US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Dec. 17. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com through the end of the month and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition in February.

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No. 15 Loyola

2019 Record: 16-5, (9-0, Patriot League)
Coach: Jen Adams (12th year)
Assistants: Dana Dobbie, Caroline Hager, Charlotte Neser

All-Time Record: 517-260-10
NCAA Appearances: 21
Final Fours: 7
Championships: 0

2020 Schedule

Save the Date
April 23

Loyola has six straight undefeated regular seasons in the Patriot League, and its final game this season will be to keep that streak alive. Navy, until two double-digit losses to the Greyhounds last year, had given Loyola its closest conference games in recent seasons and topped them in the Patriot League tournament final.

Greyhounds Draw Specialists in Good Hands with Dobbie

For the first time since 2011, there won’t be a VanThof sister on the Loyola roster.

Taylor VanThof’s graduation last year means the departure of 108 draw controls and the Greyhounds’ career record-holder with 392 draw controls. The record that she broke was that of her sister, Taryn, who redshirted in 2012 but in four seasons over five years was dominant on the draw.

“You can’t replace Taylor VanThof,” coach Jen Adams said. “We said, ‘You can’t replace a Taryn VanThof,’ when she left, and look at what Taylor was able to do. I firmly believe I have the best draw control coach and specialist in the nation in Dana Dobbie teaching our centers.”

Dobbie is fortunate to return two capable players to take the draw. Livy Rosenzweig, who seemingly can do everything for the Greyhounds, took some draw controls last year, and she’ll tag team with Jillian Wilson, who had 23 draw controls a year ago.

The two have different strengths. Finding the complementary players to win the ball on the circle was part of the focus in the fall. The graduated Hannah Powers was better known for leading Loyola in goals, but she also ranked third in draw controls. Loyola also has to replace Lindsey Ehrhardt, who graduated after finishing fifth on the team in draw controls.

“We were able to work with our circle people a lot and work on boxing out and sets and strategies around the draw,” Adams said of the fall. “It was exciting to have an opportunity for Dana to infuse some her coaching with them and doing a lot of individual workouts with players and seeing them grow through that process.”

Loyola has been a top-25 draw control team nationally. Keeping that strength is important with an offense that also has been among the most potent. Loyola was tops in the country in assists a year ago, something that the program prides itself on. With a largely new defense and goalie, winning the ball on the draw will help substantially in sustaining high offensive production.

“I’m very confident,” Adams said. “In the same way that we lost Taryn and were very worried about it, and Taylor stepped up, I’m confident that we’ll find people to step up into that role and do a phenomenal job.”

Projected Starters

A – Livy Rosenzweig – Jr. – 70 A, 85 DC
A – Emily Wills – Fr. – 107 G, 30 A (high school)
A – Emily Beier – Jr. – 16 P, 11 GB
A – Sydney Foster – Fr. – 47 G, 54.0 SH%
M – Jillian Wilson – So. – 29 G, 22 GB
M – Sam Fiedler – Jr. – 79 P, 53 GB
M – Elli Kluegel – Jr. – 35 G, 18 GB
D – Katie Detwiler – So. – 24 GB, 12 CT
D – Meaghan Quinn – Sr. – 4 GB, 1 CT
D – TaNia Cunningham – So. – 1 GB, 2 CT
D – Shay Clevenger – So. – 37 GB, 16 CT (at Louisville)
G – Kaitlyn Larson – Jr. – 6.82 GAA, 53.6 SV%

Tewaaraton Watch
Livy Rosenzweig, A, Jr.

A Tewaaraton nominee, Rosenzweig has rewritten the record books at Loyola. She is a dynamic playmaker who fits the Greyhounds’ unselfish approach, but can also score. This year, she’ll be counted on to help on the draw control even more after the graduation of Taylor VanThof.

X Factor
Sam Fiedler, M, Jr.

In her first season starting last year, she had 53 goals and led the nation with a 67.1 shooting percentage. Her hard-working example and consistency are models for teammates. She impacts play end-to-end. “She has the ‘it’ factor,” Adams said.

National Rankings

5-5

The Greyhounds were a perfect 10-0 at Ridley Athletic Complex, but just .500 on the road. Of course, all five of their losses came against non-conference foes. While running the table in the Patriot League with an average margin of victory of 12.11 goals, out of conference Loyola had a 0.5 scoring margin.

Enemy Lines

“They’re a cutting team. They have tremendous cutters, they have tremendous feeders. You have to be prepared for that. They are one of the best teams with cutting and finishing.”