Towson 2023

[jrn19]

There's bright spots with Villagomez and Weisshaar. Those are the type of elite offensive players the team lacked since Sunday, Drenner, etc. graduated. It'll open up room for the rest of the offense as well which has continued to have good complementary pieces. Two more years of Constantinides at FOs will give them lots of possessions. The defense seemed to improve a lot second half of the year. It felt like they were sort of getting things pointed back upwards.

End of the day though, just feels like there's something missing intangible missing. 0-3 in 1 goal games, 1-4 in 2 goals or fewer. 2022 they were 2-3 in 1 goal games. 2021 they were 2-4 in 1 goal games and 4-5 in 2 goals or fewer. So last 3 years they are 4-10 in 1 goal games and 7-12 in games decided by 2 goals or fewer. Small simple size perhaps but over 3 years if you're losing close games consistently every year there's something there. They just can't seem to get over that hump. With what's being brought back and how rest of conference shapes up, 2024 should be a year where they bounce back into the tournament. If not, think it's fair to wonder what it is that's been lacking since COVID.

[sc lax]

This team found a way to rattle off a few wins at the end of the season to get into the CAA Tourney, but the issues that killed them earlier in the season showed up again last night. They had plenty of opportunities, but poor shooting and lapses on the defensive side/clearing the ball were detrimental. Obviously Delaware is a good team, but yesterday was very winnable. They are the only team that found a way to shut down Kurtz.

Moving forward, there are some bright spots on the offensive end with the 3 freshmen. They will need more of a dodging presence and a true X guy at attack to really take the next step. Barsz is a top close guy in the country, but they need more athletes at D-middie. Will be interesting to see who takes over in goal and if they are aggressive in the Portal.

[Laxhog]

DeMaio, the three freshmen,
Webber has improved and Long had his moments.

And,
next year, maybe, possibly Cole Herbert - he’s enrolled from what I’ve seen - question is, will he be playing for Nadelen or will he play football or both.

or neither

[10stone5]

So no Herbert, then,

or still tbd ?

[HockeyLaxGolf42]

For one of the premier coaches in the sport, SN has struggled as of late. Below .500 since 2019

[Math1234]

This team found a way to rattle off a few wins at the end of the season to get into the CAA Tourney, but the issues that killed them earlier in the season showed up again last night. They had plenty of opportunities, but poor shooting and lapses on the defensive side/clearing the ball were detrimental. Obviously Delaware is a good team, but yesterday was very winnable. They are the only team that found a way to shut down Kurtz.

Moving forward, there are some bright spots on the offensive end with the 3 freshmen. They will need more of a dodging presence and a true X guy at attack to really take the next step. Barsz is a top close guy in the country, but they need more athletes at D-middie. Will be interesting to see who takes over in goal and if they are aggressive in the Portal.

100% on getting better athletes on offense and defense, a true X and a dodger. But let's face it. The elephant in the room is the coaching. Not suggesting anybody on the staff leave, but when you consistently lose important games and close games, your experienced defense gives up at least five layup attempts in a tournament and looks out of sync late in the first half, your offense continues to make the same mistakes with little consequence, the shooting has been atrocious and you're still experimenting with the second midfield late in the season, it's not the just the personnel.

Even though Constantinides struggled in the semifinal, he's going to be really good. Love the three freshmen but not sure about the others surrounding them. As much as Webber improved later in the season, he's still limited with his lack of size. Need a goaltender again as well.

[10stone5]

Long has two more years, doesn’t he ?

The kid coming in from Loyola, he looked like he can distribute in the games I saw - he can play.

[Mr3Putt]

Long listed as a R-Jr . Don’t get the look for goalie stuff. Plus he is just getting time.

[sc lax]

This team found a way to rattle off a few wins at the end of the season to get into the CAA Tourney, but the issues that killed them earlier in the season showed up again last night. They had plenty of opportunities, but poor shooting and lapses on the defensive side/clearing the ball were detrimental. Obviously Delaware is a good team, but yesterday was very winnable. They are the only team that found a way to shut down Kurtz.

Moving forward, there are some bright spots on the offensive end with the 3 freshmen. They will need more of a dodging presence and a true X guy at attack to really take the next step. Barsz is a top close guy in the country, but they need more athletes at D-middie. Will be interesting to see who takes over in goal and if they are aggressive in the Portal.

100% on getting better athletes on offense and defense, a true X and a dodger. But let's face it. The elephant in the room is the coaching. Not suggesting anybody on the staff leave, but when you consistently lose important games and close games, your experienced defense gives up at least five layup attempts in a tournament and looks out of sync late in the first half, your offense continues to make the same mistakes with little consequence, the shooting has been atrocious and you're still experimenting with the second midfield late in the season, it's not the just the personnel.

Even though Constantinides struggled in the semifinal, he's going to be really good. Love the three freshmen but not sure about the others surrounding them. As much as Webber improved later in the season, he's still limited with his lack of size. Need a goaltender again as well.

Out of curiosity, what coaching differences would you like to see happen?

[10stone5]

I think Long is looking like the top goalie in the CAA next year.

The other guys are 5th year guys, Long was key to winning the earlier Delaware game.

[Math1234]

Long listed as a R-Jr . Don’t get the look for goalie stuff. Plus he is just getting time.

Heard he's graduating and doing something else. Probably shouldn't mention the specifics here.

