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Loyola 8, Delaware 7
February 24, 2001

Blue Hens Fall Just Short in Season-Opening Upset Bid

 

Dave Mullen had a career-high 22 saves for Delaware
BALTIMORE, MD -- The University of Delaware men's lacrosse team almost came up with the upset on opening day Saturday afternoon before falling to host Loyola 8-7 in a non-league game at Curley Field.

The Blue Hens, the No. 16 ranked team in the Inside Lacrosse pre-season Top 25 poll and coming off a 10-6 record in 2000, got a goal from senior Willie Hopkins (Nyack/Valley Cottage, NY) with 4:49 left to play but couldn't score again as No. 6 Loyola (1-0) held on for the win.

The Greyhounds, a perennial NCAA tournament participant, won their season opener for the 18th straight year. Loyola, which is 17-2 at Curley Field over the last four seasons, also downed the Hens for the 16th straight time since 1973.

Sophomore Matt Alrich (Calvert Hall/Timonium, MD) led the Blue Hens with two goals and an assist while senior Jason Motta (Lakeland-Panas/Peekskill, NY) added a goal and two assists and senior Dave Christopher (Springfield, PA HS), freshman Matt Lehmann (St. Mary's/Severna Park, MD), senior Jason Lavey (Harborfields/Huntington Station, NY), and Hopkins each scored once.

Gavin Prout led Loyola with three goals, all on extra-man situations, while Chris Summers added two goals and an assist.

Loyola outshot the Hens 42-26 but Delaware got a big effort from junior goalkeeper David Mullen (Ridley/Ridley Park, PA), who posted a career-high 22 saves.

After a 2-2 deadlock after the opening quarter, Loyola reeled off three straight goals to take a 5-2 lead with 8:26 left in the first half.

But Delaware answered immediately, scoring three straight goals of its own over a span of 3:43 to tie it back up at 5-5 with 3:07 left in the half. Prout scored an extra man goal with 1:53 left in the half to give Loyola a 6-5 halftime cushion.

Brundage scored two third quarter goals sandwiched around a goal by Delaware's Alrich to give Loyola an 8-6 lead heading into the final stanza. Hopkins scored the only goal of the final quarter as he took a feed from Motta and scored with 4:49 left to play, but Loyola held on the rest of the way for the win.

Delaware continues play this Wednesday, Feb. 28, when the Hens travel to Mt. St. Mary's.

AGATE:

Delaware......2....3.....1.....1.....7 (0-1)
Loyola.........2.....4....2.....0......8 (1-0)

Scoring: Delaware - Matt Alrich (2 goals, 1 assist), Jason Motta (1-2), Dave Christopher (1-1), Matt Lehmann (1-0), Jason Lavey (1-0), Willie Hopkins (1-0), Brad Downer (0-1); Loyola - Gavin Prout (3-0), Chris Summers (2-3), Stephen Brundage (2-0), Brad Bevis (1-0), Gunnar Goettelmann (0-2), Bobby Horsey (0-1); Shots: Delaware - 26, Loyola - 42; Saves: D - 22 (Dave Mullen); L - 10 (Mark Bloomquist); Faceoffs: D - 8, L - 11; Groundballs: D - 28, L - 36; Extra Man Goals: D 2 for 5, L - 3 for 5; Penalties: D - 8 for 7:00, L - 7 for 6:30; Clears: D - 26 of 36, L - 32 of 37; Attendance: 2,173.

 

- DDD -