STAFF

Ralph Rossi, Jr.  ("RJ") -  Founder
       A well-known advocate for promoting the game of lacrosse in northern Fairfield County, Ralph Rossi, Jr. has earned a host of awards and titles as a lacrosse coach and player.  Before stepping down in 2006 to devote his efforts to NORTH COUNTY SPORTS full time, Rossi served four years as Varsity Head Lacrosse Coach for Ridgefield High School. Prior to that he spent a year as Junior Varsity Coach for Ridgefield High.
       Coach Rossi took his varsity team to the FCIAC quarter finals three times (2004, 2005 & 2006); and reached the FCIAC semi finals in 2003. His teams also reached the state quarter finals in 2003, and qualified for the state first round in 2006. He capped his coaching career at Ridgefield by being named 2006 C.H.C.L.C.A. Class M Coach of the Year.  In 2006 he was also named Danbury News-Times All Area Coach of the Year.
       Rossi has coached four All-State Players and 15 All League players during his seasons with Ridgefield.  He also coached three First Team Academic All Americans and has sent many student athletes on to play college lacrosse.
       In 2003 and 2004, Rossi served as Head Coach of the Senior South All Stars, and as Assistant Head Coach for the Senior South All-Stars in 2006.
       Rossi began coaching lacrosse part-time in 1991, leading the Ridgefield Boys 8th grade travel team in 1991-1992.  In the intervening years he coached a variety of other youth lacrosse teams. 
       In summer 2004, Rossi launched the first Tiger Hollow Lacrosse Camp in Ridgefield, CT. He inaugurated the North County Lacrosse Summer League that same year. The next summer, in 2005, Rossi organized a summer lacrosse camp at Brookfield High School. In 2006 he initiated the Ridgefield Academy Lacrosse Camp.  From these efforts, NORTH COUNTY SPORTS was born.
       A 1985 graduate of Wilton High School, Rossi was an attackman on the 1984 Wilton High School State Championship Lacrosse Team.  There he played for legendary coach Guy Whitten, who went on to win over 400 career games, 15 state titles, and sent hundreds of players on to play college lacrosse at both the Division I and Division III levels.
       Rossi began his college playing career at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC.  He switched to defense his freshman year and was a two-year starter on the Guilford Division III team that finished #6 in the nation in 1986 and ranked in the top 10 in 1987.
       Rossi transferred to Syracuse University in fall 1987, where he walked on as a non-scholarship player during the spring of 1988.
       Rossi went on to graduate from Syracuse University in 1990.
       In November 2006, Rossi was named Defensive Coordinator for Western Connecticut State University.

Michelle Ralph - Girls' Lacrosse Director
    Currently Freshman Lacrosse Coach at Ridgefield High School, Michelle Ralph works at North County Sports with girls of all ages, conducting numerous group clinics in addition to specializing in private lessons.
       As a student at Widener University, Coach Ralph played Division III lacrosse and was on the starting team all three years.  After college she continued her playing career for a number of years with the Greenwich Academy Summer League, Greenwich, CT.
       A graduate of Horace Greeley High School in Westchester, New York, Ralph played two years varsity as attack wing and center (she was the only junior on starting lineup with all senior players). She served as Co-Captain her senior year, and led in goals in both her junior and senior years.
       Coach Ralph was awarded All-County Girls Lacrosse Honorable Mention Junior Year, and named All-County Girls Lacrosse First Team in her senior year.

Mike Gallop
       Currently Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach at Brookfield High School, Mike Gallop remains an avid and active lacrosse player as well as a coach. A member of the 2006 Super Juniors Coaching Staff, Gallop was also 2005 Assistant Coach on the D-II Senior South All-Star Team.
       Shortly after moving to Brookfield in 1997, Gallop helped inaugurate Brookfield High's first lacrosse club team. He also founded the Brookfield Classic Lacrosse Club, a senior lacrosse team on which he remains an active player. He has also played at all levels on a number of other well-known post clubs such as the Sound Shore Lacrosse Club and Connecticut Yankees LC.  He continues to play in a variety of tournaments around the country.
       A 1989 Graduate of SUNY New Paltz, Gallop earned his Connecticut Coaching Certificate last year and continues to broaden his education and experience by attending lacrosse workshops across the country.

