No. 3 McDonogh boys lacrosse regains its form with 16-6 win over No. 9 Loyola Blakefield
McDonogh boys lacrosse needed Friday.
The two-time defending Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference champions, in the midst of a rare two-game slide, brought urgent energy, precise execution and a collective performance in celebrating a 16-6 home win over No. 9 Loyola Blakefield.
After the game, the No. 3 Eagles weren’t overly ecstatic with the important outcome, but they enjoyed a sense that order has been restored.
“We hit the complete reset button this week in practice, especially after Tuesday [a 10-9 loss to No. 7 Archbishop Spalding], and we just got refocused,” said senior captain Luke Miller, who led the attack with four goals and one assist. “We went over our team values and really dominated practice and came in with the intention of dominating today. I think we did that and executed that to perfection.”
In improving to 9-4 overall and 4-2 in league play, the Eagles also got two goals and two assists from Bogue Hahn and Eli Schaller, strong play in the circle from faceoff specialist Ciaran Sweeney and smothering work from defenseman Max Allen.
Hahn scored on the Eagles’ opening possession and they got goals from six players in building a 6-1 first-quarter lead that grew into an 11-3 halftime advantage. They never looked back.
In maintaining the lead, Allen did a fine job covering the Dons’ standout attackman, Mason Cook, whose one goal and one assist came in the second half. Eagles goalie Aidan Seibel finished with six saves.
“Huge day for us,” McDonogh coach Andy Hilgartner said. “Great energy from our guys, which we felt was somewhat lacking in our last couple games. So we really focused on coming out with a ton of energy.
“What I told the guys afterward was the game was won over the past 48 hours and how we prepared as a team. Just the seriousness we took on with our scouting and preparation for Loyola. They’ve been super competitive in every game, regardless of their record. So we knew we needed to come out and be at our best today and I felt that energy got us off to a great start in the first half.”
The Dons (3-8, 2-3) got a stellar 10-save performance from backup goalie Jesse D’Alonzo, who spelled starter Jack Donovan in the first half. Ty Bleach and Cooper Pasko each scored twice.
“They’re a good team and outplayed us,” Loyola coach Will Haus said. “Call it as it is, that was a beatdown and we got to get back to work. We got to do the little things right. We’ve got to catch and throw, got to get ground balls and if we’re not willing to do those things, it’s going to be tough. But I think we got a good group of guys that can fight back.”
Both teams return to league play Tuesday with McDonogh traveling to No. 1 Boys’ Latin and Loyola looking to rebound at home against No. 13 John Carroll.
Loyola — 1-2-1-2 — 6
McDonogh — 6-5-0-5 — 16
Goals: LB — Bleach 2, M. Cook, Rush, Pasko 2; M — Miller 4, Hahn 2, Millon, Firlie 2, Kasten, Schaller 2, Metz, London, Resnick 2
Assists: LB — M. Cook 2, Nicholas, Doran; M — Miller, Hahn 2, Millon, Tolker, Schaller 2, Metz
Saves: LB — D’Aonzo 10; M — Seibel 6, Edelen 2