By Madeleine Nichols
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 5/18/14

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – Cam Marsh had five goals and an assist to lead Upper Arlington (OH) to a 13-3 rout of Loyola Academy (IL) Saturday in the first round of the North American Lacrosse Invitational at Brother Rice High.

The win advanced the defending Ohio state champion Golden Bears (15-2) into this morning’s Blue Division championship against state rival Dublin Jerome – a 12-7 winner over Worthington Kilbourne.

Last year Upper Arlington defeated Dublin Jerome, 7-6, in the state finals. This year it opened with a 10-6 win over the Celtics.

The tourney matches nearly every top-rated teams in the Midwest, with three four-team divisions. The big upset occurred when host Brother Rice downed Hill Academy (Ontario, Canada), 13-12, in the Red Division semis. Hill Academy was ranked No. 3 in the Warrior/TopLaxRecruits Rankings and Brother Rice was unranked.

In Saturday’s win over defending Illinois state champion Loyola (12-4), the Golden Bears raced to an 8-2 halftime lead and coasted to the win.

“It is a really good opportunity [to play some of the biggest teams in the Midwest] especially just getting out of central Ohio and just kind of expanding the different levels of what we usually play,” said Marsh, a senior attackman and co-captain who is headed to Swarthmore College. “It is a good opportunity to see some new competition and really test ourselves as a team.

“The competition at this tournament is excellent. Some of the best teams in the country are here and it’s probably one of the best places and tournaments we can play at this year.”

Also for Upper Arlington, junior attackman Jack Pardi had two goals and two assists and junior midfielder Griffin Caldwell added two goals.

“It is so awesome because a lot of these teams are just the elite teams in the Midwest,” said Pardi. “It’s nice to get to play people that are out of our conference.

“This competition is great. It’s the best you’ll find around the Midwest.”

Upper Arlington 13, Loyola Academy 3

Upper Arlington: 2-6-3-2—13
Loyola Academy: 1-1-0-1—3

Upper Arlington
Jack Pardi 2g, 2a
Cam Marsh 5g, 1a
Griffin Caldwell 2g
Will Myers 1a
Justin Wick 1g, 2a
Danny Logan 1a
Kyle Roberts 1g
Maxwell Rankin 1a
Carter Braet 1g
Stuart Townsley 1g
Nicko Schuman 1a
Christain Carlin 8 saves

Loyola Academy
John O’Connell 2g
Brian Callahan 2a
Jack Penn 1g, 1a
Mark Dezell 5 saves