Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse Back In Action

February 19th, 2011 by WLOY Staff

Loyola University’s men’s and women’s lacrosse teams kick off  the 2011 season on Saturday February 19, 2011 at Ridley Athletic Complex.  The women’s team will host the University of Virginia at noon, followed with the men’s team hosting the U.S. Naval Academy at 2 p.m.  Both teams are ranked in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Polls with the women’s team ranked 12th and the men’s team ranked 14th.  This will mark the 30th meeting between Loyola and Virginia, while it will only be the 8th meeting between the men’s team and the U.S. Naval Academy.  The University of Virginia and Navy both hold advantages in the all-time series held between the two teams.

The women’s lacrosse team won the last meeting between Virginia with a 15-11 win dating back to February 20, 2010.  The men’s team also beat the U.S. Naval Academy last year with an 8-7 win in overtime.  Cooper MacDonnell scored the game winning goal with just nine seconds left in the first overtime.  Both teams look to keep the streak going with opening wins to start off their perspective seasons on the right foot.

Attacker Grace Gavin, midfielder Cara Filippelli, midfielder Abby Rehfuss, and junior goalie Kerry Stoothoff are all looking to lead the Greyhounds this season.  The greyhounds play in the Big East conference and they were selected to finish fourth in the preseason poll.  Last year the team finished fourth with an overall 5-3 record in conference play.  Gavin, Filippelli, and Rehfuss were all named to the Preseason Big East team as well.  The women’s lacrosse team will lose two starters from last year’s team.  Emily Gibson and Tara Gardner graduated from the team so the greyhounds will look to fill these open spots.  Loyola will look to fill these spots with some possible freshmen.  Freshmen  Ali Carpenter, Marlee Patton, and Molly Dickerson will all push for time in the upcoming spring.  Head Coach Jen Adams and assistant Dana Dobbie enter their third year together while leading the Greyhounds.  Loyola also welcomes first year assistant coach Katie Chrest to the coaching staff.

As for the men’s team, seniors Eric Lusby, Matt Langan, Chris Basler, and Stephen Murray all look to help out the offense.  Lusby is back as the team’s leading goal scorer as well as the total point leader with Langan.  Eric Lusby is coming off an injury which occurred last spring in a loss to Cornell in triple overtime.  The team is looking to center their offense around Lusby because of his athleticism.  Captains Matt Langan and Chris Basler will lead the team on the field as well.  Defensively, the Greyhounds will look for captain Steve Dircks to led the defense.  Dircks led the team in turnovers last season.  Dylan Grimm, Reid Acton, Nick Disimile, and Joe Fletcher will all push for playing time as well.  The Greyhounds lost Cooper MacDonnell and Colin Finnerty due to graduation offensively as well as Steve Layne and Kyle Cottrell defensively.  Senior faceoff specialist John “Tony” Schiavone will also look to improve in the 2011 season.  Schiavone and Dircks were named to the Preseason All-American Honorable Mention teams.  Head Coach  Charlie Toomey, and assistant coaches Matt Dwan, Dan Chemotti, and Steve Vaikness have led the men’s lacrosse team through a very tough fall and are very excited for the upcoming season.

For more information about the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams visit www.loyolagreyhounds.com