Coming off a South-West Conference title, Newtown High School’s boys’ lacrosse team is the undisputed defending champion. However, Newtown Coach Glenn Adams doesn’t look at it that way as his team takes the field in search of another trophy.

“That’s always our goal,” Adams said of winning a league crown. “We’re not looking at it like we’re defending because we won last year’s championship. This is a new team.”

That said, it is a pretty similar team. With 16 seniors in the fold, Adams expects a lot of continuity from last year to carry over into this season. Newtown will have to overcome graduation of a half dozen players, but certainly has experience on its side. Adams believes his lineup is balanced with strengths at every position.

And while the coach knows it’s a new year and a somewhat new roster, the team is on everybody else’s radar.

“We still feel that we’re the team to beat so everybody’s going to come after us with their best shot,” Adams said.

Brookfield, the team Newtown beat in last year’s pinnacle game, is among the tough squads on the slate. The teams are lined up to square off in a rematch to open the campaign on Thursday, April 9 when Brookfield visits Treadwell Park for a 5:45 pm game. New Fairfield and Joel Barlow of Redding are among tough SWC rivals, and out-of-conference tests will be provided from Glastonbury, Staples of Westport, and Fairfield Ludlowe. Newtown hosts Ludlowe on Saturday, April 11, for a 2 pm contest at Blue & Gold Stadium.

Captains are defender Nick Rubino and midfielder Deegan Beachemin. Other team members who Adams is expecting big contributions from are attack men Ryan Sullivan and Matt Meyers; midfielders Bubba Condon, Logan Walsh, and Jared Pearson; defenders Joey Santella, CJ Dunn, and Matt Bouton; and faceoff specialist Mark Urso. Attack players Conrad Morris and Clay Gattey, along with defender Bobby Lydon, are also key players. As preseason unfolded, Tommy Elliot and George Salaris competed for the starting goaltender position.