The No. 15 Loyola University Maryland women’s lacrosse team had no trouble against Holy Cross Saturday afternoon, rolling over the Crusaders, 19-5, for the Greyhounds’ largest margin of victory on the season.
Loyola (8-4 overall, 4-0 Patriot League) has now won six straight games after a 2-4 start that saw the Greyhounds lose three games by just one goal. It seems that the Hounds have found their groove entering the last month-and-a-half of the season.
Saturday’s thrashing of Holy Cross (5-7, 3-2 PL) was truly a team effort. Although four players finished with hat tricks, eight finished with at least one goal in the victory.
Senior Marlee Paton and junior Molly Hulseman led the way, each recording four goals and two assists apiece. Hulseman’s four scores were a career-high. Junior Annie Thomas notched six assists and a goal, finishing with a team-high seven points. Junior Kara Burke and sophomore Maddy Blakeman each recorded three goals as well.
“It was a really balanced team effort today against a top Patriot League team, and it’s exciting for us to get our sixth win in a row,” Loyola head coach Jen Adams said. “I feel like we’re really getting on a nice little run here as an important part of our season approaches.”
The first two Loyola scores of the game were nearly identical, as Thomas found Paton right in front of the net for the first two goals of the game just two minutes in.
Thomas recorded her third assist in just the third minute, finding Burke, who flicked the ball into the net for the first of her three scores on the day.
“Marlee and I work really well together because we’re both left-handed, so we have done this in the past, but it was really good to get back into it and find the open people,” Thomas said of her two early assists to Paton.
The Greyhounds completely dominated Holy Cross in the face-off category, winning 19 of their 26 face-offs throughout the game. Redshirt junior Taryn VanThof has pulled within nine draw controls of Michelle Meyer’s school record of 180. VanThof leads the Patriot League with 66 draw controls on the season, and even recorded a goal against the Crusaders.
“Taryn’s a master of her craft,” Coach Adams said. “She works closely with Dana Dobbie, our assistant, who really, in the same way, has got a handle on the draw.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Molly Wolf started the game and got the win, while freshman Taylor Caldwell played the entire second half in goal, stopping a career-high six shots and only surrendering one goal.
VanThof and junior Sydney Thomas led the team with four ground balls apiece, while Thomas also added two goals.
“I think that we haven’t played our best game yet, so I think that’s something that we’re really gunning for, and we want to show everyone what we can do,” Paton said.
The Greyhounds next travel to Colgate for a 1 p.m. Patriot League game next Saturday.