Upset Saturday! Jacksonville, Johns Hopkins, Loyola Make Statements

Charley Toomey says Loyola thrives on chaos. It provided the exclamation point in Saturday’s swath of chaotic upsets, but to be able to beat defending champion and second-ranked Maryland 12-7 at Ridley Athletic Complex, Loyola actually had to dial back the disorder.

“They were not able to get easy goals coming from the X,” Toomey said. “We made them settle into a 6-on-6 game today. And then after a save by [Maryland goalie Logan] McNaney, we had to take their poles away. We didn’t want them to start running and create an up-tempo game.”

Saturday was Maryland’s first loss since the 2021 championship game and first regular-season loss since a loss to Villanova on Feb. 18, 2020. The five-goal deficit was tied for their biggest defeat in the last 10 years. Hat tip to The Crosse Commission for digging into the history there.

Against Maryland, when it rains, it pours. At least it did last spring, when the Terps mostly steamrolled their way to an undefeated season and a national title. But Loyola intentionally slowed the pace, holding Maryland to just four first-half goals while taking a 5-4 lead into the half.

Daniel Maltz tied the score at 5 just a few minutes into the second half, but Loyola executed at peak efficiency with its own offense. The Greyhounds scored seven goals on 10 shots. Possessions are valuable against the Terps, even with this new look group, and Loyola made sure to cash in when it could. Maryland held an 18-4 faceoff advantage, making it so Loyola cherished its possession even more.

MAJOR #UPSETALERT IN BALTIMORE.

Mustang Sally rips this one home and @LoyolaMLAX now leads @TerpsMLax 11-6.

The defending champs are on the ropes. pic.twitter.com/bqYOU1pH9C

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) February 11, 2023

“We actually want to push the tempo,” Toomey said. “We’d prefer to make clean saves and run. We embrace the chaos. But you’ve gotta be smart.”

It helps when the defense plays at the caliber it did Saturday. Luke Staudt made 19 saves, and Toomey praised a defense that forced Maryland into low percentage shots for most of the afternoon.

Loyola was balanced offensively, utilizing seven goal scorers. Evan James produced a hat trick, while Henry Haberman, Matthew Minicus and Adam Poitras all scored twice.

Toomey, already looking ahead despite a massive win, underscored the importance of consistency.

“It’s how we handle success,” he said. “We’re a young team, an emotional team, and we know we’ve got a bear on our hands in Johns Hopkins. How will we practice?”

DOLPHINS DEFENSE LOCKS DOWN LATE

For the second February in a row — and nearly to the day — Jacksonville has taken down Duke. Last year was in Durham, but this time, the Dolphins hosted the Blue Devils at Rock Stadium and were sturdy down the stretch.

Jacksonville held No. 7 Duke scoreless for the final 12:22 after the Blue Devils went down by just one goal and hung on for a 13-12 win — certainly a nice recovery after falling to Johns Hopkins at home in the season opener last weekend.

A seesaw of a game, Jacksonville trailed 9-5 at halftime before depositing seven goals in the third quarter. A spurt of six straight, powered by two goals apiece from Jack Taylor and Bryce Wojnovich, turned a 10-6 deficit into a 12-10 lead. Dyson Williams made it 12-11 with 52 seconds left in the third.

The fourth-quarter scoring happened early. Ethan Lamond put the Dolphins (1-1) up 13-11 with 12:54 left, then Williams scored again for Duke (2-1) 32 seconds later.

Duke took just three more shots the entire game, all wide of cage. Andrew McAdorey turned it over with 12 seconds left, sealing Jacksonville’s win.

IS JOHNS HOPKINS BACK?

It’s the question to which everyone wants an answer. Is Johns Hopkins back? The early returns suggest that the Jays are at least closer to relevance than perhaps anyone thought entering the spring.

Down by three at Homewood Field against No. 3 Georgetown, No. 16 Johns Hopkins called on five different goal scorers in the fourth quarter. Matt Collison, Stuart Phillips and Russell Melendez in a three-plus-minute stretch to tie the score at 11, then Dylan Bauer and Garrett Degnon scored for a two-goal lead. Hopkins held on for a 13-12 win.

HOPKINS IS ALIVE AT HOMEWOOD.

Russell Melendez someone gets this one to go and @jhumenslacrosse is tied with @HoyasMLacrosse in the fourth. pic.twitter.com/imJkONJHXN

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) February 11, 2023

After Degnon’s goal with 5:09 left, Hopkins was methodical. The Jays won the next faceoff and used the entire shot clock, ultimately turning it over on a shot clock violation. Georgetown immediately turned it over, and the Jays’ next possession resulted in the same as the last.

That left 1:53 for Georgetown — one of the most highly touted teams this preseason. Jacob Kelly scored with 1:06 left, and James Reilly then won possession for the Hoyas. After a mad scramble, Graham Bundy Jr. got free for a shot at the final whistle, but it was blocked.

AIR FORCE TAKES FLIGHT AGAINST DENVER

February is really a scary time for ranked teams, huh?

For the first time since 2009, Air Force was victorious against Denver, downing the No. 12 Pios 12-10. The Falcons led for the entirety of the second half after closing the first half on a 4-0 run thanks to two goals from Brandon Dodd and one apiece from Josh Yago and Caelan Driggs.

LONG YEARS. IT’S TIME TO FEAST.@AF_Lax takes down @DU_MLAX for the first time since 2009.

February is a scary times for ranked teams. pic.twitter.com/rc6koyfRuA

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) February 11, 2023

After nine combined goals in the third quarter, both offenses quieted down in the fourth, scoring once apiece. Bruce Shade gave Air Force a 12-9 lead with 12:53 remaining, and the Air Force defense locked in to hold Denver without a goal until there was 1:46 left.

VERMONT NEARLY COUGHS UP BIG LEAD

A 6-0 run that stretched most of the third quarter and the first few minutes of the fourth put Vermont seemingly in the driver’s seat against No. 17 Boston U. Up eight goals with 12:08 to play, the defense just had to hold firm.

It held on. But barely.

The Terriers scored the game’s final six goals, bookended by tallies from Louis Perfetto (four goals), but Boston U didn’t have enough on the road to come back. Vermont, whose defense held Syracuse to just seven goals in the opener, won 14-12.

Brock Haley had three goals and five assists, and Jonas Hunter had five goals and two assists. Matt Shaffer made 15 saves.