Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMLAX | Backup plan: A bizarre series of events trust freshman goalie Jake Hagelin into the net for Loyola, where he's starting to assert himself
By Jesse Caputo
Posted: 3/27/08, 1:12 AM EST Section: Sports
When Jake Hagelin committed to Loyola to play lacrosse a year ago, he was content to put in his time on the bench behind battle-tested starting goalie Alex Peaty.
A year later, the freshman Hagelin is getting more playing time than he ever could have expected as the starting goalie for the No. 18 Greyhounds.
Despite having a deep roster of goalies last year, the Greyhounds lost two of their three keepers to transfer. The lone goalie left on the roster, Peaty, had proven himself throughout his sophomore season as a top goalie in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and was expected to be a stalwart for Loyola during the next two seasons.
But Peaty was shut down in the fall due to injury, forcing the freshman Hagelin to fill the void. Instead of now adjusting to the speed of the college game from the safety of the sidelines, Hagelin is forced to do it on the field. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound freshman has started all seven games for the Greyhounds (4-3).
Hagelin and Loyola will visit Syracuse Saturday for a 4 p.m. contest in the Carrier Dome.
Hagelin has responded to his promotion with an impressive freshman campaign despite being thrown into the fray against some of the nation's best. His .549 save percentage ranks 27th in the country and second among freshmen.
"In that first game against Notre Dame, I became so nervous I couldn't even tell you," Hagelin said. "As time went on, I started trusting the defense around me a lot more."
To help Hagelin adjust to the speed of collegiate lacrosse, Loyola head coach Charley Toomey focused on playing an aggressive defensive scheme to limit the number of looks and shots opposing teams got on the new goalie.
The problem was the Greyhounds were shorthanded on defense as well. Loyola plays two first-time starters on its defense and lost its senior leader, defenseman Eddie Graham, to an ACL injury. Senior David Moore has moved into the middle position in the defense.
But despite the makeshift defense assembled in front of him, Hagelin has more than held his own. He's recorded a solid 7.82 goals against average throughout his seven games.
A year later, the freshman Hagelin is getting more playing time than he ever could have expected as the starting goalie for the No. 18 Greyhounds.
Despite having a deep roster of goalies last year, the Greyhounds lost two of their three keepers to transfer. The lone goalie left on the roster, Peaty, had proven himself throughout his sophomore season as a top goalie in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and was expected to be a stalwart for Loyola during the next two seasons.
But Peaty was shut down in the fall due to injury, forcing the freshman Hagelin to fill the void. Instead of now adjusting to the speed of the college game from the safety of the sidelines, Hagelin is forced to do it on the field. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound freshman has started all seven games for the Greyhounds (4-3).
Hagelin and Loyola will visit Syracuse Saturday for a 4 p.m. contest in the Carrier Dome.
Hagelin has responded to his promotion with an impressive freshman campaign despite being thrown into the fray against some of the nation's best. His .549 save percentage ranks 27th in the country and second among freshmen.
"In that first game against Notre Dame, I became so nervous I couldn't even tell you," Hagelin said. "As time went on, I started trusting the defense around me a lot more."
To help Hagelin adjust to the speed of collegiate lacrosse, Loyola head coach Charley Toomey focused on playing an aggressive defensive scheme to limit the number of looks and shots opposing teams got on the new goalie.
The problem was the Greyhounds were shorthanded on defense as well. Loyola plays two first-time starters on its defense and lost its senior leader, defenseman Eddie Graham, to an ACL injury. Senior David Moore has moved into the middle position in the defense.
But despite the makeshift defense assembled in front of him, Hagelin has more than held his own. He's recorded a solid 7.82 goals against average throughout his seven games.
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