Towson Continues Winning Ways

By: Tyler Beard, Assistant Sports Editor 

No. 5 Towson continued its undefeated season after a 14-6 win at home against the UMBC Retrievers on Saturday.

Head Coach Shawn Nadelen said he was proud of how the team performed. 

“I thought we approached this game in a manner that we expect as a program, coming aggressive out of the gate, trying to set the tone and trying to establish our basic play,” Nadelen said.

The Tigers’ (5-0) offense took control of the game early, with a 12-0 run that wasn’t broken up until five minutes into the third quarter.

Towson’s run began with a goal within the first minute of the game from junior midfielder Tyler Young. The next five goals from the team came from five different players, as the Tigers finished the game with 10 different goal scorers.

“I think the scout really helps the regular quad,” senior midfielder Ben McCarty said. “They didn’t show us anything we really didn’t expect and that’s really key going into a game.”

McCarty finished with a game-high three goals, including the last goal of the Towson’s 12-0 run.

UMBC (0-3) ended the run with a goal from Max Maxwell, which helped the team go on a 4-0 run and cut Towson’s lead to 12-4 with six minutes left in the third quarter.

“I told the guys after the game that we’re not as sharp as we’re strung to be, especially in the middle of the field,” Nadelen said. “I didn’t think we were as sharp as we needed to be, but obviously it didn’t hurt us today.”

The Tigers ended any attempt of a comeback though, with McCarty’s third goal of the game in the last two seconds of the third quarter and a goal from senior attackman Spencer Parks in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Towson’s lead allowed for the freshmen to play in the last five minutes of the game.

The Tigers outshot the Retrievers 48-19 and junior midfielder Alec Burckley won 14-of-21 face-offs.

The 5-0 start for Towson has the team rising in the polls, but the players aren’t focused on the rankings.

“I think team wide, everyone on the team isn’t worried about the polls or where we end up after each week,” junior attackman Ryan Drenner, who finished with two goals, said. “We know this is a big week for us, but we’re just focused on winning each game and playing our best.”

Towson will move onto another in-state matchup against No. 13 Johns Hopkins.

The Tigers upset the Blue Jays in a 7-5 win last season and will go on the road for a rematch Saturday at 2 p.m.