2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #35 Towson Tigers

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019. These are not end of season rankings, as some people might think.

We’ve already begun looking back to 2018 with some team recaps thus far and continued our series yesterday with North Carolina.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#35 Towson Tigers

Conference: CAA
2018 Record: 7-8 (3-2 in CAA play)
Postseason: Defeated Delaware in CAA semifinals, lost to UMass in CAA championship
Head coach: Shawn Nadelen (7th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Grant Maloof (20)
Assists: Jean-Luc Chetner (15)
Points: Jean-Luc Chetner (32)
Faceoffs: Alex Woodall (168-of-276; 60.9%)
Ground balls: Alex Woodall (101)
Caused turnovers: Zach Goodrich (19)
Goals against average: Shane Brennan (9.33 GAA)
Save percentage: Shane Brennan (51%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: M Jean-Luc Chetner (17 Gs, 15 As), D/LSM Sid Ewell (15 GBs, 8 CTs), D Calvin Livingston (9 GBs, 2 CTs, 1 A), G Josh Miller (10.67 GAA, 51% SV %), FOGO Steven Stillwell (59.3% faceoff draws, 16 GBs)
Senior scoring departing: 33 of 201 points (16.4%)
Senior starts lost: 21 of 150 (14%)

Season Summary

A year after making it back to Championship Weekend, Towson lost plenty of seniors on offense and took an expected step back in 2018. But despite some struggles in February and March, the Tigers stepped up in April and returned to the CAA championship game.

The season began with four tough games. Towson fell to Johns Hopkins in their season opener before edging out Mount St. Mary’s by two goals for their first win. Despite starting the first two games, Shane Brennan gave way to senior Josh Miller in all three contests. Miller started the second half against Hopkins, the second quarter against Mount St. Mary’s, and the entire game in a loss to Georgetown.

But Miller got sick prior to the Loyola game, which thrusted Brennan back in goal. Despite another loss, the redshirt-freshman finally looked like a number one goalie after making 12 saves and keeping the Tigers in it against the Greyhounds. Brennan then helped Towson to wins over UMBC and an upset victory over Ohio State in Columbus. But the Tigers lost their next three games in close fashion against Duke and in overtime against Denver, but finally looked like they were threats to win the CAA once again. However, head coach Shawn Nadelen suspended defenseman Sid Ewell and attackman Jon Mazza and removed attackman Dylan Kinnear from the roster prior to their conference opening loss to Hofstra. Mazza never returned to the program, but Ewell came back after sitting two games.

April was a turning point for Towson, winning three of their last four regular season games before taking on Delaware in the CAA semifinals. Despite leading by four goals with 10:30 left in the game, the Blue Hens went on a 4-0 run to tie things up. But Matt Sovero gave the Tigers another berth in the CAA championship game with the overtime winner. Towson would fall to UMass in the conference title game two days later.

Towson got hot at the right time, and they also might have gotten a groove of what their future would look like. Jean-Luc Chetner, a Richmond transfer, got plenty of time as a midfielder, but despite leading the team in points, he was part of the second unit. Attackman Timmy Monahan, who transferred in from Maryland, was second on the team with 28 points. But the season ended with the trio of redshirt-junior Johnny Giuffreda, junior Brendan Sunday, and freshman Phil Wies at attack. Junior Grant Maloof, redshirt-sophomore Matt Sovero, and sophomore Jake McLean were the starting midfielders with Luke Fromert also getting some reps.

Defensively, the Tigers gave up nearly two more goals than they did last season, but they still stayed below 10 goals a game. Junior Chad Patterson was the stalwart on the close defense unit that also included sophomore Gray Bodden and seniors Calvin Livingston and Sid Ewell. Ewell also played LSM near the end of the season along with freshman Koby Smith. Joining Zach Goodrich as a short stick middie was junior Jimmie Wilkinson. Despite the slow start, Brennan recorded a 9.33 goals against average in his first year as starter, while FOGO Alex Woodall went 60.9% from the faceoff X, ninth best in the country.

Looking Ahead

Chetner, Livingston, and Ewell are the only big contributors Towson loses for next year. The entire starting attack and midfield, along with some key reserves, will be back.

The offense also has Monahan and Fromert to work with, as well as Stony Brook transfer Brody McLean to work with. As usual, Towson doesn’t have an eye-catching offense, so scoring will be big if the defense starts slow again.

As for the defense, the spot left vacant that Patterson and Ewell had is open for the taking. Sophomore LSM Joe Patti played in six games last season and was the only other defenseman or LSM that played outside of senior Brett Hall and his one appearance. With the short sticks, goalie, and FOGO situations set, expect the Tigers to make another run at a CAA championship in 2019.

Here’s who the Tigers will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.