Paul Sclafani
       In addition to serving as Ridgefield High School Assistant Coach from 2003-2006, Sclafani has served as assistant coach with the Newtown youth lacrosse program.
       A 1990 Graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, Sclafani captained the OWU Men's Lacrosse Team in 1990, when he was also named NCAA championship game MVP.  At OWU, he was also a four-year letter winner, three-time starter at attack, three-time All NCAC (1988-1990), four-time NCAC Champion (1987-1990), three-time NCAA Division III National Champion Runner-Up (1987-1989) and NCAA Championship Game MVP runner-up (1989).
       Sclafani graduated from Portledge School, Farmingdale, NY, in 1986, where he still holds the record for all points, goals & assists. 
 
Anne McBride
       Now Athletic Director, Head Lacrosse and Field Hockey Coach at Ridgefield Academy, Anne McBride previously served as AD, Head Field Hockey and Lacrosse Coach at Georgetown Visitation in Washington, DC., from 1987-2001.  There McBride coached several HS All-Americans, as well as dozens of All-Met and All-League players.  Her teams were consistently ranked in the Top 10 of The Washington Post.
       Earlier, McBride was Assistant Coach at Middlebury College from 1984-1987, and before that Head Coach at Northfield Mt. Hermon School, from 1979-1983.  She began her coaching career at the Green Vale School in 1978.
       While completing her Masters Degree at Penn State, Anne was a player/coach for the club team there.  Anne was also co-founder of the Washington Women’s Summer Lacrosse League and Washington Area Girls Lacrosse Association.

Jocelyn Kuchta
    Currently playing for Division 1 University of Denver, Jocelyn is a true powerhouse when it comes to women’s lacrosse.  She played varsity lacrosse at Ridgefield High School for three years and in her junior year was picked 2nd Team All-FCIAC and 2nd Team All-State.  Senior year Jocelyn served as Captain and was chosen 1st Team FCIAC and 1st Team All-State.  She was also named Danbury News-Times All-Area Pick.
   Her biggest accomplishment came when Division 1 University of Denver came knocking.  Joceyln now plays for Denver’s team and continues to provide clinics, private lessons and summer camp instruction when back in the CT area.

Alisen Urquhart
    Now playing for Trinity College in Hartford, Alisen previously played locally for Joel Barlow High School. She was All-SWC junior and senior year, and All-state Second Team Division 1 in her senior year. Alisen also received the leadership award at Joel Barlow and served as team captain her senior year.  As a junior, Alisen won the US Army Reserve Athletic Achievement Award, given to one female student each year.
    Alisen is excited to join North County Sports where she will work with girls of all ages, sharing her tremendous enthusiasm for lacrosse and experience.

Carly Curran
     Carly earned 7 varsity letters while playing lacrosse, basketball and diving for Newtown High School. While there she earned "All Conference" and "Outstanding Defender" lacrosse awards. Carly currently plays Division 1 lacrosse for UConn.

Nicole Gerosa
      A four year lacrosse star, Nicole led her Branford High team to the lacrosse championships every year she played. Was a member of the 2006 Senior All Star game and CTLF (Connecticut Lacrosse Futures). Won the Hustle award during her career. Nicole is now enjoys playing Division 1 lacrosse for Sacred Heart University.

Eileen Farrell
     Eileen holds a BA degree from the University of Rhode Island where she was team captain and then coached the women's lacrosse team. She also was the assistant coach for Rocky Hill Preparatory School in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Eileen's numerous lacrosse awards include CIAC All-State Second Team (2003-2004) and All-SWC First Team (2003-2004).

Stefanie Burra
     A 4-letter winner at New Fairfield High, Stefanie was All SWC First Team (2005-2006), Honorable mention All SWC (2004), South West conference champion (2005), Connecticut State champion (2005), All Area (2006-2007), All State Division 1, Second Team (2007), All Area Selection (2007), Team Co-Captain, Connecticut Senior All Star Team.

Kathy Keefe
      Kathy has headed up the Ridgefield Youth Field Hockey Program for the last four years. She also runs clinics and camps throughout the off season in conjunction with Ridgefield Parks and Rec department. Kathy hails from Deerfield, MA where she started playing field hockey in 7th grade, and was a starter on the Varsity team for four years at Frontier Regional School.  She was captain of both her field hockey and basketball teams.  Kathy was voted an All Western MA, and All State field hockey player her senior year. She is a graduate of College of St. Benedict with a BA degree.