March 20, 2004
BALTIMORE, Md. – The 10th-ranked University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team (1-3) again suffered from a slow start, falling behind 7-1 en route to dropping a 13-7 decision against #16 Loyola (2-2) Saturday afternoon at Geppi-Aikens Field. The Irish, who have lost three straight, will have only three days off before playing host to #14 Hofstra at 7 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday in the Loftus Sports Center. The Pride will be the fifth ranked foe for the Irish in as many games this season.
Notre Dame, which was down 5-1 in last Sunday’s loss to #9 North Carolina, was led offensively by sophomore A Pat Walsh (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh H.S.), who had two goals and an assist.
The Greyhounds scored the first four goals of the game — including three in a 1:08 span — before the Irish got on the board with a score from sophomore M Brian Hubschmann (Short Hill, N.J./Delbarton H.S.). Loyola then scored three more times to open up a six-goal advantage with nine minutes remaining in the first half. Walsh and senior M Steve Clagett (Chesapeake Beach, Md./DeMatha Catholic H.S.) answered with goals and, after another Greyhound score, senior A Matt Howell (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington H.S.) took a pass from Hubschmann to make the score 8-4 heading into the locker room.
Senior M Owen Mulford (Ocean City, Md./Loyola Blakefield H.S.) scored his first of the season 5:05 into the third period to cut the lead to three. After a Greyhound tally 40 seconds later, senior A Dan Berger (Phoenix, Md./Boys’ Latin H.S.) netted a goal with 7:08 left to make it 9-6.
Loyola would score four of the game’s final five goals, with just an unassisted tally from Walsh late in the game breaking up the Greyhound assault.
For the third straight game, Notre Dame lost the ground ball battle. Loyola’s 43 were 10 more than the Irish managed, and the Greyhounds held a 13-6 edge in both the first and fourth quarters. Sophomores D D.J. Driscoll (Downington, Pa./Malvern Preparatory School) and M Matt Ryan (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley H.S.) led the Irish with four ground balls each.
The Irish, who came into the game as the top team in Divsion I in converting extra-man opportunities, failed to score on four man-up chances. Notre Dame, second in the nation in scoring offense coming in, also was held to a season low in goals.
Senior G Stewart Crosland (Bethesda, Md./Landon School) had a dozen saves.