Powers lives up to name
9-point game helps direct Loyola Maryland to NCAAs
Shutting down a team’s top offensive threat is always a critical coaching point in lacrosse.
No. 11 Loyola Maryland came up with a solid strategy for limiting prolific Navy attacker Kelly Larkin. Meanwhile, the No. 16 Midshipmen had no answer for Greyhounds scorer Hannah Powers.
Powers piled up nine points on four goals and five assists to lead top-seeded Loyola to a convincing 21-9 victory over secondseeded Navy in the Patriot League tournament final.
An announced crowd of 584 at Ridley Athletic Complex watched the host Greyhounds capture their first conference championship since 2016 and earn an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament.
“That’s an incredibly tough Navy side and it took pulling out all the stops and clicking on all cylinders to get this win,” Loyola coach Jen Adams said. “I always say there’s no better sleep than on Saturday night going into Selection Sunday when you know you’ve got the bid. So I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Powers could not be contained one-onone, repeatedly beating defenders to either score herself or set up others. The senior attacker set the Patriot League tournament records with 12 goals and 18 points in two games and was named Most Valuable Player.
“Hannah has been incredible since day one when she stepped on campus. We’ve asked so much of her – be a factor on draws, help out with transition, feed the ball and finish it,” Adams said. “She gets hit with a faceguard or a double- or triple-team and still gets it done. That’s a senior that doesn’t want her season to end.”
Meanwhile, Adams assigned freshman defender Katie Detwiler to faceguard Larkin, who finished with two goals on just five shots. Larkin, who has 112 points this season, barely touched the ball during the first half when the contest was basically decided.
During the regular season meeting with Navy, won 16-6 by Loyola, Adams played defense straight up with standout senior Lindsey Ehrhardt covering Larkin. In the rematch, Detwiler got the tough assignment while Ehrhardt shadowed attacker Nicole Victory, whose long goal came off a free-position shot.
“We’ve made the mistake before of showing our hand in that first game. We figured we would have to try something different in this game and give them a different look,” Adams said. “Katie Detwiler has been absolutely phenomenal as a freshman and I don’t think she’s gotten half the credit she deserves this season. It was great to see her step up today.”
Larkin’s initial goal came while Loyola was down a defender early in the second half. She scored again with just over 12 minutes remaining and became the Patriot League career record-holder with 337 points, breaking the mark set by former Navy attacker Jasmine DePompeo (2010-2013).
“It’s a great honor and I’m very grateful to accomplish that, but today it’s about the team,” Larkin said. “Loyola did a really good job of scouting us and preparing for this game. I give a lot of credit to the Loyola defense for playing an amazing game.”
Senior attacker Emily Cooper (Archbishop Spalding) scored five goals while sophomore midfielder Sam Fiedler had four goals and two assists for Loyola (15-4), which picked up its fourth Patriot League Tournament title. Senior midfielder Taylor VanThof totaled two goals and two assists while also securing seven draw controls.
Sophomore attacker Livy Rosenzweig, the Greyhounds’ offensive quarterback, had six assists and also scored two goals to increase her season point total to 106. Rosenzweig and Powers received considerable defensive attention and did not try to force things, choosing to be playmakers instead and accounting for 11 of Loyola’s 17 assists.
“We did a great job of sharing the ball, which is great to see in a game like this,” Adams said. “Hannah and Livy were getting a lot of heat, a lot of pressure. We told the players it was time for the rest of the offense to step up. Hannah and Livy did a great job of finding teammates and the other girls did a great job of being finishers.”
Senior goalkeeper Kady Glynn was another difference-maker for the Greyhounds, recording eight saves with several of the spectacular variety. The Patriot League Goaltender of the Year stopped several free position shots and also thwarted a couple point-blank opportunities.
Junior midfielder Annalise Heyward had a hat trick to lead Navy (15-4), which had beaten Loyola in the last two Patriot League Tournament finals. Junior midfielder Kayla Harris had a goal and three assists for the Midshipmen, who will now hope for an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament.
“Things did not go as we expected and that’s a tribute to Loyola, which executed very well on both ends of the field. They just played precision lacrosse today,” Navy head coach Cindy Timchal said.
Last season, Loyola received an at-large berth — marking the first time the Patriot League got two teams into the NCAA Tournament. Navy has a good chance of getting in this season due to an RPI ranking of 11th nationally, a solid strength of schedule as well as quality wins over Florida, Georgetown and Towson.
“God bless America I hope the NCAA selection committee sees the merit in the things we’ve done the entire season,” Timchal said. Navy
Loyola
Goals: N – Heyward 3, Larkin 2, Harris, O’Sullivan, Irwin, Victory. L – Cooper 5, Powers 4, Fielder 4, Rosenzweig 2, VanThof 2, Wilson, Ignacio, Kluegel. Assists: N – Harris 3, O’Sullivan. L – Rosenzweig 6, Powers 5, VanThof 3, Fiedler 2, Ignacio. Shots: N–24.L–30. Saves: N –Harchelroad 4, Young 2. L – Glynn 8.