Towson’s win over Loyola makes up for lost time

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Towson senior goalie Mandy Corry, who wasn’t born the last time her women’s lacrosse team beat Loyola, just wanted to give her team the chance to win after being dominated the past three years.

But Corry, however, did more than that, as she made 11 saves in a 14-9 win at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field on Saturday, Towson’s first over Loyola in a quarter-century.

“It’s something I have wanted to do for four years,” Corry, who had been lit up for 36 goals in her three previous games against the Greyhounds, said. “This is arguably my favorite win in my career. We’ve been practicing really hard all week and we just wanted this one so bad.”

Towson (2-0), raced out to leads of 3-0 and 7-4, but each time, Loyola (1-4), battled back to tie. But junior midfielder Hillary Fratzke’s goal with 23:15 left opened the floodgates and the Tigers scored the next five goals to claim a 13-7 lead with just 9:36 remaining. The Tigers outshot the Greyhounds, 41-24, despite Loyola holding a 21-13 advantage in ground balls. Loyola, however, committed nearly twice as many fouls as Towson, 27-14, and was just 11-of-19 on clearing attempts.

Loyola coach Kerri O’Day declined to speak with the media after her team lost to Towson for the first time since 1982.

But the Tigers are on a hot streak. Combined with last week’s 17-6 win over Mt. St Mary’s, Towson has scored at least 14 goals in consecutive games for the first time since 2005 — the only year the Tigers won the Colonial Athletic Association title and made the NCAA Tournament.

“This year we have a really talented team,” Towson coach Missy Doherty said. “I love building a team that has a lot of offense and that attacking style. We are getting there and with all the talent we have it’s hard to hone in on one person.”

Loyola will try to end its three-game losing streak on Wednesday afternoon at 3 at Evergreen against Delaware (1-0). Freshman Abby Rehfuss (10 G, 1 A) and Grace Gavin (9 G, 2 A) have given the Greyhounds an offensive boost, as each midfielder had a hat trick on Saturday.

Towson tries to remain unbeaten on Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 when it travels to the District to face American (1-3).

“It wasn’t even about going out and ending the streak: It was about playing our game,” Fratzke, who has a team-high five goals and four assists, said. “Playing our game, we can pretty much beat anybody we come up against.”

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com