By Tom Peace
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 5/17/13
TOWSON, Md. – In what will be considered one of the most miraculous runs to a major high school league championship in years, upstart Loyola Blakefield stunned No. 1 Boys’ Latin, 10-9, tonight in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship game at Towson University’s Johnny Unitas Stadium.
The sixth-seeded Dons (13-8) knocked off the top three seeds of the tourney and rallied tonight from deficits of 6-0 and then 9-7 to knock off a Lakers teams that entered play at 19-0 and was ranked No. 1 all season in every national poll.
Loyola Blakefield – which last claimed the crown in 2008 – won it with 1:56 to play on a goal by Tim Nordbrook, who capped a 3-0 run that he began with just under four minutes to play.
Loyola tied it with less than three minutes left as Ryan Conrad scored off a feed from Devin McNamara.
Boys’ Latin had taken a 9-7 lead with consecutive goals by Devin Shewell (Shack Stanwick assist with 11:10 to play) and Michael Lynch (Stanwick) with 4:56 left.
“It’s unbelievable, I am pretty much speechless,” said Loyola Blakefield senior Devin McNamara. “I was ready to hang up my jersey after the Calvert Hall game (a 12-5 loss to seemingly put the Dons out of the playoffs). But we kept pushing and the seniors got together and said we weren’t giving up. We just kept playing.”
Did the Dons lose confidence when they fell behind 6-0?
“I think a big part some of it was that the young guys didn’t believe we could beat them because they were No. 1 in the country, that they are amazing and that no one can beat them,” McNamara said “But at halftime – actually in the second quarter we (outscored them) 4-1 and our guys started to believe.
“We just kept pushing and we were able to come out on top. Like I said, I am speechless. It is unbelievable. Ever since I started at Loyola in 6th grade one of my dreams was to win the MIAA championship my senior year.
“Who knew?”
Loyola’s defense was brilliant against what many would consider one of the the most potent offensive teams in the nation. The unit of Cole Luthy, Bennett Bradley, Michael Freiji and Parker Sessions was brilliant, especially in the final three periods when the Lakers managed just three goals on sophomore netminder Acie Newton (seven saves).
Also for Loyola, Kevin O’Toole won 13 of 23 face-offs.
Loyola coach Jack Crawford had only praise for his players and coaches.
“Loyola lacrosse is all about two things: The team comes first and we fight,” he said. “Our senior leadership this year has been spectacular. This has been some of the best senior leadership I have seen in my career.
“I think once we got a couple goals – I guess (when we) got it to 6-3 – I think we felt it wasn’t going to snowball out of control like last year (the 17-3 loss to Calvert Hall).
“That was running through the back of my mind when it was 6-0. It was, ‘Oh God, here we go again.’ But this class had fought through so many adverse situations; they just don’t know how to roll over and play dead. They haven’t done it all year.”
Loyola Blakefield 10, Boys’ Latin 9
Loyola Blakefield 0-3-4-4-10
Boys’ Latin 6-1-0-2- 9
Loyola Blakefield
Ryan Conrad 2g
Tim Nordbrook 4g, 1a
DevinMcNamara 2g, 4a
Tyler Llewellyn 1g
Alex Roesner 1g
Kevin Jackson 1a
Acie Newton 7 saves
Kevin O’Toole 13 of 23 FO
Boys’ Latin
Shack Stanwick 1g, 2a
Keegan O’Connor 1g
Tally Bruno 1g
Michael Lynch 2g
DevinShewell 1g
Colin Heacock 3g
Christian Knight 9 saves
Some tweets after the game ended:
TOP_LAX_RECRUITS ?@toplaxrecruits
BREAKING: LOYOLA-BLAKEFIELD BEATS #1 BOYS LATIN 10-9!!!!!
Ty Xanders ?@tyxanders
Loyola wins the MIAA title, 10-9. The sixth seed with a 3-6 league record just beat undefeated No. 1 Boys’ Latin. Can’t make this stuff up.
Loyola Blakefield ?@LoyolaDons
Dons win! Final score, 10-9. Loyola takes down the top ranked team in the nation. Congratulations to the players,.
Drew Wardlow ?@drewwardlow
@BaltimoreLax: BREAKING: LOYOLA-BLAKEFIELD BEATS #1 BOYS LATIN 10-9!!!!!” WHAT!!!!!! Is this real life?
ILPreps ?@ILPreps
FINAL: Loyola Blakefield (Md.) 10, No. 1 Boys’ Latin (Md.) 9. Upset of the century.
Mason Lacrosse ?@MasonLacrosse
#1 team in US w/ 24 D1 commits loses in MD finals “@ILPreps: FINAL: Loyola Blakefield (Md) 10, Boys Latin (Md) 9. Upset of the century.”
TOP_LAX_RECRUITS ?@toplaxrecruits
The Dons came into the tournament the 6th seed as a result to Mount St Joseph’s beating St Mary’s Annapolis in double OT
24 Seven Lax ?@24SevenLax
#MIAA lacrosse is a testament to the adage, “on any given day…” Hats off to Loyola and Boys’ Latin for unbelievable seasons.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.