Loyola Delivers a Cleat of Reality to Johns Hopkins
In lacrosse when you “play catch” with the opposing goalie you aren’t going to win many games. That is what the Johns Hopkins offense did today in a 10-7 loss at Loyola. The Blue Jays had 22 shots on cage but Sam Shafer had 15 saves most of which were garden variety. A goalie’s easiest save is a high shot, stick side. That is what Shafer got today. The Greyhounds also held Cole Williams and Joey Epstein without a point. Meanwhile Kevin Lindley wearing the famed number 7 had 4 goals including a first half dive from goal line extended.
Loyola won the face-off battle 12-8 and the ground ball war 29-22. Forry Smith had 3 goals for Hopkins in a losing cause. After the game Loyola talked about how important this game was after losing at Virginia to open the season. Kevin Lindley said ” it puts a lot less pressure on us to win the Patriot League, that we can get a out-of-league game.” On the Hopkins side coach Dave Petromala said the coaching staff went back and forth all week about whether to start Joey Epstein. They decided to start him and he looked like a player who was seeing his first action against another team since the fall.
No time to dwell on this one for Hopkins as #9 North Carolina comes to Homewood next Saturday off a 24-8 win over Lafayette. Loyola hosts Rutgers next Saturday.
