By Michael Letendre

The final stats are in for both the girls lacrosse programs at Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern.

And each squad had some historic offensive totals as the programs in town continue to grow, continue to improve.

The Rams had an incredible run this season, winning eight of its 12 regular season matches and qualifying for a home game in state tournament play.

At 8-4, that meant several players put together career-high scoring totals.

Sadye Kowalczyk, a tremendous senior midfielder, went for 47 goals in 2021 which ended up establishing a new Bristol Central school record.

Lexi Michaud, another senior midfielder, not only tallied 15 goals but helped to set up the offense as she dished out 19 assists. 

And another midfielder, senior soccer standout Lily Hansen, added 11 goals to the till while sophomore Emily Lowe also notched 11 goals.

Super sophomore Rachel Wygant flipped in 10 goals while Alyah Warren – an excellent goaltender – was outstanding over her junior campaign.

Central did not lose a match over the month of April, going 3-0 to start out with zest.

From there, the Rams won its first three matches in May to race out to a 6-0 push.

After dropping back-to-back decision to Suffield, Central ended up sweeping Wolcott (15-2) back on May 21 and after a tough 7-6 loss to Cromwell, the Rams had a tremendous 13-12 overtime win at Bristol Eastern on May 24 – winning their eighth match of the season.

That eight-win season also meant several players would be making the CCC South, All-Conference squad. 

Kowalczyk, Hansen, Michaud, Jenna Lowe (defense), and Warren all made the CCC South, All Conference team off that outstanding season.

Central was eighth in the CIAC Class M tournament bracket this year but dropped a hard-fought 20-4 decision on June 1 to end the season at 8-5.

The Rams have built a tremendous program that will continue to improve over the next couple years.

“[We had] five double digit goal scorers, and 14 different girls score” this year said Central girl coach Kyle Phelan via Twitter.

And then from the Eastern front, while the Lancers were 3-10 this past spring, the team has improved by leaps and bounds.

Ciara Collins was fantastic this year as she scored 50 goals, averaging nearly 3.9 goals-per-game.

The junior’s fifty goals are the most goals scored in a season in public school play in Bristol.

But it wasn’t just Collins that put up those All-State like numbers.

Senior Kate Kozikowski wasn’t far behind Collins’ totals as she roped up 40 goals.

Freshman Emma Stavens tallied 35 goals while Vanessa Drury, another promising freshman, added 21.

And then Alyssa Kehler kicked in 11 goals as she finished up a tremendous senior campaign.

Eastern’s 3-10 ledger was as deceiving as could be in 2021 with the program losing four matches by three goals or less.

The Lancers fell to St. Paul Catholic by a 13-10 push on April 26 and then ended their campaign with three losses by a total of four goals.

Eastern’s victories this season came against Enfield (18-5) on April 14, Edwin O. Smith (13-12) on April 22 and versus Lewis Mills (19-4) on May 20.