Loyola’s Varsity Lacrosse team wrapped up its 2019 campaign in May with a 16-8 overall record and a fourth-straight US Lacrosse Northern Division Championship. Additionally, the Cubs finished as US Lacrosse California State Southern Section runner-up after appearing in their fourth straight title game on May 11 to close the season.
The Cubs had a grueling schedule this year, but posted a season-high 8 game winning streak from Mar. 26–Apr. 13 and won four in a row in the postseason. After battles with familiar Orange County foes in Foothill, Santa Margarita and San Clemente on the road to open the year, a mid-season road trip against two of New York’s best in the Big Apple and games against quality foes in Palos Verdes, Agoura, St. Ignatius Prep, Cathedral Catholic and Torrey Pines, the Cubs still managed to win 16 games and claim another Mission League title in dramatic comeback fashion over rival Harvard-Westlake, while also advancing to a fourth-straight US Lacrosse Northern Division title game. There, Loyola defeated Palos Verdes 12-6 before falling to St. Margaret’s Episcopal in the Southern Section final.
A number of Cubs earned postseason honors, with attackers Alex Horowitz ’20 and Jack Carolan ’19, midfielder Owen Gaffney ’21, and defenders Will Kupiec ’19, Shane McAusland ’20 and Preston Barnes ’21 being named to the All-Mission League First Team. Earning Second Team recognition was attacker/midfielder Matt Garvey ’20, midfielder Aidan LaBella ’19, defenders Colin Hawkins ’19 and Hunter Ballard ’19 and midfielder Matt Gottfried ’20.
Furthermore, the sophomore Owen Gaffney was named All-American and Player of the Year in Los Angeles, while the senior Kupiec earned Academic All-American accolades. Joining those two on the All-Area First Team were McAusland, Barnes and Horowitz, while Hawkins, Ballard, Garvey and Carolan were named Second Team All-Area.
Loyola will say goodbye to its successful 15-man senior class, who will leave as four-time US Lacrosse Northern Division Champions and three-time State Southern Section champions. Congratulations to all of our Cubs on another fantastic season!
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Original post 6/3/2019