Opening Faceoff
The Tigers wrap up the road portion of the 2017 regular season with a rematch of the 2016 CAA Championship. The game pits the two teams picked first (Towson) and second (Fairfield) in the preseason coaches' poll for the conference. Towson will look to top the Stags for a fourth-straight meeting in the all-time series.

In The National Rankings
After winning their third-straight conference game, the Towson Tigers moved up in all three polls this week. The Tigers jumped up one spot to No. 15 in both the USILA Coaches' and Inside Lacrosse Media Polls, while bumping up two slots in the US Lacrosse Magazine Top 20 to No. 11. The Tigers made a big jump to No. 10 in the NCAA's RPI rankings this week as well, the highest of the season for Towson.

The Final Road Trip Tigers
Picking up their fifth road win of the season at Delaware last Saturday, Towson caps the road slate with Fairfield. Towson's offense is paced by senior attackman Ryan Drenner (21-15-36). Classmate Joe Seider (16-7-23) is in second for a balanced Tiger offense that has 13 different goal scorers this season. Redshirt senior Brian Bolewicki (9-6-15) has come on strong lately with six goals and three assists in his last four games. Sophomore Jon Mazza (12-2-14) is just behind Bolewicki in total points for fourth-best. Towson's defense has been on lockdown this season, ranking eighth nationally in goals allowed per game (7.90), including just 7.00 in conference games. The Tigers have held all three league foes below 10 goals so far in 2017, including six last weekend at Delaware. Towson has been impressive on the road with a 5-0 record away from Johnny Unitas Stadium this year, along with nine-straight road wins.

Scouting The Stags
Fairfield enters Saturday's game on a four-game slide, with its last win coming on March 21 against NJIT (13-6). Sophomore Colin Burke, the CAA Preseason Player of the Year, paces the Stags on offense with 32 points (21g, 11a). He leads the CAA with 112 total shots, including 31 in three league games. Dylan Beckwith (12-12-24) is second in points, while Travis Ford (17-2-19) is one point shy of the 20-point mark. The Stags average 8.25 goals per game in 2017, while allowing 10.83. Fairfield has split time at the X between Will Fox (72-134/.537) and Joe DeLasho (68-134/.507). The pair lead Fairfield in ground balls with 35 and 33, respectively. Tyler Behring has been the stalwart in goal with 646 minutes logged. He has 116 saves to his credit (.492) and a goals against average of 11.14. Fairfield is 1-3 at home this season, with its lone home victory coming against NJIT. The Stags have a sturdy schedule this season as Towson will be the sixth ranked team to take on Fairfield.

Towson-Fairfield History
It's a brief history between the Tigers and the Stags; the teams met for the first time in 2015 when Fairfield joined the CAA. Two games have been defense based, with Towson winning 8-7 in 2015 and 4-2 in the 2016 CAA Championship game. Last season's regular season matchup was a track meet as Towson won 18-11 at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Towson-Fairfield By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Towson 3-0
at Towson Towson 2-0
at Fairfield Towson 1-0
at Neutral Sites n/a
at Unknown Sites n/a
First Meeting April 11, 2015 (Towson 8-7)
Last Meeting May 7, 2016
No. 11 Towson 4, Fairfield 2
Streak Towson +3

Last Time Out vs. Fairfield - CAA Championship Game
In a complete 180 from the regular season game, an 18-11 Towson victory, both teams' defenses locked it down to decide the 2016 CAA Championship. The Tigers prevailed with a 4-2 win at Johnny Unitas Stadium thanks to a three-point, two goal one assist day from Spencer Parks. Ryan Drenner added an assist in the contest while Joe Seider pitched in a goal while Tyler Konen had an extra-man goal to kick off the Tigers' 4-0 second half. Charlie Schnider logged both goals for the Stags while Colin Burke assisted on his second tally. Tyler White made 15 saves in goal for the Tigers, backing Tournament Most Outstanding Player Mike Lowe, who had a pair of caused turnovers.

With a Win Saturday
- The Tigers would improve to 4-0 in CAA play this season. It would be the Tigers' first 4-0 start under head coach Shawn Nadelen and the first time since the 2010 season when Towson finished 4-1 in the league. The Tigers have gone 4-0 to start the CAA schedule four previous times (2010, 2007, 2004, 2003).
- Head coach Shawn Nadelen would collect his 61st win at the helm of the program.
- The Tigers could lock up the regular season title on Saturday with a win coupled by a Hofstra loss vs. UMass.
- Towson would be 6-0 in road games in the 2017 regular season and win its 10th-straight road game. The Tigers have never had a perfect road record in the regular season in their Division I history (1980).
- The Tigers would improve to 4-0 all-time against Fairfield, including 2-0 in Connecticut.

