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There weren’t many silver linings to take out of 2020, though there are some exceptions.

Take Loyola’s offense, which was reminded at nearly every turn how Tewaaraton winner Pat Spencer was no longer spearheading the Greyhounds’ attack. The likes of Kevin Lindley and Aidan Olmstead were back, but in expanded roles, and there were questions about who would make up the midfield.

Charley Toomey’s team more than acquitted itself against an early schedule that included Duke, Johns Hopkins, Rutgers and Virginia, averaging 11.5 goals over six games. It was the latest benefit of Toomey’s nonconference scheduling philosophy, but it also demonstrated the Greyhounds should be in good shape moving forward.

“When you open and you’re still able to play at a level you’re hopeful of against Hopkins and Rutgers — and having that learning curve in game one of, ‘Who’s going to carry the ball? What’s it going to look like? Are we going to be able to run by a matchup and create shot opportunities?’” Toomey said. “We were able to learn an awful lot from the schedule that we play.”

Olmstead, it turns out, is perfectly capable of quarterbacking the offense after effectively occupying a secondary role for two seasons. Lindley, the owner of a 60-goal season in 2019, showed the ability to dodge and develop into a guy who could create his own shot.

The next step for the Greyhounds? Seeing how far players who began blossoming last season will fare with some extra experience. That included midfielder Peter Swindell (nine goals, seven assists), who is back for his fifth year.

Plenty of attention will also go to sophomores Adam Poitras (five goals, seven assists) and Joey Kamish (eight goals, three assists), who both produced in their first college seasons.

“Joey Kamish is a stretch shooter that when you’re looking across, you were wondering who were the guys who could shoot from outside 10 yards and have a green light,” Toomey said. “Well, he’s certainly one of those guys. We’re hopeful there might be a couple other guys who develop.”

Some of them are familiar names — Liam Bateman, Matt Houston and Riley Seay, who all played regularly a year ago. Perhaps a Jack Decker, who got into two games after transferring from Marist, or freshman Davis Lindsey, who had 68 goals and 56 assists as a high school junior in North Carolina in 2019.

But for Loyola to jump from simply contending in the Patriot League to being a threat again to win a game (or more) in the NCAA tournament, it will need a few more steady complements to its two proven seniors to emerge.

If last season is any indication, it will probably happen.

“I’m pretty sure somebody’s going to step up and be that next guy for us,” Toomey said. “We need the knowns to be known. We need Kamish and Poitras to be guys we can rely on, along with [Lindley and Olmstead].”

TOP RETURNERS

Aidan Olmstead, A, Sr.

The Greyhounds’ table-setter on offense, Olmstead had 11 goals and 11 assists in just a half-dozen games last season. He’s recorded a point in all but three of his 38 career games.

Sam Shafer, G, Jr.

After starting his career as a backup to Jacob Stover, Shafer deftly slid into a starting role and posted a 57.1 save percentage in a six-game stretch that included two ACC opponents and two Big Ten foes.

Cam Wyers, D, Jr.

A couple years ago, Loyola fielded a young close defense — with Wyers quickly establishing himself as a vital piece. Now, he’s a tested, All-American caliber veteran leading an older group. “We really feel good that between he, Kyle LeBlanc, Matt Hughes and John Railey, we’ve got some guys that can show up on game day and win matchups,” Toomey said.

KEY ADDITION

Seth Higgins, M, Fr.

He’s hardly the only potential impact freshman, but was one of only two (along with long pole Gunnar Cheuvront) who practiced with the Greyhounds in the fall. Higgins had 38 goals and 15 assists for Baltimore’s St. Paul’s School in 2019.

ENEMY LINES

“So well-coached, so well-prepared. I’m always amazed at how far along they are with their team [early in the season] with their clears and their rides. They crush it. It’ll be interesting to see what they’re like having dealt with COVID and having only half their team in practice. There’s some good individuals there. The new No. 7 (Lindley) is floating around scoring every time he touches the ball and No. 19 (Olmstead) is back there feeding everybody. Without Pat Spencer and (Jacob) Stover there, it’s more of the system, and boy they have really good systems. Marc Van Arsdale, he will pick apart what we’re doing defensively and put his guys in the best position possible.”

“They were off to a good start having had to replace a lot of people, which becomes a little scary. They were off to a good start and they replaced one of the best attackmen in the last 20 years and a first team All-American goalie (Stover). Now they have everybody coming back with a good freshman class. I expect them to be amongst the elite again in the country.”

“They’re going to have a team that’s very similar to last year. They didn’t lose much. They’re a pretty young team. They’re getting used to life without Pat Spencer, and I feel like last year when you watched them play, you saw a lot of guys who were doing a little more. They’re very well-coached. They have good talent throughout their roster, so I think they’re going to be great and at the top of the league.”

“They have one of the best coaching staffs. Charley and coach Van and Matty Dwan, those guys are awesome coaches and they will be prepared.”

NUMBERS GAME

116

Senior attackman Kevin Lindley has 116 career goals, which ranks sixth in Loyola history despite the abbreviated 2020 season. Lindley, who had 19 goals in six games last spring, needs 35 more goals to match Gary Hanley for the school record.