Loyola’s men’s lacrosse team rolled over No. 8 University of Virginia on Saturday, Feb. 13 with a final score of 11-4. Senior Tyler Albrecht scored a game-high three goals, and the team shut out the Cavaliers in both the first and fourth quarters. This was powerhouse UVA’s lowest-scoring game since an April 2005 loss to Duke, due in part to a shining performance by the Hounds defense, led by sophomore goaltender Grant Limone. But for three Loyola seniors, the excitement started long before the season began.
Tyler Albrecht, Zach Herreweyers and David Manning were all selected in the Major League Lacrosse Draft in late January, joining the 10 other Loyola men’s lacrosse players who have been picked up by the league in the last four years. Albrecht, a midfielder, was picked 15th overall by the Atlanta Blaze and joins former teammate Scott Ratliff, ’13. Albrecht was third on the team in goals scored last season and fifth in ground balls, starting all 15 games in his junior season.
David Manning was picked 43rd overall by the New York Lizards, and will join former teammate and current Loyola Director of Men’s Lacrosse, Joe Fletcher, ’13. Manning rejoined the team this past Saturday after missing a season with a serious knee injury. Manning’s return will be key to the defense, as he had at least one ground ball in all but one game that he played in during the 2014 season.
Lastly, attackman Zach Herreweyers was picked 47th overall by the Chesapeake Bayhawks who play at the famed Naval Academy stadium. Herreweyers tallied 47 goals in the 2015 season, leading all of the Patriot League, which helped him get named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Herreweyers shared what it was like to wait for the news of being drafted, after a life-long lacrosse career that started when he was in sixth grade.
“It was a stressful day for me, the week leading up to that day felt like it was taking forever. But when I finally saw the news, it was an unbelievable feeling. I was able to watch the draft with a few other teammates who were also selected so it was nice to have them around with me” he explained.
What many college lacrosse spectators may not know is that Major League Lacrosse often does not pay the equivalent of other professional sports, leading players to also have full-time careers off the pitch. For example, reigning MLL defensive player of the year and Loyola fan-favorite Fletcher worked for PriceWaterhouse Coopers in Baltimore while also juggling his responsibilities with the Lizards right after graduation. Fletcher was named Loyola Director of Men’s Lacrosse on Dec. 7, 2015, and still plays for the Long Island-based team.
Juggling a full-time office job and a demanding career on the field is a reality for many MLL players, and one that they take on eagerly. “Getting the opportunity to keep playing the game that has brought me so many things in life makes it all worth for me,” Herreweyers concluded. “Without lacrosse, I wouldn’t be at Loyola or even playing college lacrosse anywhere in the country, so having the chance to keep playing the game I love is something I wouldn’t change for anything.”
The recently drafted trio looks to finish their last college run strong, and repeat their team’s dominating play against UVA at the home opener this Saturday, Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. versus Charles Street neighbors and rivals Johns Hopkins.
Cover photo courtesy of Loyola Athletics
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