Spencer on mark in win for ’Hounds
Attackman excels in homecoming with four goals, eight assists
Patrick Spencer grew up going to college and professional lacrosse games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Davidsonville resident may have played his last collegiate contest at the facility on Saturday so he decided to put on a show.
Spencer tied the school record for points in a game with 12 in leading No. 8 Loyola to an impressive 15-9 victory over Navy on a cold, dark day in Annapolis. Spencer, who scored four goals and added eight assists, matched the point output of Gary Hanley, who totaled 12 against Morgan State on April 25, 1979.
“It’s always fun to play here. This is a great atmosphere. I grew up watching games here – both Navy and the MLL. Any time I get to come back close to home to play it’s pretty fun,” said Spencer, whose previous career-high for points was 10.
Senior midfielder Jay Drapeau and freshman attackman Aidan Olmstead also scored four goals apiece for Loyola (5-2, 3-0), which remains unbeaten in Patriot League play just behind Lehigh (4-0). Junior goalkeeper Junior midfielder P.J. Brown had two assists for the Greyhounds, who used a 7-1 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to take total control.
“I’m real proud of my team today. We came down here and were in a real fight, a Patriot League battle,” Loyola head coach Charley Toomey said. “I’m just proud of our effort today. We were able to make a few adjustments at halftime and were able to get out of here with a win.”
Senior attackman Jack Ray scored three goals to lead Navy (4-4, 3-1), which took a 3-1 lead after one period. Freshman attackman Christian Daniel added two goals for the Midshipmen, who committed 17 turnovers and had many of their 44 shots go wide and high.
“Too many mistakes, too many mistakes, too many mistakes – that was really the story,” Navy head coach Rick Sowell said. “We didn’t shoot the ball well and had a high number of turnovers. We knew coming in that we couldn’t afford to play a sloppy game, and unfortunately we did.”
Spencer delivered pinpoint passes on time and on target. The 6-foot-3, 190pounder made an unbelievable sidearm backhand pass to Olmstead on the crease for a goal, somehow threading the needle between two defenders.
Spencer juked defenders to score goals himself or draw slides and find open teammates. The Boys’ Latin graduate stuck a tremendous low-to-high shot into the top corner from a tough angle then capped the day by netting his fourth goal on a sidearm backhand flip that was very similar to the aforementioned assist.
“No. 7 is a special player, no doubt about it. Four goals and eight assists: Wow! That’s a career for some guys and he gets that in one game,” Sowell said.
Loyola assistant Marc Van Arsdale, who spent 15 years in the same role at Virginia, told Sowell after the game that Spencer is the best player he’s coached.
“That just puts into perspective how good a player Pat is,” said Sowell, noting that Van Arsdale coached Tewaaraton Award recipient Steele Stanwick along with several Turnbull Award (Attackman of the Year) and McLaughlin Award (Midfielder of the Year) winners. Radio: Loyola 1 4 5 5 - 15 Navy 3 2 1 3 - 9 GOALS: L – Spencer 4, Olmstead 4, Drapeau 4, Lindley, Swindell, McGovern. N – Ray 3, Daniel 2, Wade, Hill, Varello, Durden. ASSISTS: L– Spencer 8, Brown 2. N – Hill, Torain, Varello, Wade. SHOTS: L–33.N–44. SAVES: L – Stover 12. N – Kern 7.