By Todd McElwee

Loyola officially arrived as a lacrosse power Monday, defeating Maryland, 9-3, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Fueled by graduate student Eric Lusby's four scores, the Greyhounds became only the ninth Division I outfit to claim a men's lacrosse championship and the school's first title winners in any Division I sport.

Maryland, on the other hand, is once again left licking its wounds. For the second consecutive season, the Terps fell during the season's last game, their seventh loss during the championship game since winning it all in 1975.

The Greyhounds came in at No. 25 in the Lacrosse Report's preseason rankings. Their biggest issue was finding a complementary gunman to sharpshooting Mike Sawyer. Returning from an injury suffered against Cornell during the opening round of the 2010 NCAA tournament, attackman Lusby delivered a program-record 54 goals this season, 17 of which came during a record-setting NCAA tournament. He was named as the event's Most Outstanding Player.

The Greyhounds' (18-1) other goals came from Sawyer, Davis Butts, Pat Byrnes, Justin Ward and Phil Dobson. Chris Layne produced a game-high three assists, and Sawyer and Butts each got a helper as well.

Maryland's (12-6) long march through the wilderness continues. The Terps' offense stalled –- thanks in part to Greyhounds keeper Jack Runkel (six saves) and long-stick midfielder Scott Ratliff (two caused turnovers, two ground balls). For the second consecutive Memorial Day, the Terps were thoroughly outplayed.

More on the kings of Charles Street will come throughout the week.

Posted May 28, 2012