Loyola Maryland is at its best when it is beating its opponent in transition and the No.?17 Greyhounds proved that Saturday, erupting for a season high in goals in a 14-3 demolition of Patriot League rival Bucknell at Ridley Athletic Complex.

Two of Loyola's first three goals occurred during clears, and the team scored two more in transition to record its most lopsided victory since March 22, 2014, when the Greyhounds pummeled Lafayette, 21-4.

Junior long-stick midfielder Ryan Fournier scored two goals, and fifth-year senior short-stick defensive midfielder Mike Kutzer and sophomore defenseman Foster Huggins each had an assist for the Greyhounds, who improved to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

“We were just flowing,” Fournier said. “We were just running on all cylinders. Things work when you're playing as a team and pushing the ball.”

One reason Loyola wanted to turn the game into a track meet was to avoid the Bison's 10-man ride, which uses all 10 players and the goalkeeper to prevent an opponent from moving the ball out of its defensive end. Bucknell's strategy caused the Greyhounds to fail on four of 19 clears, but they usually eluded the ride by turning stops and turnovers into quick transition.

“When we were able to make that clean save or pick up a ground ball and find our middies, we didn't have to contend with it,” Loyola coach Charley Toomey said.

The Greyhounds scored first, had a 9-1 advantage at halftime and put the game out of reach with a 4-0 third quarter.

Freshman attackman Pat Spencer (Boys' Latin) led all scorers with seven points on one goal and a career-best six assists.

Junior attackman Jordan Germershausen, who was filling in for senior Zach Herreweyers (concussion), scored three goals — his second hat trick in as many games.

The offense took 48 shots, thanks to winning 13 of 21 faceoffs, picking up 31 ground balls to Bucknell's 27, and committing 11 turnovers to the Bison's 18.

Loyola's defense held up its end by keeping Bucknell off the scoreboard for spans of 33:22 and 21:24. Freshman goalkeeper Jacob Stover (McDonogh) made 12 saves in his second consecutive start. Huggins shut out Bucknell sophomore attackman and leading scorer Will Sands, and the Bison's starting midfield of junior Tommy O'Connor and seniors Thomas Flibotte and Kyle Shanahan had no goals on 17 shots and just one assist.

The three goals surrendered marked a season low and the fewest Loyola has given up to a Patriot League opponent in its three years in the conference.

Sophomore attackman Sean O'Brien paced Bucknell (5-4, 2-3) with two goals and one assist.

Bison coach Frank Fedorjaka said his team failed to match the Greyhounds' transition game.

“Credit to them. They made the plays and we didn't.”

edward.lee@baltsun.com

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