Loyola senior attacker Shane Koppens added his name to the school?s record books last season. But this year, he?d much rather see another chapter added to the school?s history.
“National championship,” the second-team All-East Coast Athletic Conference selection said. “That?s what we are working for. The ECAC title first and one game at a time into the playoffs.”
The 5-foot-11, 174-pound native of Clifton Park, N.Y., recorded 26 assists last season ? 10th-most in school history ? to go along with 20 goals for a team-high 46 points. Koppens finished second in the conference in points per game at 3.46 and second in assists per game with 1.92, leading his team to a 7-6 record following a 19-9 loss to Albany in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
But if the Greyhounds want to make their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and 15th overall, he will have to be even better. Loyola graduated 80 percent of its scoring last spring, and Koppens is the only returner from last year?s top six scorers.
The team captain, however, isn?t worried.
“This year, we are going to be all over the place and dangerous from any spot,” Koppens said. “I think we are going to put up a lot of goals.”
If the 17th-ranked Greyhounds are to improve on last year?s NCAA Tournament berth and contend for the school?s first Division I national title, they must find a way to win away from Diane Geppi-Aikens Field. Loyola is 9-2 collectively the past two seasons at home, but went just 1-5 away from Evergreen last year.
But that?s not to say the Greyhounds? home schedule is easy. Loyola opens the season with four straight home games against No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 13 Towson, ECAC-rival Penn State and No. 2 Duke.
Loyola coach Charley Toomey, however, believes his team is capable of challenging for supremacy of Charles Street ? and beyond.
“He has a knack for making people better around him,” Toomey said. “He is ready to settle into that role. He?s not a vocal leader, he?s a by-example guy and a great mentor to our younger guys.”
Greyhounds at a glance
» Coach: Charley Toomey (third season 13-12)
» Last Year: 7-6 overall, 5-2 East Coast Athletic Conference; Lost to Albany, 19-9 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
» Returning players: A Shane Koppens, Sr., 20 G, 26 A, 32 ground balls; M Paul Richards, Sr., 7 G, 6 A, 40 ground balls; A Cooper MacDonnell, Soph., 3 G, 2 ground balls; M Joe Landry, Sr., 2 G, 1A, 7 ground balls; A Michael Crimmins, Jr., 2 G, 4 ground balls; D P.T. Ricci, Jr., 32 ground balls; GK Alex Peaty, Jr., 110 saves, .547 save percentage.
» The spotlight?s on: GK Alex Peaty, Jr.: The 6-foot-1, 174-pounder started all 13 games last year, making 110 saves with a .547 save percentage. But if Loyola wants to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, Peaty must improve his goals against average of 10.0.
» Top Newcomer: A Collin Finnerty, Soph.: The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder transferred from Duke last spring after being cleared of all charges stemming from a well-publicized lacrosse party. Finnerty will be counted on to complement Koppens and Richards to give the Greyhounds three offensive threats.
» Key to the Season: Scoring. The Greyhounds graduated five of their top six scorers from last year and must find a way to put the ball in the net.
» Big Game: March 1 vs. Penn State. Last year, the Greyhounds rallied from a five-goal second-half deficit to stun the Nittany Lions in State College, Pa. This year, the team will try to again use its game against the Lions as a springboard to another berth in the NCAA Tournament.
» Tickets: $30 season, $7 individual. For information, call 410-617-5013.
» Key number: .285. Shooting percentage the Greyhounds held opponents to last season. Loyoladid a great job holding other teams to poor scoring chances and allowed its goalies to make easy saves, a trend that must continue this season.
