Loyola’s late-season revival continues.
The Greyhounds, who were 5-5 in mid-April following losses to Army and Navy, have now avenged both of those defeats and will look to do the same against Lehigh in the Patriot League championship game Sunday.
No. 16 Loyola scored three unanswered goals to start the fourth quarter and held off No. 9 Army 11-10 in the conference semifinals Friday in Bethlehem, Pa.
It was the Greyhounds’ second top-10 victory in nine days. An 11-9 win over No. 10 Georgetown last Thursday helped propel them into the Patriot League tournament. Loyola then throttled No. 12 Navy 16-9 in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
The goals were harder to come by Friday against Army’s No. 4-ranked defense that came in allowing just 9.1 per game and features Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Hudgins. But Peter Swindell converted on a man-up opportunity with 53 seconds left in the third quarter to tie the game at 7 and punctuated the fourth-quarter flurry that gave the Greyhounds a 10-7 lead.
Brendan Nichtern, the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, sparked the Black Knights’ late rally. He bodied up 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman Cam Wyers and shot around his large frame to pull Army within one with 4:03 remaining.
The Black Knights had multiple chances to tie the game, but Loyola goalie Sam Shafer — who was yanked in the Greyhounds’ 12-7 loss to Army on April 10 — stopped a stepdown shot by Nicholas Garafano with 1:09 left for his 12th save.
“He’s been a rock for us,” Loyola coach Charley Toomey said afterward on CBS Sports Network. “I joked around with him, ‘When I pulled you, it may have been the fire-starter under your belly.’ He is a big reason we are where we are right now. He’s leading us.”
No. 8 Lehigh is next on the Greyhounds’ redemption tour. They’ll play the host Mountain Hawks in the Patriot League championship game Sunday at 12 p.m. Eastern (CBS Sports Network). Lehigh defeated Loyola 10-6 on March 6.
Army will have to hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, a distinct possibility given the Black Knights’ favorable RPI (8) and wins over Syracuse, Loyola and Navy.
Nichtern led all scorers with six points on three goals and three assists.
Lehigh Advances to Patriot League Final
John Sidorski had three goals and three assists, leading top-seeded Lehigh to a 13-9 win over Colgate in the Patriot League semifinals Friday in Bethlehem, Pa.
The Mountain Hawks (10-1), ranked No. 8 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Top 20, rebounded from a lopsided loss to Villanova in its regular season finale last week.
“It was disappointing to lose versus Villanova, but this week in practice we reset,” Sidorski said on CBS Sports Network after the game. “We put it behind us and we’re ready to keep going.”
“The beauty of our offense is we have guys that step up depending on the game. Today was John’s day,” coach Kevin Cassese said. “He was a little upset with way he played last week against Villanova. He got blanked. He took that to heart and came out with a chip on his shoulder.”
The Mountain Hawks advanced despite committing 23 turnovers, their second straight game with 20-plus miscues. They were just 20-for-26 (76.9 percent) clearing the ball after going 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) against Villanova.
Lehigh will face No. 16 Loyola in the Patriot League championship game Sunday.
High Point Headed to NCAA Tournament for First Time Since 2015
High Point became the first team to secure a spot in the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse tournament, jumping out to a big lead and holding off a late surge to defeat host Richmond 11-8 in the Southern Conference championship game Friday. Kevin Rogers scored three of his game-high four goals in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
Syracuse Ends Tumultuous Day, Regular Season on High Note
As suspended Syracuse lacrosse star Chase Scanlan faced a domestic violence-related charge in court Friday, his Orange teammates sent multiple messages in a 21-14 win over Robert Morris in their regular season finale Friday at the Carrier Dome.
PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
Bethlehem, Pa.
Semifinals
No. 8 Lehigh 13, Colgate 9
No. 9 Army vs. No. 16 Loyola
Championship Game
No. 9 Army at No. 8 Lehigh – Sunday, 12 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)