Palisadian Pair Helps Loyola Lacrosse Rally for Fifth Straight League Title
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Trailing rival Harvard-Westlake by three goals with under three minutes left, the Loyola High lacrosse team rallied for a 12-11 triumph Saturday afternoon in Studio City for its fifth straight Mission League title.
Owen Gaffney had three goals as did Matt Garvey, including the game-winner with 10 seconds left, and goalie Will Parducci made five saves as Loyola avenged a 10-8 regular season defeat.
No two Cubs savored the comeback more than long stick middies Preston Barnes and Jack Wynperle.
“Our offense stepped up and we were more unselfish,” said Barnes, a sophomore from the Highlands who went to Calvary Christian and whose older brother Parker plays quarterback at Brentwood School. “We learned a lot from the last time and applied it to this game.”
Wynperle, a freshman living in the Marquez area, felt the momentum shift when Loyola scored first in the fourth quarter: “We were down four, but we caught fire. As soon as you get one goal you know you’ll get more.”
Wynperle played football, basketball and golf at St. Matthew’s and picked Loyola over Harvard-Westlake. His brother Thomas is a pitcher in the PPBA.
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