Careers Versus Fairfield
Senior midfielder Mike Lynch is the active points leader for the Tigers against Fairfield, potting a team-high six goals and adding an assist. Ryan Drenner is close behind with six points (4g, 2a) while Tyler Konen (2g, 2a), Joe Seider (3g, 1a) and Jon Mazza (2g, 2a) have four apiece. Konen and Seider have one extra-man goal each to pace Towson. Tyler Mayes leads Towson with three caused turnovers over the last three meetings. Eight current players have played in every meeting against Fairfield since the series began in 2015. Seider and Drenner are the only active players with three starts against the Stags.

Fours Up
Saturday's game will be the fourth CAA game of the season for the Tigers. It marks the second-straight season Towson will play Fairfield in the fourth league game of the season. The Tigers won last year's meeting 18-11 in a barnburner at Johnny Unitas Stadium. All-time, Towson is 9-6 in the fourth game of the year, using last season's victory to snap a five-game slide in the fourth conference game of the year. Towson won its first seven game fours in the CAA (2002-08).

Spreading the Wealth...ish
The Tigers improved to 7-3 on the year with their 10-6 win at Delaware last weekend. While Ryan Drenner and Joe Seider lead the offense, Towson has generated game-winning goals from five different sources. Only one player, Brian Bolewicki, has multiple game-winning goals.

Below is a list of the five different game-winning goal scorers and the game in which they scored the decisive marker.
• Brian Bolewicki - at Mount St. Mary's - Feb. 18
• Cole Robertson - at Georgetown - Feb. 25
• Joe Seider - at UMBC - March 4
• Ryan Drenner - vs. No. 6 Johns Hopkins - March 11
• Tyler Young - at Drexel - April 1
• Brian Bolewicki - vs. UMass - April 8
• Brian Bolewicki - at Delaware - April 15

Nothing But Success
The first class to go through the full recruiting process under head coach Shawn Nadelen, the class of 2017 has been integral to the Tigers' return to prominence on the national scene. The 10 true seniors and one redshirt senior have been part of 43 wins since stepping on campus (though Bolewicki has been here for 53). The class has two CAA Championships to its credit so far, along with two berths in the NCAA Tournament. Below is a list of the top five winningest classes since Towson elevated to Division I in 1980. This class will compete in its fourth-straight CAA Tournament, beginning on May 4.
2016 - 46 - (3 Conference Titles)
2017 - 43 - (2 Conference Titles)
2004 - 41 - (3 Conference Titles)
1992 - 41 - (2 Conference Titles)
1991 - 40 - (2 Conference Titles)

SECURITY!
After leading the country in fewest turnovers per game last year, the Tigers got off to an uncharacteristic start this season. In the March 1 statistical rankings, the Tigers were ranked 63rd, averaging 17.33 turnovers per game. Since then, Towson has made ball control a priority. As of April 18, the Tigers ranked 20th in the country in turnovers per game, down to 12.40. In all but one week, the Tigers have gone up in the statistical category rankings, jumping 40 spots in a month and a half.

Midseason All-American
The seventh annual Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America list was released on March 30. Sophomore defensive midfielder Zach Goodrich was named among some of the best in the country as he was the short stick defensive midfielder named First Team Midseason All-America. Goodrich was the lone CAA student-athlete named to the first team, while three student-athletes from Hofstra were selected to the second team.

#22 Hits #23
Those watching Towson lacrosse over the last three and a half years are familiar with senior attackman Ryan Drenner. The Finksburg, Maryland native is a dynamic athlete, capable of feeding or scoring. To wit, Drenner has 21 goals and 15 assists this season. He also owns one of the longest point streaks in the country as he has at least one goal or assist in each of the Tigers' last 23 games. His 23 game streak ranks 23rd in the country and is the longest active streak in the CAA.

Long Time Ranked
Saturday's game will be the 32nd straight game the Towson University men's lacrosse team will play ranked inside the USILA Coaches' Poll Top 20. The last time Towson played a game as an unranked team was on May 2, 2015 against UMass in the CAA Championship game; Towson received votes prior to the start of the league tournament. 

The 32-straight games in the USILA Coaches' Poll Top 20 is the longest such streak for the Tigers in the Shawn Nadelen Era (2012) and longest stretch since 30 between April 3, 2004 and March 19, 2006. (Preseason polls did not begin until 2007. Two games were played to open 2005 and 2006 before the first poll).

Towson has been ranked inside the USILA Coaches' Poll Top 20 for 26 consecutive weeks. That is the longest stretch of rankings for the Tigers since earning a spot in the Coaches' Poll for 22 consecutive weeks from March 27, 2006-March 3, 2008.

