Loyola's attackmen helping Layne improve
Steve Layne has developed into No. 7 Loyola’s top defenseman, and the senior credited daily practices against an attack unit of seniors Cooper MacDonnell and Collin Finnerty and junior Matt Langan for his evolution.
“It helps out a lot,” Layne said. “I’ve been going against Cooper for four years now, and Cooper’s obviously a very good player. The good thing about our practices is that those three guys are all very good and all very different. If I’m playing a guy who’s dodging from the ‘X’ and he’s a real quick and shifty guy, then I’ll try to play Matt as much as I can in practice. If I’m playing against a pure scorer who dodges real hard to the cage, then I’ll go with Cooper. Or if it’s someone who’s a little bit more off ball and a good shooter, then I’ll go to Collin. So it’s real helpful becaiuse they’re all good but all different, too. You can get a different look from each of them.”
Layne, who leads the Greyhounds (7-2) in caused turnovers (10) and ranks third in groundballs (24), has shadowed the likes of Navy senior attackman Tim Paul, Notre Dame senior attackman Neal Hicks, Duke junior attackman Zach Howell and Towson junior Tim Stratton. Paul and Howell each scored a goal, while Stratton was shut out.
Layne will likely guard senior attackman Craig Dowd when No. 9 Georgetown visits Ridley Athletic Complex this Saturday and senior attackman Steven Boyle when No. 15 Johns Hopkins visits on May 8.
“I’ve played some good ones, but I’ve also got some tough ones coming up in the future,” Layne said. “I’m looking forward to it. They’re all good players.”
“It helps out a lot,” Layne said. “I’ve been going against Cooper for four years now, and Cooper’s obviously a very good player. The good thing about our practices is that those three guys are all very good and all very different. If I’m playing a guy who’s dodging from the ‘X’ and he’s a real quick and shifty guy, then I’ll try to play Matt as much as I can in practice. If I’m playing against a pure scorer who dodges real hard to the cage, then I’ll go with Cooper. Or if it’s someone who’s a little bit more off ball and a good shooter, then I’ll go to Collin. So it’s real helpful becaiuse they’re all good but all different, too. You can get a different look from each of them.”
Layne, who leads the Greyhounds (7-2) in caused turnovers (10) and ranks third in groundballs (24), has shadowed the likes of Navy senior attackman Tim Paul, Notre Dame senior attackman Neal Hicks, Duke junior attackman Zach Howell and Towson junior Tim Stratton. Paul and Howell each scored a goal, while Stratton was shut out.
Layne will likely guard senior attackman Craig Dowd when No. 9 Georgetown visits Ridley Athletic Complex this Saturday and senior attackman Steven Boyle when No. 15 Johns Hopkins visits on May 8.
“I’ve played some good ones, but I’ve also got some tough ones coming up in the future,” Layne said. “I’m looking forward to it. They’re all good players.”
