Future Leaders: E.O. Smith Lax Duo Helping To Build A Program

STORRS, CT — Talk about future leaders ... Izzy Stackpole and Ainsley Bourbeau not only play for the E.O. Smith High School girl's lacrosse program, they're helping to build it.

Bourbeau is a senior goalie who will be bringing her talents to the University of New Haven next season. In high school competition, in the Nutmeg State Games ( a two-time silver medalist) and on the club circuit, she's known as one of the most agile goalies in the Northeast.

Stackpole, a sophomore attack player, is a vital part of the Panthers' offense. On the club circuit, she overcame doubts about her size, switched organizations and is now flourishing as a threat to both score goals and assist on them.

But the team concept is also very much on their minds. They both recruited heavily to build the E.O. roster for the spring season and also took on leadership roles in the winter program, both competitively and running informal workouts.