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Patriot Cup shows lacrosse's growth across North Texas

Episcopal School of Dallas senior Richie Loftus will play attacker in the Patriot Cup lacrosse showcase at 9 a.m. Saturday at SMU, two weeks after being captain and goalkeeper in ESD’s win in the SPC soccer championship game.

Before that, Loftus was quarterback of a playoff football team. And before that, it all started with hockey.

“Hockey really gave me a jump start on everything else,” Loftus said. “I played mostly that until I was about 10. The hand-eye coordination you have to have helped pick up everything else. At school, I wanted to play the other sports my friends were playing, so I started doing those.”

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Lacrosse has emerged as the 6-0, 210-pound Loftus’ passion, and he’ll play at Dartmouth, which is another main attraction of the Patriot Cup. The Patriot Cup exemplifies lacrosse’s growth across North Texas.

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Loftus is one of several ESD players who will play in college. Jack Beare has signed with Notre Dame, Foster Huggins signed with 2012 NCAA Division I champion Loyola (Md.), and junior Sam Romano has committed to Syracuse.

While Huggins is rehabbing a knee injury, ESD already has blossoming college prospects with freshman Nakeie Montgomery and sophomore David Kerrigan. Lacrosse talent spreads wide across North Dallas, with Highland Park freshman Parker Alexander recently committing to North Carolina for the Class of 2017.

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Tim Perkins, with the Patriot Cup host committee, has been a parent involved with the grass roots development of lacrosse. His son, senior Jeff Perkins, plays at Dartmouth and so does freshman Justin Harvey from defending state champion St. Mark’s. Dartmouth will bring approximately 60 family members along for the Patriot Cup.

Typical of the growth is Flower Mound, the defending Division II state champion which has its first class of seniors who have played in the program four years. Flower Mound plays Highland Park 2 at 3 p.m. Saturday.

“The interest in lacrosse keep growing, and it’s growing most in the new programs,” Tim Perkins said.

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PATRIOT CUP LACROSSE SHOWCASE

(All games at SMU's Ford Stadium)

FRIDAY

Southwestern University vs. Colorado College7:00

SATURDAY

Episcopal School of Dallas vs. The Woodlands9 a.m.

Dartmouth vs. Sacred HeartNoon

Flower Mound vs. Highland Park 23:00

SMU vs. Texas A&M5:00

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Texas Tech vs. TCU7:00

Tickets: $10-$15 at gate or patriotcup.com