Ever since Justin Ward had graduated in May, Loyola Maryland had already tabbed Zack Sirico as the offense's next quarterback. After a quiet start, the sophomore attackman is beginning to show signs of filling that role.
Sirico recorded career highs in goals (three) and assists (five) in the No. 16 Greyhounds' 19-10 demolition at Patriot League foe Lafayette on Saturday. In 60 minutes, Sirico had tripled his season output in goals and posted more than half of his assists.
Sirico had registered four assists in an 11-8 victory over Lehigh on Feb. 28, but had compiled just two assists and zero goals in three games prior to Saturday. Coach Charley Toomey said Sirico's showing against the Leopards was not surprising because he has shown those moves in practice.
"Certainly, we think he has the ability to do that game in and game out," Toomey said Wednesday. "We believe that he's a very talented feeder and very similar to Justin Ward. Having that confidence to turn that corner is the next progression for him. We started to see it, but moreso than just seeing it against Lafayette, I think we're starting to see it in practice, and just to see a young guy grow up who missed the first couple of games, he's two weeks behind everybody else in the offensive system. So hopefully, his best games are ahead of him, and we believe they are."
Sirico missed the preseason and the season opener against Virginia on Feb. 7 due to an undisclosed illness, and Toomey said the late start affected Sirico in a couple areas.
"I think it set him back not only from getting the reps to stay on point and getting the timing down with our offense, but also with just coming back and being in shape," Toomey said. "He couldn't work out, he couldn't be in the weight room, he couldn't run. As much as it was getting the reps and getting on the same page with his teammates, it was also getting into shape and putting himself into game shape where he could be a 60-minute attackman."
The hope is that Sirico will continue to develop as he builds cohesion with senior attackman Nikko Pontrello and junior attackman Zach Herreweyers. For his part, Toomey is optimistic.
"I still think he's working himself into shape," he said. "… But we think it's coming. We see his progression day to day, and what I mean by that is, we're seeing the confidence."