Some new faces dot an otherwise veteran-laden roster for Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s 2016 boys’ lacrosse team that has started the 2016 season 2-1.

Saints coach T.W. Johnson said his team’s season has been fairly good thus far.

“We’ve got a great group of kids,” he said. “I really enjoy being around this group, and I say it every year, but it’s one of the joys of working and coaching around here.”

Some of the team’s additions are new to the sport, and a big group has moved up from the NSA junior varsity team, but the varsity team as a whole has been on a consistent ascent from preseason through the third game of the season.

“Certainly I’m very proud of the progress we’ve made from the first day of practice to now,” Johnson said. “You’re seeing improvement every week.”

In their lone game last week, the Saints defeated visiting Trinity Episcopal School 10-6, benefiting from five goals by junior midfielder Garrett Leicester, three goals by senior attackman Noah Dowd and one goal apiece by sophomore attackman Eli Dowd and freshman attackman/midfielder Miles Birdsong.

“I felt like that was the best game we’ve played so far, so we were pleased with that,” Johnson said.

The 2016 Saints have nine seniors on the roster, as well as five juniors, six sophomores and seven freshmen.

Plenty of experience remains from the 2015 NSA squad that went 13-6, advancing as far as the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state semifinals.

But the team will miss players who have graduated, including Addison Peak, David Gough, Grant Leicester, Austin Babb, Mac Hardee and Whit Riddick, among others.

“Our whole defense graduated last year,” Johnson said.

Senior multi-sport standout Cole Christiansen will not be back, as he is recovering from an injury suffered on the gridiron and will need to report early later this year at The United States Military Academy at West Point.

“We want him to get healthy for that, as much as we’d like to have him out there,” Johnson said.

Despite the personnel losses, Nansemond-Suffolk’s boys’ lacrosse team this year is quite talented.

“We’ve got kids in every grade that are making plays and doing things for us,” Johnson said.

His expectations for what the Saints can do this season remain the same as every season.

“We want to be the best that we can be,” he said, noting this involves being competitive in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools and doing everything they can to win a VISAA Division II state title.

Helping lead this endeavor will be Noah Dowd, a veteran in NSA’s attack.

“We certainly look to him a lot on the offensive end, not only to be productive point-wise, but he’s a really smart player and has a really good understanding of the game, so we look for him to be a quarterback,” Johnson said.

Dowd’s brother, attackman Eli Dowd, is “similar to Noah, very skilled and smart player and does a lot of good things for us,” Johnson said.

Veteran midfielder, senior Noah Serianni, returns with confidence coming off a good football season.

“He’s another guy who I feel very comfortable with on the field in terms of his decision-making,” Johnson said. “And Noah’s got this knack for making plays, and any coach likes that.”

Garrett Leicester also helps bolster the midfield and has “just gotten better every year,” the coach said. “He’s got good size and has the ability to use his size to his advantage and has improved his shooting a lot and his stick skills.”

Seniors Graham Moore and Ben Anderson also contribute as midfielders, with Anderson having a defensive focus.

In the back for NSA is senior defenseman Reed Browne, close defense junior Edwards Morgan, junior defenseman Matt Buttery and junior long stick midfielder Jack Bivins.

Sophomore Austin Hardee takes over for his graduated brother in goal and is backed up by freshman Luke Jackson.

“We’re comfortable with our defense, and again, they aren’t guys that started last year, but they saw some minutes,” Johnson said.

The Saints hosted Salesianum School of Wilmington, Del., on Wednesday evening and visits Hampton Roads Academy on Tuesday.