Charley Toomey

Loyola's satisfaction over playing with a full starting lineup lasted just one game. After pounding then-No. 8 Ohio State, 9-4, on March 30 with its full complement of starters, the team took care of Fairfield, 13-7, last Saturday without freshman attackman Zach Herreweyers. Herreweyers had started in the No. 10 Greyhounds' last four contests, but was not dressed for Saturday's victory. Coach Charley Toomey wouldn't say what was ailing Herreweyers. “We're all fighting something,” he said.

Former Loyola University lacrosse player Tim McDermott has joined the Virginia men's program as a volunteer coach, as announced by head coach Dom Starsia .  “I couldn't be more pleased to announce Tim's addition to our staff,” Starsia said. “I have known Tim for some time now and have come to admire him as a person and a student-athlete.  He will work closely with our faceoff men and goalies, and will be involved in all aspects of the program.” McDermott was a midfielder for three seasons at Division III SUNY-Geneseo, where he was a two-time All-American and led the NCAA in faceoff winnning percentage in 2006.

Loyola attackman Adam Pomper died Tuesday near his parents' home in Huntington, N.Y., the school announced in a news release. On Tuesday, the homicide section of the Suffolk County (N.Y.) Police Department investigated Pomper's death. A spokesperson for the department said that "the death was ruled non-criminal. " The funeral home would not release the cause of death. Pomper, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound freshman, played in just one game for the national champion Greyhounds, spending a few minutes on the field in the team's 17-6 victory over Hobart on April 21. Inside Lacrosse, which was the first to report the news, said that Pomper had died Monday evening, but in a written statement, the university said he had died Tuesday.

En route to the school's first Division I national championship last year, Loyola tied its best start to a season by winning its first 12 contests before falling, 10-9, in overtime to Johns Hopkins. Of course, the team won the next six to take home the title. The top-ranked Greyhounds won't get a chance to match or break that record after losing in their third game of the season Saturday, absorbing a 12-10 setback to No. 3 Maryland. But senior long-stick midfielder Scott Ratliff said the players aren't panicking over their 2-1 record.

After last Saturday's 8-4 victory over No. 13 Johns Hopkins, No. 5 Loyola was thought to be a lock for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament if the reigning national champion did not repeat as Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament champions this week. Few expected the Greyhounds to fall to No. 8 Ohio State in a conference tournament semifinal, but that is what happened as the Buckeyes pulled off an 18-11 upset at Hobart in Geneva, N.Y., Thursday night. Now Loyola's tournament profile is in question, and it is an unsettling situation for the players and coach Charley Toomey as they await to hear their fate Sunday night when the NCAA selection committee unveils the 16-team field.

No. 7 Loyola took great joy in snapping a 13-game losing skid to No. 13 Johns Hopkins with Saturday's 8-4 victory. But even happier times could just be down the road. Saturday's win may have further strengthened the reigning national champion's pursuit of an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament regardless of what occurs in the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament being held at Hobart in Geneva, N.Y. later this week. According to Laxpower.com which compiles its own Rating Percentage Index (RPI)

As a result of losing, 18-11, to No. 8 Ohio State in the semifinal round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament last Thursday night, No. 5 Loyola had no choice but to sit back and wait for the NCAA selection committee to decide the team's postseason fate. The reigning national champion (11-4) got the good news it was seeking when it was pitted against No. 4 and seventh-seeded Duke (12-5) in Sunday's first round. It was a huge relief, according to coach Charley Toomey.

A portion of Friday's article on the improved play of No. 10 Loyola's defense centered on the progress that Jack Runkel has made. After recording a 8.57 goals-against average and a .504 save percentage in the team's first seven games, the junior goalkeeper has posted a 5.00 goals-against average and a .625 save percentage in his last three starts. Runkel said one factor in his recent performances has been a conscious effort to break a habit of standing too deep in the cage. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Runkel takes up a lot of space, but he said that stepping out allows him to reduce the angle that opposing shooters have.

A Friday night celebration had a nice ring to it for the Loyola men's lacrosse team. One with 34 jewels, in fact. The Greyhounds received their NCAA championship rings Friday for beating Maryland, 9-3, on May 28 in Foxborough, Mass. In addition to the jewels, the bands feature a large Loyola "L" in the middle. "This is an opportunity tonight to remember the journey this team went on," coach Charley Toomey said before presenting the rings. "This is a time to remember the successful team this was. " The Greyhounds handed out team awards before the ring ceremony.

No matter the outcome of Saturday's men's lacrosse game between Loyola and Navy, the Midshipmen will stand near the southern end of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and sing the "Navy Blue and Gold" song at game's end. And Charley Toomey will likely join them. That might seem odd considering that Toomey, as the coach of the Greyhounds, will do everything in his power to guide his team to a victory over Navy. But he is the former head coach of the Naval Academy Prep School team and a former assistant coach for the varsity squad, and Toomey's link to the Midshipmen still resonates with him today.