Opening Faceoff
The Tigers hit the road for the second time in 2016 as they make the quick trip down Charles Street to take on long-time nemesis No. 11/No. 14 Johns Hopkins. It is the 44th meeting all-time between schools whose home fields are separated by just five miles. Towson will be looking to do something never done before in program history: beat the Blue Jays back-to-back years.

In The National Rankings
After going 2-0 last week, including a win at then-No. 5 Loyola, Towson jumped up several spots in all the polls. The Tigers slotted in at No. 6 in this week's Nike/USILA Coaches Poll, while holding down the No. 5 spot in both the Cascade/Maverik Inside Lacrosse Media Poll and the Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Top 20. Towson was tied for fifth in the IL Media Poll with Brown at 432 points each.

Updating the 2016 Tigers
Towson's offense has been a versatile bunch in 2016. Twelve different Tigers have registered at least one point, with a trio of players in double figures. Ryan Drenner (10-9-19) leads the way, followed closely by Joe Seider (11-2-13) and Spencer Parks (6-4-10). Junior Mike Lynch (5-4-9) and redshirt senior Ben McCarty (6-2-8) are poised to break into double digits. Towson's bread and butter lies in the defensive third with the Ministers of Defense, Tyler White (GK), Nick Gorman, Mike Lowe and Andrew Cordes. The Tigers have the second-best scoring defense in the country, allowing a scant 5.60 goals per game, one-tenth of a point behind Notre Dame. Faceoff specialist Alec Burckley is ranked 19th nationally, winning 60.8 percent of his draws, grabbing a team-high 24 groundballs

Scouting The Blue Jays
No. 11/No. 14 Johns Hopkins enters Saturday's game with a 2-2 overall record after out-gunning Princeton 17-7 last weekend. Three Jays are in double figure points, with Shack Stanwick (5-14-19) leading the charge. Ryan Brown (11-5-16) is second, followed by John Crawley (6-5-11) in third. Brock Turnbaugh has a goals against average of 9.97 to go along with a 54.0 save percentage. Two players take the bulk of Hopkins' draws. Craig Madarasz (43-79, .544) leads in wins, with Hunter Moreland (13-20, .650) pacing in win percentage.

Towson-Hopkins History
Despite being separated by just five miles, Towson and Hopkins met for the first time in 1976. The Blue Jays lead the all-time series 39-4, but the Tigers are coming off the program's first win over Johns Hopkins since the 1996 campaign. Last season's win snapped a 19-game skid against the Blue Jays and came in a 7-5 decision at Unitas Stadium. It was the first time since the 2007 campaign Towson held Johns Hopkins to single figures. The Tigers first victory over Johns Hopkins came at home, a 9-8 double overtime thriller. Towson has won twice at Homewood Field, collecting a 14-13 win in the 1992 regular season finale, followed by the 13-12 win in 1996.

Towson-Hopkins By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record    Johns Hopkins 39-4
    at Towson    Johns Hopkins 20-2
    at Johns Hopkins    Johns Hopkins 19-2
    at Neutral Sites    n/a
    at Unknown Sites    n/a
First Meeting    3/27/76 Hopkins 15, Towson 8
Last Meeting    Feb. 15, 2015
        Towson 7, #5 Johns Hopkins 5
Streak    Towson +1

Last Time Out vs. Johns Hopkins
Towson opened the 2015 season with a bang, topping the then-No. 5 Blue Jays 7-5 in the season opener at Johnny Unitas Stadium. The Tigers utilized five different goal scorers to hold off Johns Hopkins, with current junior Joe Seider and the since-graduated Andrew Hodgson each scoring twice. Redshirt senior Tyler White made 12 saves in that game, allowing just five goals in his 60 minutes. Longstick midfielder Pat Conroy had a solid outing at the faceoff X, winning seven of his 10 chances after a slow 1-for-5 start from Alec Burckley. Despite taking four penalties, Towson's man-down unit held true and kept the Blue Jays from scoring on the extra man. Towson out-shot Johns Hopkins 34-31, including 12 attempts in the first quarter.

Careers Against Johns Hopkins
Nineteen players on the current roster have suited up in the Black and Gold against Johns Hopkins. Dan Carder and Mike Lowe are the only two players on the team to have played three times already against the Blue Jays as members of Towson lacrosse. Goalie Tyler White has stepped in the cage twice, carrying a career goals against average of 10.17 against Johns Hopkins and a 60.0 save percentage. Joe Seider has four career points in two games, including two goals last season. Spencer Parks has three career games against Johns Hopkins, with two coming while playing at North Carolina. He has not logged a point in his career, but is 3-0 lifetime against the Jays. Ryan Drenner has six career points against Johns Hopkins, dishing out three assists in the last two seasons. Close defenseman Mike Lowe struck for a goal in the 2014 meeting, while Ben McCarty registered an assist in last season's game.

