Pallotti boys lacrosse coach Joe Stanilaus says he would like to forget about last season.
Who can blame him?
The Panthers struggled to a 2-13 record competing in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference, doomed by a lack of depth and talent.
So Stanilaus had his team switch leagues. That has made everybody involved with the program more comfortable.
"We moved down to the C Conference to rebuild the program," Stanilaus explained. "When you are 0-10 in the B, I don't think you belong. Last year, was my first year. I had two seniors and there was no goalie in the roster. We played in a very competitive B Conference. After the season, we took a step down. Obviously, we are on the right path now."
It certainly seems like it.
The Panthers are a perfect 5-0 in the 9-team league and 7-7 overall.
"At the end of the day, it is about building the players up and there self esteem," Stanilaus said. "We want to make better lacrosse players. Last year, we weren't very deep. Now, we carry 20 plus players. We are going a very good job of holding each other accountable for mistakes. Our goalie and faceoff play has improved."
Stanilaus thinks his team could return to the B Conference in 2018.
That's goal at least and the Panthers appear to be making progress toward it by sitting in first place ahead of two-time defending C Conference champion Indian Creek.
"We have a two-year contract," the coach said of his squad's required time in the C Conference. "In a perfect world, we win the championship this season and next season. At that point, I would deem ourselves ready to go back."
It's hard to talk about the Panthers' success without mentioning their high-scoring offense.
Senior midfielder Justin Wilson highlights an offense that also features junior attackman Hunter Smith, Lee Shumaker and Christian Schembari and freshman midfielder Immanuel Brown.
Wilson leads the team in scoring with 59 points (36 goals, 23 assists), Smith has racked up 21 goals while Shumaker 18.
"When I got Justin, he was a midfielder," Stanilaus said of Wilson. I believe he was an attackman and we kind of butted heads on that. I got him to see the light. He can attack and distribute the ball. That's why you see his goals and assists are even."
Stanilaus also raves the skill set of Smith.
"He does a great job of finishing and has a very good shot," Stanilaus said.
The defense of senior Eddie O'Neill and juniors Francis Oparaocha and sophomore Lawrence Tucker in front of junior goalie Andrew Jumbelick can't be overlooked.
Jumbelick is a vocal leader of the defense.
"He has done quite well," Stanilaus said of Jumbelick, who is backed up by freshman Austin Roher. "He is getting the idea of what we are trying to do."
Stanilaus appreciates what the Panthers are doing after last year's growing pains.
"I think we have made tremendous strides in one year in my opinion," he explained.
Pallotti boys lacrosse schedule and results
Pallotti 7 Bishop O'Connell 16
Pallotti 5 St. Andrew's Episcopa 9
Pallotti 11 Sidwell Friends 13
Pallotti 6 Park 15
Pallotti 17 Bowie 1
Pallotti 13 Georgetown Day 6
Pallotti 4 Gerstell Academy 15 Gerstell Academy
Pallotti 6 Maret School16
Pallotti 10 Concordia 1
Pallotti 18 Mount Carmel 1
Pallotti 13 Beth Tfiloh1
Pallotti 16 Chapelgate 2
Pallotti 18 Cristo Rey 3
May 6 Pallotti at Jemicy School, 4 p.m.
May 10 at Key School, 4 p.m.
MIIAA C Conference semfinals May 17
MIAA C Conference final, Johns Hopkins University, May 20