LEWISBURG, Pa. – Loc San and David Gunter scored in the first half, and Loyola University Maryland held off a late charge from Bucknell to earn a 2-1 victory on Saturday which clinches both a playoff spot and the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League South division.

The Greyhounds (3-1-1 PL, 3-1 South) will host American (2-1-2 PL, 2-1-1 South) in a semifinal matchup at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night after the Eagles drew 1-1 with Navy earlier this afternoon. The Bison end their season with an overall record of 1-4-1 (1-3 South).

Loyola dominated play in the early stages of the contest and was rewarded with a goal just 13:34 into the opening half. Justin Ingram had an initial attempt stopped, but San was there to put home the rebound for his second goal of the spring.

Gunter came on as a substitute in the 35th minute, and he needed only three minutes on the field to double Loyola's advantage. Jordan Wiley sent a cross inside the box which Gunter tucked home on a sliding finish in front for his second collegiate goal (first since Oct. 24, 2018).

Shots overall were 9-5 in favor of the Greyhounds in the first half, and they also had the first five attempts after the intermission. 

Bucknell, though, came on strong during the final half hour. Matt Thorsheim had three-straight shot attempts, including one which went off the crossbar and another which was stopped by Chase Vosvick, and Sebastian Paz headed in a cross to open the scoring for the home side in the 68th minute.

Vosvick made two more stops in the following 10 minutes after Paz's goal, and Evan Peters came up with a big team save on the goal line to preserve Loyola's advantage with 10:30 remaining in regulation. 

That would turn out to be Bucknell's final scoring attempt, as the Greyhounds held the Bison without a shot the rest of the way. Loyola has now won two straight in the series after dropping the first seven contests between the two sides.

Vosvick made a season-high five saves in goal to improve to 32-17-5 lifetime at Loyola.

The Greyhounds now can look ahead to a third meeting this spring against American. The Eagles rallied for a 2-1 overtime victory in the first game, while the teams played to a 1-1 draw down in Washington, D.C., on April 3. Loyola has now advanced to the Patriot League tournament in each of the last five seasons.