Loyola's Layne, Basler expected to play Saturday
One might speculate that Loyola’s two-game losing skid to end the regular season was linked to the absence of senior defenseman Steve Layne, who is dealing with a sprained knee.
Layne is expected to return just in time for the Greyhounds’ first-round game in the NCAA Tournament against No. 7 seed Cornell (9-5) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
"I think he’s going to play," coach Charley Toomey said late Thursday as Loyola (9-4) traveled to Ithaca, N.Y. "The swelling is looking good. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t take the field, but to be honest with you, I was shocked when he went through warm-ups against [Johns] Hopkins [last Saturday] and then said he couldn’t play. I think you have to be prepared both ways, and we certainly are. But I know it’s in Steve’s heart to take the field on Saturday. It’s going to be tough to keep him off. But if he feels like he’s going to be a detriment to the team, he’s going to tell us. Nick DiSimile, who is a senior for us, is going to be ready to go."
Even if Layne plays, he may not be 100 percent, which is a less-than-ideal situation when Big Red sophomore attackman Rob Pannell is involved. Pannell has registered 25 goals and 45 assists and demands extra attention.
Toomey wouldn’t say whether Layne or redshirt junior Steve Dircks will be the one providing that attention.
"The one thing we’ve made a living doing is, we talk about match-ups going into a game, but we’re prepared because of the pick play below goal-line, to switch match-ups," he said. "The guys have to know all three players, whether that’s Rob or [senior] Ryan Hurley or [sophomore] Scott Austin or [freshman] Ross Gillum. They’ve thrown five guys out on attack, and we’ve got to prepare for all five of them. But just having Steve on the field as a leader – whether it’s Pannell or the other four – he’ll be ready to play. He’ll be ready to defend hard dodges."
Toomey also sounded optimistic that senior midfielder Chris Basler, who re-aggravated a prior shoulder injury and also suffered a concussion during practice, would also suit up Saturday.
"He’s going to try to play as well," Toomey said. "He went down with a concussion, and he’s been cleared by the trainers to go ahead and practice [Friday]. So we’re going to get him back into it with a little pre-game, something light. As a coach, you’re always concerned about guys who don’t have a full week of preparation, but having a senior like Chris Basler on the first midfield, if we have him where he’s able to play, we’re going to play him."
Finally, despite surrendering 19 goals and making just eight saves in the past two contests, junior goalkeeper Jake Hagelin is expected to start against Cornell. Toomey said his faith in Hagelin has not wavered even after he replaced Hagelin with senior Alex Peaty in the third quarter of Saturday’s 9-6 loss to Johns Hopkins.
"As a former goalie myself, I’ve always said that I don’t want to have a goalie looking over his shoulder and worrying about the coach," Toomey said. "That’s our decision and when we make it, we’re probably justified in making it. But Jake’s our guy, and he’s our leader. The guys play hard in front of them and now, I think it’s on their backs to play hard and allow Jake to get into the game where he can play with some confidence."
