Towson preview
Wednesday’s entry is the third installment of a week-long series taking a look at each of the seven Division I programs in this state according to their order of finish from last season. Check back on Thursday for a preview of Johns Hopkins, and The Sun’s lacrosse preview is slated to be published on Thursday, Feb. 17. Today is Towson’s turn.
Overview: A 1-5 start did not bode well for the Tigers, but they bounced back to capture the Colonial Athletic Association regular-season title before falling to Delaware in the conference tournament championship game. The program got another adrenaline boost with the return of coach Tony Seaman, who agreed to a new three-year deal in June. Now it’s on Seaman & Co. to see if they can end a two-year streak of losses in the CAA Tournament final.
Reason for optimism: Somehow, graduation didn’t touch Towson’s attack, which returns all three starters in senior Tim Stratton (15 goals and 18 assists), junior Matt Lamon (10, 4) and sophomore Matt Hughes (13, 4). Add juniors Stephen Norris (11, 2) and Sean Maguire, and the unit has the potential to keep the pressure on opposing netminders. “We’ve got good depth there, and all of them can score,” Seaman said. “Our problem is the quality of people we play against.”
Reason for pessimism: The departure of midfielders Christian Pastirik (28, 19) and Will Harrington (28, 6) sapped the Tigers of their best one-on-one dodgers up top. Senior Pat Britton (7, 6) and junior Carl Iacona (11, 2) could pair up with freshman Andrew Hodgson on the starting midfield, but Seaman said the emphasis in practice has been on avoiding one-on-one match-ups and making quick passes to open up the defense. “Right now, I think it’s hard for us to create for ourselves,” Seaman said. “So we’re going to have to find different ways to create and get open to where we can get good shots. I think a little bit of that is hoping that our defensive end can create some transition for us so that we can get up and down before they get settled in. But once they get in, we have to protect the ball because possessions become incredibly valuable for us.”
Keep an eye on: Travis Love is the starting goalkeeper after registering a 9.24 goals-against average and a .556 save percentage, but the senior is being pushed by redshirt sophomore Andrew Wascavage. Seaman said Love is still the starter, but he also said that he would have no qualms about inserting Wascavage. “He’s been terrific in the fall and coming into the spring,” Seaman said. “He’s challenging everything Travis does every day. Andrew’s been doing it just as well. It’s a tough thing, but it’s a really good thing. … I think he [Love] is the starter, but I think Andrew’s there threatening every day to take it away from him.”
What he said: Despite winning the CAA regular-season title, Towson was picked to finish fifth in the league’s preseason poll, ranked behind conference favorite Hofstra, Delaware, Drexel and Massachusetts. That’s fine with Seaman, who pointed out that the Tigers have never finished with a sub-.500 record in league play since they joined the CAA for the 2002 season. “We’ve always done well,” he said. “Some way, we’ve found a way to battle through and be competitive, and that’s what we have to do again. I think that’s where our strength of schedule outside the league helps us. After playing Hopkins, Maryland, Loyola, Navy and all those guys in a row, the league doesn’t seem to be that different.”
