When the horn sounded at the end of the first half, Loyola, 4-4 (1-0 Patriot League) found themselves with a slim 7-6 lead over Patriot League foe Lafayette, 3-5 (0-2 PL). The Greyhounds, who ended their four game losing streak on Wednesday with a close win over cross-town rival Towson, had struggled in all aspects of the game in the opening period. Lafayette had dominated draw controls with 12 to Loyola’s two, and shots with 13 to Loyola’s eight. Despite their one goal lead, the Greyhounds found themselves in a very difficult position and desperately needed to regroup in the locker room.

When the Greyhounds emerged for the second half it was a whole new ball game. Loyola rode an offensive surge all the way to a 22-12 victory, the most goals the Greyhounds have scored in a game since a 25-goal performance in 2002 vs. American.
Hannah Schmitt and Marlee Paton recorded the first three goals of the game before Lafayette cut the lead to one with back-to-back scores from Amanda Case and Laura Kleiber. Loyola pulled back up by three midway through the half before the Leopards scored four of the next six goals of the half.
Taryn VanThof scored under a minute into the second half to kickoff a 5-1 run. VanThof keyed the offense with her school record 15 draw controls, 14 of which came in the second half alone. Paton, who had four of Loyola’s seven goals in the first half notched another two late in the second, along with four assists. In all, nine different Greyhounds scored in the contest. Paton’s 10 points were a career-high; Annie Thomas added five goals and three assists as well.
In the second half Loyola won 21 of 22 draw controls and out shot the Leopards 20 to nine. Lafayette was unable to put together any second half runs against the Hounds thanks to stout defense and efficient offense. Molly Dickerson, Elizabeth Barranco and Megan Boepple all scored their first goals of the season for the Hounds with Dickerson adding an assist.
Ana White scored four goals to lead Lafayette; the Leopards did not record an assist during the game.
The second half has been a point of struggle for the Greyhounds in recent contests. After a big second half propelled Loyola to an upset of then No. 5 Virginia in their opener, the Greyhounds have struggled to create offense in the second frame. In Loyola’s losses to Hopkins and James Madison, the Hounds only managed four total goals in each second half. Against JMU, their second half performance squandered a 5-3 first half lead. Against Florida the Hounds entered the second half tied at five but were out shot by the Gators 19-9 in the second period on their way to a close 14-13 loss.
The Greyhounds nearly matched Penn State goal for goal in the second half but a poor offensive showing in the first period doomed the Hounds to their fourth straight defeat.
Loyola returns to action on Wednesday at Bucknell.