It’s the big one, and the wait is almost over. Coming up on Saturday, Feb. 15, The Battle of Charles Street is one of the most intense rivalries in men’s lacrosse. It pits two of Baltimore’s most storied lacrosse programs, Johns Hopkins University and Loyola University Maryland, against each other.
Last season, the Greyhounds finished with an overall record of seven wins and eight losses. The team finished sixth in Patriot League standings and claimed the last spot in the conference playoffs. Last season was the first time since 2015 that the team did not finish with a record above 0.500, and they hope to turn that around this season.
For this big match and the 2025 season, Coach Charley Toomey has a unique challenge having added so many new players to the roster. This team has a fresh new look with 22 new players coming in. 19 of them are freshmen, while three are transfers.
Toomey is not discouraged by this, however. He is excited for the season and is anticipating strong performances from his players.
“I like the energy that this team plays with, and I believe we will again be able to compete at a high level,” Toomey said.
The Greyhounds hope to repeat their successful 2012 lacrosse season, in which they were the NCAA Conference Champions with a nearly undefeated 18-1 record. This feat was also accomplished under Coach Toomey’s direction. New recruit Mason Cook ‘28 also expressed that he is ready for the season to begin.
“I’m so excited to be a freshman here and start playing on a new team,” Cook said.
In addition to new players, the lacrosse team will also add a new member to their coaching staff. Following in his father’s footsteps, Sean Cottle is joining the Greyhounds men’s lacrosse team as an assistant coach. Sean is the son of Dave Cottle, who coached at Loyola from 1983 to 2001.
“I am excited to welcome Sean to our staff. He has a passion for developing talent and I’ve enjoyed watching him develop our players on and off the field,” Toomey said.
This season is a big one for Greyhounds Lacrosse, as the team has a lot of new prospects. Fans are already waiting in eager anticipation of the big match.
“The Battle of Charles Street is the most exciting part of the spring for me personally. It’s a lot of fun seeing everyone at Ridley supporting the team,” Greyhounds lacrosse fan Ryan Haskell ‘26 said.
This game is bigger than any other lacrosse match. Fans from all over Loyola come out to support the team. Greyhounds lacrosse player Brady West ‘26 commented on the importance of the game.
“The Battle of Charles Street is more than just a non-conference game, it’s for a sense of pride not only as a team but for the school. Seeing all of our classmates in the stands shows the power that this game has on the Loyola community and how important it is to beat them,” West said.
The rivalry is rich in history and tradition, named after Charles Street, the road that runs through the center of Baltimore and connects the two campuses. It has been going on for decades, with the two teams meeting over 60 times. Loyola has faced 50 losses against Hopkins, including a staggering 30-game losing streak between 1939 and 1993. Loyola’s longest win streak is three games (2018-2020). Their largest victory came in 1999 with a 14-5 win, while their closest game was a thrilling 9-8 victory in 2016.
Despite their struggles historically, the Greyhounds have started to tip the balance in their favor in the rivalry. Loyola has a 7-3 record over the teams’ last 10 matchups (2013-2024).
This game is one of the most anticipated events at Loyola, bringing an abundance of excitement to campus. Women’s lacrosse goalkeeper Lauren Spence ‘25 commented on the importance of the match to Loyola fans.
“This is more than just a game, it is a local rivalry that has a lot of history, and seeing all the support we get for this one game shows how important a win is for Loyola,” Spence said.
