Two Baltimore college lacrosse teams, each ranked top ten in the country, are ready to face off this weekend.
Loyola vs. Johns Hopkins.
For Loyola, they enter 0-1 after dropping their season opener to Virginia 16-15. Coming off last year’s national semifinal appearance, things have changed.
“Now that we made it to the final four, we want to get back there,” said Loyola midfielder Zac Davliakos. “There are a lot of teams we play that want to take us down and try to make it their big game of the year. We have a target on our back.”
The Greyhounds sit number nine in the nation. Johns Hopkins is number five.
“This game is huge. It’s massive,” said Davliakos.
“When it’s Johns Hopkins and it’s Loyola I know that both sidelines are going to be pretty energetic and there’s going to be a lot of fans in the stands,” said Loyola head coach Charley Toomey. “It’s become one that I think both teams kind of circle on their schedule.”
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The all-time series between these two teams has been pretty one-sided over the years. Hopkins leads 47-6. But the Hounds have won three straight against the Blue Jays and Hopkins doesn’t want to make it four straight.
“It means a lot,” said Johns Hopkins attacker Shack Stanwick. “For the seniors it means a little bit more. They haven’t beat them yet. That’s one of the things we’re focusing on, get those seniors a win.”
“Any time you have two schools that are, number one, quality lacrosse programs, and number two, are within less than a mile proximity, you are going to have a game that’s extraordinarily competitive and that’s very exciting for a lot of people,” added Hopkins head coach Dave Pietramala.
The Jays look to remain perfect on the young season after winning their first two games.
“Hopefully things fall into place and hopefully we’re lucky enough to win,” said Stanwick. “They’re a good team so it will be a tough battle.”
Gametime Saturday is 1:00 p.m. at the Home of Hopkins, Homewood Field.