White Wins Three Weekly Awards
After going 2-0 last week and making 19 combined saves, redshirt senior Tyler White picked up three weekly awards. The big man was named CAA Player of the Week on March 8, followed up by NCAA Defensive Player of the Week on March 9. On Friday, White was named the Baltimore Sun's Player of the Week. White finished his games against No. 5 Loyola and UMBC with a goals against average of 6.67 and stopped 61.3 percent of the shots he faced, limiting the Greyhounds and Retrievers to just eight and four goals, respectively. White and his defense have not allowed an opponent to score double digits this season.

Looking for History
Off to its best start since the 1992 campaign, Towson will look to continue that trend on Saturday. A win over Johns Hopkins would give the program its first back-to-back wins over Johns Hopkins in program history. It would be the Tigers' third-ever win at historic Homewood Field.

Role Reversal
Saturday's game marks just the third time in the Tigers' program history they enter a game ranked higher than Johns Hopkins. Towson was ranked 11th in the 2010 meeting against an unranked Johns Hopkins. In 1992, the Tigers were ranked 5th in the NCAA Tournament game at what is now Unitas Stadium. A week prior, No. 8 Towson bested No. 4 Johns Hopkins 14-13 at Homewood Field. Saturday's game is the second meeting with Towson ranked higher in the regular season and the second such meeting at Homewood Field.

Seider in the Career Top 10
Junior Joe Seider has launched 256 career shots in his first two and a half seasons with the Black and Gold. He needs just nine more attempts to move into Towson's all-time career shots list. He is currently chasing Paul Mullen, who took 265 shots from 1976-78. Glenn Smith holds the career record with 458 shots. Last season, Seider set the single-season mark with 137 attempts in 18 games.

Taking on the Alma Mater
Saturday's game will be the first of two consecutive games a member of the Towson coaching staff will take on his alma mater. Head coach Shawn Nadelen had a All-American career at Johns Hopkins as a defenseman and four-year starter. Associate head coach Anthony Gilardi returns to Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday night for a game against his alma mater, The Ohio State University where he was a two-time All-Great Western Lacrosse League player. Assistant coach Dan Cocchi and volunteer assistant coach Neil Hutchinson both graduated from Towson University.

You Get a Hat Trick! And You Get a Hat Trick!
So far in 2016, the Tigers have had at least one hat trick in each of the first five games. Spencer Parks and Joe Seider struck three times each in the season opener against Mercer (Feb. 12). Ryan Drenner did it in back-to-back games against Mount St. Mary's (Feb. 20), and with four goals against No. 17 Georgetown (Feb. 27). Joe Seider had four goals against No. 5 Loyola (March 2). Ben McCarty did it most recently with three goals against UMBC (March 5).

Not Against Drexel?
Redshirt senior Ben McCarty has three career hat tricks, including last week's three-goal effort against UMBC. It was the first time in his career the Westminter, Maryland native scored a hat trick against someone other than CAA foe Drexel. McCarty scored four goals in the 2015 regular season finale at Drexel, along with a six-goal outburst in 2013.

With a Win Saturday
With a win on Saturday, Towson would match the program's best start since the 1992 campaign when that team opened the year 6-0. It would be just the third time since the program elevated to Division I Towson started at 6-0 or better. The Tigers opened the 1990 season with a 7-0 mark.

A win Saturday would mark the first time in program history Towson beat Johns Hopkins in back-to-back seasons. It would be the Tigers' first win at Homewood field since April 17, 1996, a 13-12 victory over the Jays, under the guidance of Tony Seaman, who would later coach at Towson.

With a victory on Saturday, Towson would sweep its four games against schools in the State of Maryland, including a 3-0 mark against Greater Baltimore programs. Towson has not swept the Baltimore Three (Johns Hopkins, Loyola, UMBC) since the 1996 season when the Tigers beat Johns Hopkins 13-12, Loyola 12-11 in overtime and UMBC 27-15. Towson has managed the sweep twice, including the 1992 campaign.

Snapping the Greyhound Slide
Towson's win over Loyola snapped an eight-game slide for the Tigers in the series. It was Towson's first win over Loyola since the 2007 meeting, which was also held on the Greyhounds' home field.

Anything You Can Do...
So far in 2016, both the Towson men's and women's lacrosse teams have beaten the same opponent three times. Towson's men have wins over No. 17 Georgetown (10-7), No. 5 Loyola (10-8) and UMBC (14-6). The women's side topped UMBC (14-4), No. 19 Loyola (9-5) and Georgetown (8-7). One nonconference opponent, Johns Hopkins, remains on the schedule for either side. The women play Johns Hopkins on April 2. Both teams will play CAA foes Delaware, Hofstra and Drexel.

