It hasn't taken Jack Carrigan very long to prove his value as a starting defenseman for Loyola Maryland.
In the first start of his career, the sophomore did not allow Virginia junior attackman James Pannell to record a single point. The 2014 All-America honorable mention misfired on nine shots.
Carrigan also has blanked Penn State freshman attackman Ryan Keenan, Holy Cross freshman attackman Logan LeBlond and Duke freshman attackman Justin Guterding, who had 26 goals in six games.
That effectiveness might be surprising to some, but not coach Charley Toomey, who said Carrigan was slated to start even before senior defenseman David Manning tore the meniscus in his knee in the fall.
"We felt like with Jack, even through last year, he was starting to play the ball a little bit better," Toomey said Thursday. "It really speaks to what [senior defenseman Pat] Frazier does as a leader. As [2014 Tewaaraton Award finalist Joe] Fletcher brought Frazier along, we're watching Frazier really bring Jack along. So, yes, I would say it's absolutely what we expected. The way we play defense, we expect those guys to not necessarily win matchups, but be able to hold their own."
Carrigan leads the No. 17 Greyhounds (3-3) in caused turnovers with 10 and is tied for fourth in ground balls with 19. But Carrigan still is learning to be a voice on defense.
"We will be better as a team when we have more defensive leaders in terms of communication, and that's where I would like him to take that next step," Toomey said. "I think when he starts getting the short sticks that are usually next to him organized and our second slides organized, that's going to help us because right now, it seems like it's just Frazier that's leading down there. We need a couple other guys to step up in terms of leadership."