Top-ranked McDonogh wasted no time setting the tone against No. 3 Loyola Blakefield when Noah McCoy won the opening faceoff and found Jackson Morrill for a goal just 13 seconds into the game.
From there, the Eagles dominated every facet of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference lacrosse semifinal Monday. Jason Sarro finished with four goals, while Jack Parr added a hat trick as McDonogh (17-1) advanced to Friday's title game against Boys' Latin with a 20-6 victory over Loyola at Johns Hopkins.
"We came out firing on all cylinders," Sarro said. "Everything just went our way. We did well on faceoffs. We did well in transition. We put up goals right away."
Morrill, who finished with two goals and four assists, gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead just three minutes into the game. McDonogh continued to dominate possession, never allowing Loyola (9-7) to develop a semblance of an attack. Jack Sweeney, Rich Dion and Parr scored to provide the Eagles with a 5-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
After Jack Simmons increased the margin to six, Loyola finally got on the board on an unassisted goal by Cole Williams with 8:14 left in the second quarter. Any momentum was short-lived as Sarro responded for McDonogh eight seconds later.
"In these big games, if we get out to a hot start, that can set the tone for the rest of the game," Morrill said. "It was something we really focused on and worked on in practice. Something we've never done in my four years is start practice saying we are going to get one goal and we are going to win the game."
When McDonogh's Barrett Sutley gave McDonogh a 8-1 lead, Loyola coach Ben Rubeor was forced to call another timeout to find some answers. It didn't help as Sarro completed his hat trick, while Parr, Woodson, Sweeney and Hurdle also scored to give McDonogh a 14-1 lead.
Luke Hurley scored the Dons' second goal with one second left before halftime.
"To be honest, I don't think any of us really had it today — coaches and players," Rubeor said. "We got down early and were on our heels from the start. But that is a big credit to a talented team that is well-coached. It was a very smart McDonogh team that took advantage of our mistakes today."
The second half was not much better for Loyola. After Brendan Doyle scored for the Dons, Sutley and Parr answered for McDonogh a little over a minute later. Loyola did a better job keeping possession and got a goal by Doyle midway through the third quarter, but it was just McDonogh's day.
McDonogh also beat Loyola 13-11 on April 19.
McDonogh 20, Loyola 6
Goals: L- Williams 2, Doyle 2, Hurley, Goles; M - Sarro 4, Parr 3, Morrill 2, Hurdle 2, Sweeney 2, Simmons 2, Sutley 2, Dion, Woodson, McCoy.
Assists: L- Doyle, Williams, Dunn; M -Morrill 4, Parr 2, Woodson 2, McCoy, Sarro, Romefelt
Saves: L-Stout 5, Lorber 3; M-Lanier 10
Half: 14-2