Baltimore Top Five Beware
For a second-straight season, the Tigers upended a local team ranked No. 5 in the polls. On March 2, the Tigers topped No. 5 Loyola 10-8 at the Ridley Athletic Complex. In the 2015 season opener at Johnny Unitas Stadium, the Tigers stunned No. 5 Johns Hopkins 7-5, the team's first win over the Blue Jays since 1996.

Murderer's Row
The Tigers are in the midst of their most challenging section of the non-conference schedule. Including last weekend's 10-7 win over No. 17 Georgetown, four of Towson's next five opponents are mentioned in at least one of the weekly polls. Of those games, three (Loyola March 2, Johns Hopkins March 12 and Ohio State March 15) will be on the road. In addition to No. 17 Georgetown, Towson hosted local foe UMBC on March 5. The Retrievers were not mentioned in the polls that week. 

Back-to-Back Over Ranked Foes
In the Tigers' toughest stretch of non-conference games, slated to face four ranked opponents in five games, Towson won back-to-back games over opponents ranked in the Top 20. At home on Feb. 27, the then-No. 13 Tigers bested No. 17 Georgetown 10-7, followed by a 10-8 win by the No. 11 Tigers over No. 5 Loyola. It marks the first time since the 2013 CAA Tournament Towson beat back-to-back opponents who were ranked. Towson beat No. 18 Drexel 11-8 on May 1, followed up by an 11-10 win over No. 9 Penn State in the CAA Championship game, winning the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.

The Dog Days of Non-Conference Play
The Tigers have nine non-conference games on the slate for the 2016 season. Towson has hit the midway point of that run, sitting at 5-0. Last weekend's game against UMBC was the third-straight game the Tigers faced nan opponent that uses a dog as its mascot. Towson beat No. 17 Georgetown (Hoyas/Bulldog) 10-7, followed by a 10-8 win over No. 5 Loyola (Greyhound). Towson swept opponents this year with dog mascots following its 14-6 win over UMBC (Retrievers) on March 5.

Tigers on TV
Towson men's lacrosse will appear in back-to-back television games this season, both on the road. The first will be March 12 at Johns Hopkins (2 p.m.) on ESPNU from historic Homewood Field. The other game will be Towson's second-straight Big Ten opponent in Ohio State. The Tigers and Buckeyes will do battle on the Big Ten Network on March 15 from Columbus, Ohio.

Against the Top 20
The Tigers have knocked off two ranked opponents so far in 2016. At home on Feb. 27, the Tigers bested No. 17 Georgetown, followed by a 10-8 win at cross-town rival No. 5 Loyola on March 2. The Tigers are 14-9 under head coach Shawn Nadelen when playing as a ranked team.

Defense Like a Brick Wall
The Tiger defense is one of the best in the country. The Tigers are ranked second in total defense (5.60 goals allowed per game). The Tigers have the fewest goals allowed in the country (28) for a team with five or more games to its credit. Navy is second with five games played, allowing 35 total goals.

Towson's defense has been dominant at home in the last two years. The Tigers have held their last nine opponents at Johnny Unitas Stadium to single digits, while doing so in 10 of the last 11 games. Towson is 8-3 at home during that same stretch.

Lotta Eyes on The Tigers
Despite bitter cold temperatures for the season opener against Mercer on Feb. 12, Towson is currently ranked eighth in the country in cumulative attendance, averaging just over 1,000 fans per game. The water mark for attendance in 2016 was set last weekend with over 1,434 fans at Unitas Stadium against UMBC on March 5.

"Good eye, Sniper"
Redshirt freshman Ian Kirby has been the go-to man on the power play, hitting for five goals on just 10 shots. Five of his six career goals are extra-man chances, including two in each back-to-back games. Joe Seider led Towson's 2015 man-up goals with seven, with Kirby quickly closing in on that total in just three games. Kirby is ranked 27th in the country in shot percentage (.500) and is second in individual man-up goals, just one behind Denver's Brendan Bomberry. 

Local Market
This year, Towson has 14 games on its regular season slate. Of those 14 games, nine will be played at Johnny Unitas Stadium. This season, Towson won't have to travel far for two of its five road games as the Tigers traveled down the road to Loyola (March 2) and Johns Hopkins (March 12). However, what the Tigers gain in local games, they make up for in true road games, covering roughly 2,000 miles going to Ohio State (March 15), Massachusetts (April 9) and Hofstra (April 30).

Local Market Part Deux
While it's not uncommon at all for the Tigers to face all three of the local institutions in the same season, this year's edition of the Battle for Greater Baltimore will have a unique twist: Towson will play all three schools in consecutive games. The Tigers went to Loyola on March 2, host UMBC on March 5 and then travel down Charles Street to Johns Hopkins on March 12. 