[Math1234]

This team found a way to rattle off a few wins at the end of the season to get into the CAA Tourney, but the issues that killed them earlier in the season showed up again last night. They had plenty of opportunities, but poor shooting and lapses on the defensive side/clearing the ball were detrimental. Obviously Delaware is a good team, but yesterday was very winnable. They are the only team that found a way to shut down Kurtz.

Moving forward, there are some bright spots on the offensive end with the 3 freshmen. They will need more of a dodging presence and a true X guy at attack to really take the next step. Barsz is a top close guy in the country, but they need more athletes at D-middie. Will be interesting to see who takes over in goal and if they are aggressive in the Portal.

100% on getting better athletes on offense and defense, a true X and a dodger. But let's face it. The elephant in the room is the coaching. Not suggesting anybody on the staff leave, but when you consistently lose important games and close games, your experienced defense gives up at least five layup attempts in a tournament and looks out of sync late in the first half, your offense continues to make the same mistakes with little consequence, the shooting has been atrocious and you're still experimenting with the second midfield late in the season, it's not the just the personnel.

Even though Constantinides struggled in the semifinal, he's going to be really good. Love the three freshmen but not sure about the others surrounding them. As much as Webber improved later in the season, he's still limited with his lack of size. Need a goaltender again as well.

Out of curiosity, what coaching differences would you like to see happen?

I would think by the end of April you should have a second midfield set. I know the injury to Gallagher hurt, but most of those players have been in the program for awhile. Maybe development of players isn't great? Not talking about the freshmen, but the others have not been great or slow to develop. The Gallagher X experiment didn't work early and the DeMaio as the feeder had mixed results. I would say recruiting probably hurt more and that's part of coaching. I'm not an expert in x's and o's. I just know what the results are and the shooting numbers are atrocious. We actually improved from a poor 27.3% from the previous season so there was slight improvement. We missed James Avanzato (31g, 25a, 30.1%) and Luke Shilling (21g, 19a, 45.7%). Our last good season in 2019, we shot 29.9% and had guys like Brendan Sunday (49g, 25, 38.3%), Timmy Monahan (27g, 21a, 28.1%, Brody McLean 39g, 36.8%, Luke Fromert (27g, 46.6%) and Grant Maloof (24g, 11ag, 25%).

Our best shooters couldn't really create their own shots but we had nobody that could get them ball in decent scoring position. A 6-6 attackman like Villagomez needs space and to get to his right hand. Defenses took that away for the most part, but maybe have Berkely screen for him more. Maybe he can talk to Sunday in the offseason, who is about the same height along with Joe Seider. He's more like Seider IMO. We need Villagomez or Mikey W. to turn into Seider and Drenner. Need more stars.

Defense was good at times and struggled with quicker teams. I can't say, well, they should have played more zone or used Elijah Smith or Connor Spagnelli more. I know they are the future, but haven't seen enough of them to know if they were ready to start. But I think we had issues with clearing because we didn't have a Koby Smith or a pole that could take it off the ground clear it himself or get it to a middie.

Let's take a look at overall basic numbers and where Towson ranked out of 72 teams

23rd in caused turnovers per game at 8.73
37th in assists at 6.93
17th in clearing % (89%)
21st in face-off % (54)
58th in man down defense (56.8%)
54th in man up offense (29.3%)
15th in scoring defense (10.5)
41st in scoring offense (11.93)
49th in shooting % (29%)
57th in turnovers (17.5)

[10stone5]

Didn’t the Tigers get the 14th rated freshman this year, they got a top faceoff man to re-commit from Johns Hopkins and they got two top transfers from Maryland the year before that ?

Recruits don’t really seem that much of a problem, compared to other CAA teams or other comparable teams - combined with timely transfers.

[Math1234]

Didn’t the Tigers get the 14th rated freshman this year, they got a top faceoff man to re-commit from Johns Hopkins and they got two top transfers from Maryland the year before that ?

Recruits don’t really seem that much of a problem, compared to other CAA teams or other comparable teams - combined with timely transfers.

So what's the problem? If recruiting apparently isn't that big of an issue? Is it bad luck I would also say in any sport. It's not just about talent, but making smart lacrosse decisions. Not trying the home run pass when it's not there. Making the extra pass when you have an open shot, but your teammate is closer to the goal and open. Making better decisions in transition. Communicating better on D.

[Math1234]

So we can't even get a transfer who was a student at Towson for a year. Time to start using the transfer portal again. Salisbury also added Reagan McNemar.

https://twitter.com/tyxanders/status/16 ... 55680?s=20

[kramerica.inc]

Jaden Riley '25 A/M from The John Carroll School is headed to Towson University.

[callaxdad]

Anyone know if Demaio is back this season? Pretty sure he has eligibility remaining.

[Math1234]

Anyone know if Demaio is back this season? Pretty sure he has eligibility remaining.

The roster is not out yet, but I believe he played in the fall.

[10stone5]

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/ ... rawl/62186

Starters — Attack: Schrier, DeMaio, Villagomez. Midfield: Webber, Gallagher, Potter. Defense: Barsz, Smith, Petro. Goalie: Meighan

[callaxdad]

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/ ... rawl/62186

Starters — Attack: Schrier, DeMaio, Villagomez. Midfield: Webber, Gallagher, Potter. Defense: Barsz, Smith, Petro. Goalie: Meighan

Thanks Stoney!