University of Delaware Men’s Lacrosse Faces Tough Task, Hosts Top-Ranked Loyola Saturday at 3 p.m.
February 15, 2013
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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• NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware men’s lacrosse squad will look to get back on the winning track but will have do so against a top-notch opponent Saturday afternoon when the Blue Hens host top-ranked and defending national champion Loyola at 3 p.m. at Delaware Stadium.
The Delaware-Loyola game will be the nightcap to a doubleheader that will begin at 12 noon with the Blue Hens women’s lacrosse squad opening its 2013 season against No. 15 ranked Georgetown.
Tickets for either game can be purchased at the Delaware Stadium ticket office one hour before faceoff. Single game tickets for adults are $5 for women’s games and $7 for men’s games. Youth (17 and under) and Senior (60 and older) prices are $3 for women’s games and $5 for men’s games. Students are admitted free with valid identification.
The Blue Hens (1-1), who earned votes in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) pre-season poll, opened the season with a 12-10 win over High Point Feb. 2 before dropping a 9-8 verdict to No. 18 Bucknell last Saturday. The Hens rallied back from an early 5-0 deficit to take the lead midway through the final quarter before Bucknell scored the game-winner with 3:30 left to play.
Loyola, which captured the NCAA Division I national title last season when the Greyhounds went 18-1, won their final six games, and defeated the University of Maryland to claim the national title, will be playing their season opener Saturday.
Delaware is led by senior attackman Eric Smith who has a team-high six goals this season, including a career-high four against Bucknell, Connor McRoy (at right; four goals), and Nick Diachenko (three goals) and goalkeeper Chris Herbert (9.62 goals against average, .537 save percentage).
Loyola returns six of its top seven scorers for head coach Charley Toomey, including Mike Sawyer, who recorded 52 goals a year ago and has 92 for his career to rank No. 8 among active NCAA Division I players.
Delaware, which will be looking to knock off the Greyhounds for the first time since 1992, will be playing a No. 1 ranked team for the first time since April 28, 1999 when the Blue Hens went up against top-ranked Loyola and fell by a 19-11 score in Baltimore. The Greyhounds are the first No. 1 ranked team to visit Newark since Loyola came to town as the nation’s top-ranked team in 1994 and left with a 16-12 win.
