Loyola Blakefield Teammates Lavin and Kane Choose Catholic University
Sam Lavin and Aidan Kane, both Class of 2027 lacrosse players from Loyola Blakefield, have committed to Catholic University. The defender and midfielder will continue their careers together after helping the Dons reach the MIAA semifinals. Both cited the program's direction and academic offerings as key factors.
Catholic's program has shown steady upward momentum under coach Peter Donley, advancing to the Landmark Conference championship game in 2026 after consecutive semifinal appearances and finishing with a 13-6 record. The Cardinals already carried two former Loyola Blakefield players on last season's roster, suggesting an established recruiting pipeline between the Baltimore-area MIAA program and the Washington, D.C., university.
Kane's commitment carries personal significance, as several relatives attended Catholic, including his uncle Mike O'Leary, a 1990 graduate who played four years of soccer and basketball for the Cardinals. Lavin, meanwhile, was drawn to the university's accelerated 4+1 business program and its alumni network, while both players cited the campus location and the program's trajectory as key factors in their decisions.
These commitments may signal a broader shift in how lacrosse recruits evaluate college options, with academic offerings and program trajectory increasingly weighing alongside athletic prestige. For Catholic University, securing two players from a respected MIAA program could strengthen its competitive standing in the Landmark Conference and enhance its recruiting appeal. For the players, the decision reflects a balanced approach to college selection that may influence how other high school athletes in similar positions weigh their own choices.