By David Steinbacher
Herald Staff Report
(From the issue of 4/15/04)

The Paul VI boys’ lacrosse team is of to a superb start in 2004. The Panthers, coached by Dave Gardiner (first season), currently weigh-in with an overall record of 4-2. The "Black and Gold" has defeated: Key School, Annapolis (15-4), Sidwell Friends, D.C. (7-6), Flint Hill (8-3) and arch-rival O’Connell (8-6).

"It was awesome to beat both Sidwell and O’Connell. We had lost to both of them the past several years" said senior captain Pat Zanelotti. With more than half of the regular season remaining, PVI has dramatically improved from the past two seasons when the Panthers merely won seven of 33 games combined.

Spearheading the turnaround is the senior laden defense. Senior Sean Milligan anchors the goal. Senior "twin towers" Pat Zanelotti and Ryan Donnelly, along with either sophomore Josh Gadell or freshman Chris Dugan anchors the PVI defense.

"Coach Gardiner has made a real big difference. Our defense is solid and our ‘middies’ have been getting back to help out," said Milligan.

"Pat and Ryan are both 6’2" or taller and at least 200 pounds. They’ve played very well so far" said coach Gardiner. The top seven midfielders include: senior "long stick" middie Tom Miller, senior Andrew Boardman, senior Gary Boylan, junior Billy Conques, senior A.J. Bergmann, senior Mike Aldonas and junior Nick Sutton. Zanelotti, Donnelly, Boardman and Conques are the "Black and Gold" captains.

"We’re starting to recognize our potential. In the past, there were certain teams we knew we were going to lose to. This year we’re realizing our potential and we’re realizing that we can play with all of the teams on our schedule" said Boardman. Stepping up on attack this season: senior Finn Loftus, sophomore Paul Cole and freshman Kyle Dilley. Cole (15 goals/10 assists), Loftus (10/10), Conques (eight/12) and Boylan (six/six) lead the Panthers in scoring thus far. "These four guys have really come on strong. In addition, we’ve got something like eight other guys that have tallied anywhere from one to nine combined "points" as well" said coach Gardiner.

Boylan has also been a stalwart in the faceoff circle. The senior along with Bergmann and sophomore Tyler Chapin have combined to win nearly 60 percent of the face offs this season.
"These three guys have been working hard this season" said Gardiner.

"Our offense and our defense have both been executing this season. We are more disciplined with coach Gardiner and we’re in better shape to run the entire game this season" said Donnelly.
"When coach Gardiner came in, he laid down the facts. He said that we were going to be good. We’ve had very hard practices. Our goal is to make the playoffs and maybe even get to the Championship Game" said Zanelotti.

"All of the guys have been working hard" said coach Gardiner (assisted by Eric Dumman).

Paul VI Girls’ Lacrosse

The Paul VI girls’ lacrosse team is off to an outstanding start. The Lady Panthers, coached by Joe Dannemann (second season), currently weigh-in with an overall record of 6-3.

The "Black and Gold" has defeated: Flint Hill (15-2), Notre Dame Academy (15-0), St. Johns (9-5), Springside School, Philadelphia (9-8), St. Mary’s Ryken (8-3) and Elizabeth Seton (8-4).
Paul VI, 2003 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Champions, merely has six seniors on the current squad (out of 22 total players).

Spearheading the defense: junior goaltender Ashley Dawson as well as senior goaltender Jill Mateos.

"Ashley in particular, in recent games, has made some big strides" said coach Dannemann.
Defensively, junior Laura Noonan plays "point," junior Carrie Palmisano plays "cover point," junior Maggie Bridges plays "third man." In addition, senior Crystal Akers and junior Kerry O’Connor each man the "defensive wing" positions. (Bridges leads the team with 32 "ground balls." Noonan leads the team with 13 "takeaways").

"I’ve been very pleased with the defense overall" said the second-year coach. Three of the best female athletes at PVI that run the entire lacrosse field are: senior "center" Lindsay Curtin, and fellow juniors Kathleen Berger and Lauren DePont at the "attack wing" positions.

"As these three girls continue to improve, this team will improve" said coach Dannemann.
On the attack side of the field, coach Dannemann is well represented by: senior Erin Flynn and fellow juniors Marie Zapolski and Katie Doherty.
"These three girls have been working very well together," said Dannemann. After nine games, Zapolski (21 goals/13 assists) leads the offense.
In addition, Doherty (nine/16), Flynn (13/five) and Berger (10/six) have also bolstered the offense.

Injured senior "defensive wing" Alina Borkowski, Erin Flynn and Laura Noonan are the PVI captains.

"All three of these girls display outstanding leadership both on and off the field," said coach Dannemann.

"Our offense has been getting better. It’s a matter of us being patient on offense [to be successful this season]," said Dannemann.

Paul VI defeated Ireton 7-5 in last seasons WCAC Championship Game. The Panthers were scheduled to play at Haddonfield, N.J. Paul VI April 12, but the game was postponed. At this time, coach Dannemann was not 100 percent sure whether or not the game would be made up. Both the boys and girls WCAC playoffs will take place next month.