Hodgson on the Move
After being drafted in Major League Lacrosse's Supplemental Draft in the offseason, former Towson standout midfielder Andrew Hodgson was traded on March 3. The Long Islander will have a chance to play his professional lacrosse close to home as he was transferred from the Denver Outlaws to the New York Lizards as part of a three-player, two draft pick trade. Hodgson and Duke defender Luke Duprey were sent to New York for Brody Eastwood, a fourth-round draft pick in the 2017 Collegiate Draft and a seventh-round pick in the 2017 Supplemental Draft. Hodgson, who is an assistant coach at Manhattan College, will have the chance to make his pro debut on April 23 as the Lizards host the Rochester Rattlers at 5 p.m. at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium.

Kirby Named CAA Rookie of the Week (2/23)
After a two-goal game against Mount St. Mary's, redshirt freshman Ian Kirby was named CAA Rookie of the Week (Feb. 23). Kirby took three shots in the Tigers' 9-5 win over in-state foe Mount St. Mary's, hitting for paydirt twice. Kirby has emerged as Towson's top man-up threat in the early goings, scoring three goals in his first two games, all on the extra-man.

Seider Named CAA Player of the Week (2/16)
The CAA office announced Joe Seider as the Player of the Week (Feb. 16) in the first conference report of the season. Seider is the first Tiger to win a weekly award in the first report since he was tabbed Rookie of the Week during the 2014 season. In the Tigers' 11-2 win over Mercer, Seider finished with four points on three goals and one assist. He paced the game with 11 shots while helping Towson to double digits for the fifth time in Towson's last six games, dating back to last season.

White Named to Tewaaraton Trophy, Presented by Under Armour, Watch List
Redshirt senior goalie Tyler White was one of 50 NCAA Men's Lacrosse student-athletes named to a Watch List for the sports highest honor: The Tewaaraton Trophy, presented by Under Armour. The announcement was made in the evening of Feb. 23. White is one of two CAA players named to the watch list as he was joined by Hofstra's Sam Llinares. The Tigers have had three different players in the Shawn Nadelen era (since 2012) to be named to the Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List. Last season Andrew Hodgson was named while former standout Thomas DeNapoli was named twice (2013, 2014).

White Named Senior CLASS Award Candidate
Redshirt senior goalie Tyler White was one of 20 NCAA Division I student-athletes named to the Senior CLASS Award candidate list, announced Feb. 16. White is one of two CAA players named as candidates, joined by UMass's Kyle Karaska. 

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. CLASS is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®. 

The 20 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.

Preseason Nods
Redshirt senior Tyler White earned several preseason accolades, including Honorable Mention All-America by Inside Lacrosse. The Elmira Heights, New York native was also named to the Preseason All-CAA Team, along with junior attackman Joe Seider. Ryan Drenner, Mike Lowe and Tyler Mayes all earned Honorable Mention Preseason All-CAA plaudits.

Defense + Offense = Success
With a defense as heralded as Towson's, it's not a surprise to followers of the team that the Tigers have lots of success when the offense and defense pair well. Since head coach Shawn Nadelen took over in 2012, the Tigers are 25-5 in game when Towson scores double digits. When Towson's defense limits opponents to single digits, the Tigers are a whopping 39-7 in that same time, including the 14-6 March 5 win over UMBC. On 21 occasions, the Tigers have scored in double figures while holding opponents to single digits, obviously a 21-0 record. 

2016 Captains
Three Tigers were tabbed as team captains for this season, as voted by the coaches and players. The 2016 tri-captains are Brian Bolewicki, Ben McCarty and Tyler White. The latter two are in their final season with the Tigers, while Bolewicki is a redshirt junior. 

A third-team All-America selection in 2015, White set the single-season program record goals against average (7.57) last season. During his Tiger career, White has logged nearly 2,000 minutes while allowing just 276 goals, including a career-best 133 last year. His 8.52 career goals against average ranks second all-time at Towson. Hailing from Elmira Heights, New York, White holds a career record of 20-13 and led the Tigers to their second Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title during his time at the University.

A captain last season, McCarty will be a key threat in the midfield for Towson this season. During his career, McCarty has seen time in 49 games, including all 18 last season for the conference champions. The Westminster, Maryland product has 32 career goals, with two seasons (2013, 2015), scoring double-digit goals. McCarty has logged 60 groundballs while causing 10 turnovers.

Bolewicki returns to the active lineup as a redshirt junior after missing 2015 with a lower-body injury. A local product, who played his high school lacrosse at Calvert Hall, Bolewicki has 26 career appearances, including 16 in his rookie season as Towson won the 2013 CAA Championship.