Inside Lacrosse features Loyola and Notre Dame in Face-Off Classic
Courtesy of InsideLacrosse.com
The Face-off Classic has been called the "unofficial" start of
the season. But for Loyola and Notre Dame, they
have been used to starting off the season with one another. Over
the past three years, Notre Dame has defeated Loyola in their
season opening games. However, this year they will play in a whole
new atmosphere and with a much larger crowd.
For many of the Loyola guys, Ravens stadium is a familiar place;
however, this will be the first time these guys set foot on the
field, rather than in the stands.
"We have a lot of Ravens fans on our team, our kids are down there all the time. For them to step on the field where the Ravens played is going to be such an experience for them," said Loyola coach Charley Toomey. "But we have a job to do and something to prepare for. We have to get through those awestruck feelings and get down to business."
Getting down to business is just what Loyola and Notre Dame have been doing. Notre Dame began their season with a huge win over Duke while Loyola defeated Navy in their season opener. Both teams have an advantage going into the game because they have been able to watch one another play, whereas before they have begun their season playing each other.
For Loyola and Notre Dame this game is not just a face off between teams. It is a face-off between best friends, former teammates, and even brothers.
"Playing against Notre Dame is exciting because my best friend Mike Creighton plays there," said Loyola defenseman and captain Steve Layne. "It's always fun to get the chance to play against your buddy. He's got me 3-0 so I figure I got one last crack at him."
Layne and Creighton were teammates and quickly became best friends at Malvern Preparatory School outside Philadelphia. They're not the only ones that will face off against a former teammate, Loyola's Chris Basler and Notre Dame's Sean Rogers were teammates at Holy Trinity in New York, J.P Dalton and Grant Krebs also played together at St. Mary's in Annapolis, while Taylor Tripucka and Steve Dircks are former teammates from Mountain Lakes in New Jersey. This year there will even be some family rivalry between Loyola freshman Phil Dobson and Notre Dame sophomore Devon Dobson. The two brothers are from New Milford, Connecticut and will play against one another for the first time in their college careers.
With all of this rivalry, the excitement and enthusiasm that comes from these teams is something that no other two teams will bring to the face-off classic.
"I'm so excited to play. We have a great game with Loyola every year and I'm excited for the fans that haven't seen us play before to see what we're all about," said Notre Dame attackman and captain, Neal Hicks. The fans at M&T Bank Stadium will definitely be in for a great game.
"The atmosphere will be different but it will be a big game every year for us. We always have a tight game with Loyola and this year it should be really fun," said Creighton.
Both teams recognize that as special as the event is to them, they need to play the same game they play every year.
Says Layne, "Once the whistle blows we'll calm down and it'll be just like playing in any other game."
It's that mentality that will keep both teams in the right mind set.
"We don't bite off more than we need to, we're just preparing for Loyola and keeping the focus between the lines," says Notre Dame coach Kevin Corrigan.
Will Loyola defeat Notre Dame for the first time in three years or will Notre Dame make it four? We'll find out as these two teams face-off at 4pm on Saturday March 6th.
