season as much as it has in the past.

It also makes Jones concerned if the team should have a pandemic protocol issue.

“We already have low numbers. I tell (the team) all the time that they can’t get sick. We keep a grocery bag full of hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes. We really hammer it into the kids to stay healthy because we can’t afford (an illness),” Jones said.

Like field hockey in the fall, the girls lacrosse team will essentially play a normal schedule, playing in Division I of the Eastern Connecticut Conference along with Norwich Free Academy, Stonington, East Lyme, Fitch and Waterford.

“It’s as normal as possible which is great because we get to play as often as we usually do,” Jones said.