With the 2017 Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Championship title in hand, the Palo Alto High School boys’ lacrosse team (5-1-0) hopes to advance to the SCVAL playoffs again this year, despite the loss of 24 seniors last year. 

With the change in team dynamic, several current seniors are required to step it up and take on the leadership role and lead the team on the field. Senior captains this year are attackman Benner Mullin and middie Peter Gold.

According to Gold, the brand new Peery Center, newly-renovated Paly lacrosse field and the support from the coaching staff will have a big role in the Vikings’ performance this year.

“We are fortunate to have incredible lacrosse facilities and amazing coaching,” Gold said. “Head coach DJ Shelton leads us with passion and constantly challenges and teaches. He’s also recruited a team of highly experienced assistant coaches who help make us better players and competitors.”

According to 2017 statistics, junior middie Aidan Gans and sophomore attackman Quentin Dwight are expected to lead the Vikings, along with Gold and Mullin.

Last year, in May, the Vikings successfully made it to the last round of the SCVAL playoffs and played Los Gatos High School Wildcats for the championship title where they crushed the Wildcats, 17-6, and was named the 2017 League Champions.

The Vikings have already started dominating the Santa Clara Valley League with victories in four preseason games and one league game against Mountain View; however, they lost to Menlo Atherton, 9-8, on Thursday night.

The Vikings will continue their strength and perseverance as they play the Saint Francis High School Troubadours (2-0-0) at 7:00 p.m. tonight at home.