March 24, 2007
Box Score
Baltimore, Md. - Sophomore goalie Alex Peaty matched a career-high with 15 saves and seven Loyola players scored goals as the Greyhounds defeated Massachusetts by a 10-8 score at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field on Saturday afternoon. Winning their fourth in a row, the `Hounds improve to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the ECAC this season.
Senior Greg Leonard, one of three Greyhounds to score two goals, gave Loyola an early lead with a first-quarter tally just five minutes into regulation. Senior Dan Bauers knocked in an extra-man goal at 4:41 of the stanza and despite being out-shot 13-5; Loyola led 2-1 after 15 minutes of play.
Peaty, who made five saves in the first quarter, made five more in the second to keep the Greyhounds ahead. After UMass took a 3-2 lead, the `Hounds responded with three straight to close the half. Senior Cory Coffman started the run at 6:31 of the quarter, senior Andrew Spack added a man-up goal at 4:13, and senior Patrick Kennedy scored with 50 seconds on the first-half clock to give the `Hounds a 5-3 edge.
UMass, however, responded with two goals to start the third quarter and evened the game at 5-5 with 24 minutes left in regulation. Once again, Loyola answered with a run. This time, the Greyhounds scored four unanswered to take the lead for good.
Senior Ryan Rabidou ignited the run when he started a play from behind the cage. Rabidou found Leonard in the crease and Leonard put home his second goal of the day to give the `Hounds a 6-5 lead. Paul Richards scored three and a half minutes later and a goal from sophomore Jake Willcox with 12 seconds left in the third quarter put Loyola in control.
The Greyhounds increased their margin to 9-5 when Coffman scored at 13:02 of the fourth quarter. Spack, who scored a man-up goal in the second quarter, closed Loyola's scoring with a man-up goal in the fourth and Peaty and the defense did the rest in holding on for the win.
"Alex [Peaty] played a fantastic game today," says Loyola Head Coach Charley Toomey. "Every time we had a break down on defense, he was there and made another big save."
Peaty registered 15 saves in Loyola's season opener at Notre Dame and posted 12 saves in each of Loyola's previous two games helping him to a season total of 68 saves after six games. As a team, the Greyhounds are allowing eight goals per game.
Loyola is 3-0 in the ECAC for the first time in its three-year history in the league, while UMass falls to 0-1 in conference play. The Greyhounds are home again next Saturday when they host Syracuse at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field. That game will be televised live on ABC-2 and ESPNU and begins at 1:05 p.m.
