**Breaking: Navy Lacrosse Faces Crucial Road Test at Loyola, Highlighting Key Storylines in Back-and-Forth Rivalry; Navy Seeks to Snap 4-Game Skid and dấu
Navy Men’s Lacrosse Eyes History as They Face Loyola in Regular Season Finale
Setting the Stage
Anchoring the east coast, two rivalry giants are set to clash in the final game of the Patriot League regular season. **Navy (7-5, 3-3 Patriot League)** visits **Loyola (2-10, 2-4 Patriot League)** at the Ridley Athletic Complex in Baltimore on Friday at 7:00 pm. CBS Sports Network will broadcast the action with Jason Knapp and Evan Washburn on the call, and for local listeners, Joe Miller will provide color commentary on 1430 AM / 99.9 FM WNAV and 1500 AM WFED, with the Navy Lacrosse Pregame Show starting at 6:45 pm.
Countdown to Faceoff: Key Players and Stats
- 10 different starting lineups have been fielded by Navy this season, but Mac Haley, AJ Marsh, Jacob Darrow, and Dan Daly have started every game.
- 9 is the magic number for senior attackman Henry Tolker, who is tied for 9th on Navy’s all-time goals scored list with 91. If he extends this record, Tolker will surpass Navy’s all-time leading scorer Ian Dingman‘s record (125 goals from 2003-07).
- 8 times has Navy won (or shared) the Patriot League regular-season title since joining the league in 2004.
- 7 consecutive games with a goal streak is on the line for senior attackman Carter Ash.
- 6 freshmen have never scored 17 assists before this season, but Navy’s midfielder William Goers is tied for 6th on Navy’s all-time freshman assists list with 17.
- 5 losses against nationally-ranked opponents this season test the Mids’ resolve, with a virus-impacted 2020 campaign now in their rearview mirror.
- 4 goals scored by Navy pole defenseman AJ Marsh— tied fourth-most in program history for a defenseman—alongside 4 assists, showcasing his versatility.
- 3 of the last 4 Navy-Loyola matchups have been decided by 2 goals or fewer, with Loyola defeating Navy 12-10 last season before Navy exacted revenge in the Patriot League tournament.
- 2 is the magic number for midfielder and team captain Jack Ponzio‘s shooting percentage (41.5), tied for second nationally among midfielders.
- 1 loss in the Joe Amplo era (since 2020) when holding opponents to single digits, making this stat line critical for the contest.
Navy-Loyola Rivalry Background
Originating in 1939, the Navy-Loyola rivalry has seen its shares of tight games, with the series tied 13-13 in their last 26 meetings. Friday’s contest marks the eighth game played in Baltimore, with Loyola leading 5-2. However, Navy has taken the Greyhounds’ field twice in the last three encounters, including an 11-10 thriller in 2023.
Scouting Loyola Greyhounds
Charley Toomey, in his 20th season at the helm, has guided the 2-10 Greyhounds to an approximation of their 2021 campaign (3-13). Close losses—including 5 by a single goal—belie Loyola’s record, making this duel a tougher test for Navy than the standings suggest.
- Matthew Minicus (Jr / A) leads Loyola with 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists).
- Max Watkinson (Jr / GK) anchors the defense with an 11.05 goals-against average and 56.8 save percentage.
- The faceoff responsibilities are shared among Carson Hall (So / 93/181), Sawyer Allen (Sr / 14/64), and Mason Graves (Fr / 13/24).
Plenty of Goals Coming Navy’s Way?
An impressive 23 Navy players have scored a goal this season, already tying the program record set last year. This offensive prowess, coupled with their 124-16 record when scoring 10 or more goals since 2004, has fans dreaming of a high-scoring affair. However, defensive intensity will be crucial to secure their fourth win in the last five games against Loyola.
Did You Know?
Navy has an astonishing 93.6% win rate when scoring 15 or more goals in the game since 2004.
FAQ
- Q: How many times have Navy and Loyola met?
- A: They’ve clashed 20 times overall, with Loyola winning 13 of those. Loyola has been a Patriot League member for 9 of those meetings.
- Q: Who’s the all-time leading scorer in Navy lacrosse history?
- A: Ian Dingman, with 125 goals from 2003-07.
- Q: What’s Navy’s best streak of scoring 10+ goals in a season?
- A: 18 consecutive games in the 2020 season.
**Comment below** with your predictions for the game, and let us know if you believe Navy will continue their scoring streak against Loyola!