Loyola athletics -CUBS WIN THIRD CONSECUTIVE U.S. LACROSSE SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP - Loyola is runner-up in CIF Southern Section Div. I swimming
LOYOLA WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE U.S. LACROSSE TITLE, DOWNS ST. MARGARET'S 10-9 IN OT
A seesaw battle on Saturday between the top two teams from the greater Los Angeles region and Orange County in the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section (Northern Division vs. Southern Division) championship match at Newport High School was decided on Loyola freshman midfielder OWEN GAFFNEY's incredible goal- scoring shot from about 15 yards in the final seconds of sudden death overtime. The stunning victory over a team the Cubs lost to by four goals, 8-4, in a non-league match on March 17, secured a third consecutive U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section title for Loyola.
The win against the favored Tartans was a stupendous accomplishment given the relative youth of a team with 22 underclassmen on its 37-man roster, including two freshman and three sophomores. It was therefore fitting that the precocious Gaffney, with defenders draped all over him, fired the winning shot into the back of the net with 28 seconds left on the clock. Eight of Loyola's ten goals were scored by underclassmen. Junior attacker KAISER FRY led the Cubs with three goals, and sophomore attacker ALEX HOROWITZ scored twice. Junior midfielder RONAN GALLAGHER, sophomore middie MATT GARVEY and Gaffney each scored a goal for the Cubs. Senior attacker HENRY HASSENBERG and senior middie ROBERT HENDERSON both scored for Loyola. Henderson's scoring shot was from 40 yards.
Head coach SETH COHEN and assistants BRETT TIETGEN and MIKE GVOZDEN did a tremendous job preparing the youthful Cubs for the big moment. The team improved exponentially from the beginning of the season to its championship triumph.
Gaffney was named the MVP of the match. With so much talent returning, including the members of the 15-1 JV squad, Loyola looks primed to continue its dominance in lacrosse. The Cubs finished the season with an overall record of 21-4, and are likely to finish in the national top 20.
Cub swim & dive team takes second place at CIF Southern Section Div. I finals
Veteran Loyola head coach KEVIN MANN and his varsity swimmers closed out another super season with a second place finish Saturday at Riverside City College in the CIF Southern Section Division I finals.
The Cubs finished fourth in the 200 Yard Medley Relay, Sophomore NOLAN WANG took tenth place in the 200 Yard Freestyle. Junior MARK McCRARY finished in seventh place in the 200 Yard Individual Medley, and junior JAMES LEE came in 16th in the event. Junior CONNOR LEE swam to a fourth place finish in the 50 Yard Free Style. Lee took first place in the 100 Yard Butterfly. Junior EMMETT PERNECKY finished in 12th place in the 100 Yard Free Style. Wang came in 10th in the 500 Yard Freestyle. The Cubs' 200 Yard Free Style Relay finished in fourth place. Lee tapped the deck in fifth place in the 100 Yard Breaststroke. Loyola's all-underclass 400 Yard Free Style Relay came in second.
The Cubs amassed 238 points in earning the runner-up plaque. Irvine Northwood was crowned champion.
Loyola volleyball advances to CIF Div. I semifinals
Following a three-set CIF Southern Section Division I volleyball second round sweep of Burroughs of Burbank, 25-16, 25-17, 25-20, on the road last Thursday, Loyola's varsity volleyball team hosted Tesoro of Santa Margarita in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The Cubs defeated the Titans in four sets, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-14.
Loyola (22-2) will travel to Corona del Mar on Wednesday for a rematch against the Sea Kings who defeated the Cubs with relative ease in a non-league match on May 3. The winner of the semifinal match will likely play number one seed Newport Harbor for the D-I title on Saturday. Loyola definitely has its work cut out for it in the semis.
Cub track & field qualifies in five events at CIF prelims
At Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo on Saturday, Loyola qualified in five events for the CIF Southern Section Division I track & Field finals to be held this Saturday at El Camino College in Torrance. On the track, sophomore ANTHONY STONE qualified in the 1600 with a time of 4:17.8. The Cubs' 4 X 400 Relay made it to the finals with a 3:21.61 clocking, and junior MASON RATKOVICH qualified in the 800 Meters with a 1:56.25 heat win.
Junior WILL O'BRIEN's 14' 6" vault in the pole vault competition qualified for the finals. Senior CEASAR MELENDEZ throw of 53' 6.5" was good for a sixth place, finals-qualifying finish in the shot put.