My afternoon started with traffic and box office confusion. Once into the wonderful environment of Ulrich Sports Complex, I was surrounded by team cheering sections and loads of local high school players donning their varsity jackets. Loyola sure gave lacrosse lessons out today, demonstrating many different situations.
By the time I was in, the first quarter was halfway over with Loyola on top at 3-1. Shortly after arriving, Lehigh’s Henderson threw an assist to Kaunas to make it 3-2 at 3:32 in the first.
Soon after, Lehigh’s #19 Alex Eaton had a pretty, unassisted goal. He took his defender down the right wing, around X, cut up the left side and hit top right while diving away. The scored tied up at 3-3.
On a quick side note, the referees did a good job overall. They balanced calls and allowed the boys to play all situations out.
Matt Sawyer helped Loyola retake the lead. At 11:32 in the second, he scored off an assist capitalizing on a man up situation.
Two minutes later, Greyhound Nikko Pontrello sniped one unassisted making it 5-3. It was followed by big face off penalties, both of which were against Lehigh. Loyola had man up.
Pontrello scored back-to-back with another sniper off an assist from Sawyer at 9:13. 6-3 Loyola.
It almost seemed as though Lehigh was going to regain momentum as Loyola had been patiently controlling possession the entire game. The Mountainhawks were stopped short by a wicked quick save from goalie Jack Runkel.
Loyola continued their train run with #46 Brian Schultz scoring off an assist at 2:32 in the second, making it 7-3 Loyola. All the players had been bunched up fighting for a ground ball right in front of the cage and while Lehigh was overwhelmed, Loyola stayed collected and pulled out a goal.
Lehigh finally drew some blood with a goal from Reid Webber at 11:37 in the third to make it 7-4. It was Lehigh’s first goal in over a period of play.
What happened next baffled me. Lacrosse players are taught to NEVER abandon an offender while on defense. It gives the opponent a quick and easy man up situation. A Lehigh middie tried running off the field. Both myself and the Loyola offense saw it coming, and when the defender went for the sideline Pat Laconey bolted straight to the cage. He was assisted for another bucket, 8-4 Loyola.
This was quickly followed by an underhand shot from Kevin Ryan off another assist from Jeff Chase at 7:27 in the third, making it 9-4.
Loyola then scored again. #10 Matt Sawyer snagged an assist from Nikko Pontrello; 10-4 Greyhounds; Lehigh called a timeout.
Loyola’s #20 Kevin Ryan then scored off a roll dodge from top left at 3:07; 11-4.
At the close of the third period, three flags were down: a 30-second penalty for a face off violation and a 1:30 second for off-ball cross check, both on Lehigh. Loyola would start the fourth quarter with possession.
Then, the unthinkable happened. Loyola was two men down for the first time all game, another 30-second and 90-second combo. #42 Patrick Corbett capitalized on it, making it 11-5 but both penalties were released (12:52 in the fourth).
Lehigh had a back-to-back, scoring again off a crowded assist from Webber; 11-6.
Greyhounds answered right back at 5:21 with a shot from Schultz; 12-6 over Hawks.
Kevin Ryan then scored for Loyola off an assist, and Lehigh scored with 1:33 left in the game: 13-7 Loyola.
The final score would end up being 14-7, Loyola over Lehigh.
