Loyola athletics - Cub LAX records milestone win
Loyola lacrosse team takes down long time nemesis Foothill in statement-making win
Ranked number one in the Los Angles Region and seventh in the West by US Lacrosse, the defending US Lacrosse Southern Section champion Cub lacrosse team did something it had never done before as an overflow crowd looked on at Smith Field on Saturday afternoon.
Loyola defeated long time nemesis Foothill of Santa Ana, a winner of multiple US Lacrosse Southern Section titles and a perennial prep lacrosse power in the Western United States, for the first time. And it was far from an upset, as the Cubs emphatically confirmed that their top ranking was well deserved in their decisive 13-7 victory over a very talented and aggressive Knight squad, which is ranked number two in the Orange County US Lacrosse coaches poll. By its statement-making triumph Loyola established itself as a bona fide national prep LAX power. See the link below for an in depth story on the Cubs' historic victory.
https://www.maxlaxoc.com/loyola-states-case-13-7-win-foothill/
Cub volleyball squad falls in semifinals of Best of the West Tournament
Loyola's varsity volleyball program appeared headed to a possible championship finish in the prestigious Best of the West Tournament on Saturday at the Epic Volleyball Club in Poway when it met upstart Oak Park, which was fresh off a stunning upset win, 25-13, 25-23, over Newport Harbor, the top ranked team in Division I of the CIF Southern Section. The Cubs had not lost a set heading into the match against Oak Park. Loyola cruised through pool play Friday afternoon, downing Iolani of Hawaii, (25-18, 25-19), host school Poway (25-13, 25-22) and Newbury Park (25-15, 25-19).
In the first round Saturday, the Cubs beat La Costa Canyon with ease (25-16, 25-20). In the quarterfinals Loyola defeated Westlake of Westlake Village, 25-20, 25-19, and it was assumed it would beat the number seven-ranked team in Division I with relative ease. The Eagles, though, proved to be formidable birds of prey as their fierce, focused effort led Oak Park to an upset victory over the Cubs, 25-19, 23-25, 15-13. The Eagles lost in the championship game to Punahou of Honolulu, 25-22, 16-25, 15-13.
One thing the tournament proved is that the CIF Southern section Division I title race is wide open this season. Edison beat tournament champion Punahou in pool play to win its pool, but the Chargers were eliminated in the Gold Division playoffs on Saturday. Mira Costa lost to Clovis in pool play, 25-16, 25-20, but beat Oak Park on Friday, 27-25, 26-28, 15-10. Mater Dei proved it will be in the CIF division I title hunt with a victory over Huntington Beach in the 16-team Gold Division playoffs. Punahou defeated second-ranked Corona Del Mar in the Gold Division quarterfinals and downed Mater Dei in the semifinals. At this point the road to the CIF championship appears to be wide open.
Loyola baseball begins Mission League play tomorrow on the road at Notre Dame
The going has not been altogether smooth for Loyola's varsity baseball team as it completed its pre-league slate with a 2-3 record. Last week, the Cubs lost to Covina Northview, 6-5, on a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh and fell to Los Osos, 11-8, after leading 8-4, but the Big Blue came back Friday to beat Montebello, 6-2.
Loyola travels to Notre Dame Tuesday afternoon for its Mission League opener and the first of three contests against the Knights this week. Lineup experimentation may have played a role in the comparatively slow start for the Cubs, but now the games have a whole new sense of urgency as fighting for a playoff berth is an extremely tough challenge in the Mission League.
Heading into Friday's game against Montebello, senior infielder/pitcher STEPHEN BURKE led the Cubs in hitting with a .571 average (4 hits, 1 dbl., 2 RBIs). Senior shortstop CHRISTIAN GAMBALE was batting .556 (5 hits, 2 dbls., 2 RBIs). Senior outfielder JAKE MALLOY was excellent at the plate with a .500 average (2 hits, 2 dbls., 1 RBI). Freshman outfielder KEVIN PARADA had a .429 batting average (3 hits, 1 dbl., 1 RBI). Senior infielder JOE FORTIN was hitting effectively with a .364 average (4 hits, 1 dbl., 1 triple, and a team-leading 4 runs batted in).