Men's Lacrosse Preview: Expectations high for Greyhound's 2010 season
Rich Conforti
Issue date: 2/23/10 Section: Sports
Just two weeks removed from the biggest snowfall in Maryland history, Loyola sports fans turn their attention to the lacrosse field, as the program turns over a new leaf in its history. The commencing of the 2010 will carry extra weight for the team, as it marks the opening of the brand new Ridley Athletic Complex. The field will serve as the home to the Loyola lacrosse program, as the team will practice there and provide the coaching staff with offices inside of the facility.
The 2010 version of the team hopes to build upon the success and accolades of the 2009 team, with the goal of an NCAA championship in place. The team looks poised to make a run deep into the tournament, and is the preseason favorite to win the ECAC conference. Loaded with depth on both sides of the field, look for the Hounds to be one of the fastest and most athletic teams in the country.
The schedule will provide the team with first-rate competition that will only benefit the squad as they look to be the last team standing in late May. Match-ups with Duke, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Johns Hopkins highlight the team's out of conference schedule. The in-conference schedule will also provide challenges in its own way, as many of the teams that Loyola will face are new foes for the team.
Exposure certainly will not be an issue for this year's team, as they are slated to play in five nationally televised games (Air Force, Towson, Ohio State, Georgetown, and Hopkins). The team's early season match-up with the Fighting Irish will take place at M&T Bank Field, home of Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens. On May 2, the team will travel west to Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium, to play new conference rival Denver, led by former Princeton coach Bill Tiereny.
Position-by-position, the Hounds have the talent to compete with and beat anyone in the country. They will be looking for contributions from many returning players, as well as several freshmen that will be asked to step into major roles on the team.
The 2010 version of the team hopes to build upon the success and accolades of the 2009 team, with the goal of an NCAA championship in place. The team looks poised to make a run deep into the tournament, and is the preseason favorite to win the ECAC conference. Loaded with depth on both sides of the field, look for the Hounds to be one of the fastest and most athletic teams in the country.
The schedule will provide the team with first-rate competition that will only benefit the squad as they look to be the last team standing in late May. Match-ups with Duke, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Johns Hopkins highlight the team's out of conference schedule. The in-conference schedule will also provide challenges in its own way, as many of the teams that Loyola will face are new foes for the team.
Exposure certainly will not be an issue for this year's team, as they are slated to play in five nationally televised games (Air Force, Towson, Ohio State, Georgetown, and Hopkins). The team's early season match-up with the Fighting Irish will take place at M&T Bank Field, home of Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens. On May 2, the team will travel west to Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium, to play new conference rival Denver, led by former Princeton coach Bill Tiereny.
Position-by-position, the Hounds have the talent to compete with and beat anyone in the country. They will be looking for contributions from many returning players, as well as several freshmen that will be asked to step into major roles on the team.
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