Animated Lacrosse
Plays and Drills for
your Team

Last year, the Ridgefield Tigers had a talent-filled roster that included four Division I recruits as they won the FCIAC championship for the first time in school history.

The Tigers’ hopes of repeating as champions ended with an 8-5 loss to Greenwich in the FCIAC quarterfinals.

But next season, Ridgefield will once again have a large core of D-I rising senior talent in North Carolina-bound defenseman Matt Shannon, University of Denver-bound attackman Aidan Scott and University of Vermont-bound midfielder Andrew Buckanavage.

Buckanavage, an athletic 6-foot midfielder with good speed, made his commitment the most recently.

It comes after a breakout junior season in which he was a 2010 All-FCIAC honorable-mention selection. Among his more memorable games, he scored two goals, including the game-winner with two minutes remaining  in a 10-9 win over Wilton on May 13

Here’s a Q&A with Andrew on his commitment:

What were the main factors in your decision to attend Vermont?
The main factor was (Head) Coach (Ryan) Curtis and (Assistant) Coach (Colin) Hulme, who know a lot about the game and have an exciting vision for the program.  Also, the surrounding city of Burlington is great for the college experience.  I couldn’t see myself getting bored there.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I was considering Gettysburg, Siena and Trinity.  However, I visited Gettysburg, Trinity, Wesleyan, Holy Cross and Franklin & Marshall.

What adjustments do you think you will need to make to play at the next level?
I need to build up my strength and stamina.  The defensemen I’ll face at the next level are bigger and stronger,  so I need to get to the weight room as much as possible.  I also want to improve my outside shooting range to become more of a threat from the perimeter.

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
My strength is shooting on the run. At times I feel even more comfortable shooting on the run lefty instead of using my strong right hand. My style of play is defined by my speed. I love to push the ball in transition.

What players have you looked up to as you have moved up through the varsity ranks?
Mike Galione has been a great leader and role model on our team.  I’ve always looked up to him because of his work ethic off the field and hustle on the field.

When did you first realize you had the potential to play at the D-I level?
It was probably at the Wilton game this year (the aforementioned 10-9 win on May 13). I carried that confidence through the end of the season and into the summer.

* For more info on Andrew Buckanavage, check out his recruit profile by clicking here.