When the Parkland boys lacrosse team lost to Easton 8-6 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference final a year ago, nobody around the program dropped their head. They expected to be there and to win that game, but also knew better things were coming.

But with an upset in their next game against Central Catholic in the District 11 first round, the Trojans season surprisingly ended earlier than most had hoped.

The 2016 season brings a new year and a new crop of talent to the playing field. A ton of talented seniors graduated, but head coach Brad Schifko, in his eighth year as head coach, has some young, athletic players at his disposal.

“We have youth, athleticism and explosiveness, on both sides of the ball,” said Schifko. “We return one of the area’s top goalies in Joey Stevenson, who will anchor an otherwise young, but extremely athletic defense. Our offense should be one of the most explosive in the area, with a number of [Division 1] commits, as well as one of the area’s leading attackmen, Gavin Saylor.”

Parkland, which finished 2015 at 14-7 overall, 9-1 in the EPC, will bring back seniors Will Meier, Stevenson, Nolan Ridgway, Zach Getchius and Mitch Carlson; juniors Ryan Geroulo, Saylor, DJ Hohman, Logan Barlok and Dru Miller; and sophomores Sam Morgan, Braden Groff, Ian O’Neill, Ian Haggerty, Brian Hoffman, Warren Snover, Brent Cassium, Devin Derti, Bobby Carlson, Tyler German and Andrew Albertson.

“The vast majority of our talent is untested and haven’t played meaningful minutes of varsity lacrosse,” said Schifko. “If past experience is any indicator of future success, we are primed for big things in 2016, as the incoming freshman class bring with them a championship pedigree. There is an excitement around the team that seemed lacking a year ago. The question is whether our youth movement will prove to be the catalyst or the demise of our 2016 campaign.”

Nate Rudolph, Xavier Huff, and freshmen James Cipolla, Jake Yannes, Greg Santa-Anna, Dylan Rahm, Alex Alberston, Colby Carlson, Zach Fitzgerald, and James McGlaughlin will be battling for playing time as well.

The Trojan will have to make up for injuries to two of the league’s top players in Erik DiGirolamo and Luke Summers, who are both returning starters. Summers is a sophomore. DiGiralomo is a senior headed to Lehigh University to play lacrosse.

“There is a tremendous amount of young talent, coupled by veteran leadership in key positions,” Schifko said. “While that could be said almost annually, there seems to be something in the air around this squad. While there is still plenty of work to do in preparation for the season, the outlook is bright.”

Parkland opens the 2016 season on March 29 at home against Bethlehem Catholic.