The Delaware Hayes High School boys club lacrosse team hopes its second season will be an improvement from last year.

It appears it could be, as the Pacers beat Big Walnut 9-7 in the opener March 24 to match last year's win total. Delaware was 1-11 a year ago, with the win coming via a forfeit after losing to Watterson 13-0 on the field.

There are quite a few changes this season. Dick Sanfillipo replaced former coach Tom Favorito, who left to coach at Olentangy Orange. Assistant Tony Nieto went with him.

Another change is that the Pacers have aligned themselves in the Club Division for the postseason. Last year, Delaware chose to compete in the Division I postseason and then elected not to play its first-round contest.

But perhaps the biggest difference is the program got an infusion of freshmen who have played the sport for three seasons.

"It means a lot to have a great number of freshmen come in who know the basic skills, have been playing for going on four seasons now and have been together," Sanfillipo said. "They do some of the little things that some of our older athletes are just learning how to do."

That doesn't necessarily mean the freshman class will be dominant.

"The other side of the issue is that these freshmen don't have the strength of the juniors and seniors they'll be playing against," Sanfillipo said. "They also have to adjust to the speed of the varsity game, which will be a big adjustment for them. We're playing established programs and it's a big jump for them."

The team's second game March 26 against Westerville South was postponed because of weather. No makeup has been announced. The Pacers won't play again until Friday at Johnstown.

Delaware has seven seniors in midfielders Brian Johnson and Maxx Motter, attackers John Gilliam and Jay Groth and defenders Evan Bull, Jacob Naegele and Nick Spalsbury.

Defender Forest Wilson is the lone junior on the roster. Sophomores include midfielder Josh Bender and attackers Charlie Darrough, Christian Groth and Austin Naegele.

The large freshman class includes goalkeepers Michael Duffy and Brad Fitzpatrick. Midfielders are Austin Arthur, Collin Goble, Paul Golden, Griffin Kinney, Andrew Meiser, Steffan Mowry, Phoenix Neitzelt, Dom-inic Sanfillipo, Riley Windsor and Jordan Zinader.

Also in the class are attackers Kyle Gabbert, Jesse Hauger, Lane Kleilein, Anthony Sanfillipo and Tyler Smith, as well as defenders Jordan Carlson, Jacob Jantvoid, Jonathan Lindeboom, Ryan Lobmiller, Andrew Ward and Zak Worthy.

Coach Sanfillipo said he has been impressed with the play of Spalsbury, Bull, Jacob Naegele and Wilson on defense, as well as Darrough, Gilliam and Austin Naegele on attack and Bender, Johnson and Motter in the midfield.

He expects Carlson and Ward to be strong with the long poles and Duffy is expected to start in goal.

"Those guys have been working hard, and out of the freshmen, I think Golden, Zinader, Neitzelt and Dominic Sanfillipo will be strong in the midfield and that Anthony Sanfillipo will be solid in attack," coach Sanfillipo said. "But like in any sport, the defense is always ahead of the game early. We're going to get better every week, but we're still extremely inexperienced.