Road Warriors
After three-straight home games, and four of the last five contests at Unitas Stadium, the Tigers will hit the road for CAA play three times this season, relying on Interstate 95 for nearly all of their travel. Last weekend, Towson traveled just over 100 miles to Vidas Field for its first road game since March 4. After a stop in Newark last weekend, Towson continues further up I-95 to visit Fairfield on Saturday. Only four teams in the country have a perfect road record with at least five games in the books.
No. Syracuse - 5-0
No. 7 Hofstra - 5-0
No. 14 Richmond - 5-0
No. 15 Towson - 5-0

Rankings Percentage Index
The NCAA released its second set of RPI numbers this week. With a 7-3 record, the Tigers checked in at No. 10. Towson had the highest RPI of teams in the Colonial Athletic Association, with No. 7 Hofstra (10-0) in at 11th of the RPI. This week's foe, Fairfield, was slotted 50th in the RPI this week.

Goals on Goals on Goals
For a long time, the Towson University men's lacrosse team was known for its offensive prowess. In 12 seasons, the Tigers scored at least 200 goals, including 207 last season. Despite being more known for its defense lately, the Tigers can still put away goals. The Tigers have out-scored opponents 95-79 this season, including 29-21 in league play. Over the course of the program's history, the Tigers have put away 8,793 goals, while allowing just 7,464. Towson has 6,082 Division I goals to its credit since the 1980 campaign.

Class of the CAA
Since joining the CAA for the 2002 season, no program in league history has enjoyed more success than Towson University. The Tigers have racked up 58 total wins in the CAA, two more than rival Hofstra. Below is a list of the current members of the CAA and their win totals in conference games since joining the league. The Tigers have appeared in the conference title game a total of nine times, bringing home the trophy on a league-record six occasions.

Team: Wins (CAA Titles, Last)
Towson: 58 (6, 2016)
Hofstra: 56 (2, 2008)
Drexel: 48 (1, 2014)
Delaware: 31 (3, 2011)
UMass: 20 (1, 2012)
Fairfield: 8 (0)

Causing an Effect
On April 1, senior longstick midfielder Tyler Mayes forced six Drexel turnovers, a career-best for the Bel Air, Maryland native. Mayes' six caused turnovers were the second-most for a Tiger behind eight from Peter Mezzanotte against Saint Joseph's on April 30, 2011. It was Mayes' second game this season with at least five caused turnovers, joining his five forces against No. 6 Johns Hopkins in a 13-8 win. He is one of just three players with at least five caused turnovers this season. Mayes has 25 caused turnovers this season, bringing his career total to 25, good enough for third all-time at Towson. His 25 forced turnovers this year rank tied for fifth with his own mark from last year for a single season.

Defending the Crown
In a conference as tough as the CAA, it's no easy feat to retain the conference crown. Since 2002, only two different member institutions have successfully defended the crown: Towson and Delaware. The Tigers won the league for the first time in 2003 followed by two more titles in succession. Delaware won back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011. The Tigers successfully defended the 2015 crown last season with a 4-2 win over Fairfield. Towson is the only member institution to three-peat and will look do so for a second time this season.

Let's Get Defensive
Defense has long been the backbone of the Towson University lacrosse program. Entering the 2017 season, it was a spot many looked to as a potential weakness with the graduation of three close defenseman and a goalie, two of whom were All-Americans. Head coach Shawn Nadelen and defensive coordinator Dan Cocchi have laid those questions to rest. After owning the best defense in Division a year ago, Towson is currently ranked 14th in Division I in goals allowed per game (8.11). Moreover, Towson has allowed the second-fewest total goals this season (79). Of teams with at least 10 games to their credit, Towson has allowed the second-fewest total goals, despite four new starters in the backfield.

Climbing the Career Charts
Several Towson student-athletes are already into or nearing career top 10s in several statistical categories.
Alec Burckley - 330 Career Faceoff Wins - 7th All-Time (Ben DeFelice - 357, 6th)
Ryan Drenner - 83 Career Goals - Shy of 10th (Bobby Griebe, Tom Wagner - 89)
Ryan Drenner - 66 Career Assists - Shy of 10th (Mark Miller, Jeff Peek - 72)
Ryan Drenner - 149 Career Points - Shy of 10th (Three Players - 156) 
Tyler Mayes - 78 Career Caused Turnovers - 3rd All-Time (Ted Turnblacer - 92, 2nd)
Joe Seider - 108 Career Goals - Tied with Matt Clune for Fourth
Joe Seider - 426 Career Shots - Second All-Time (Glenn Smith - 458)

Best in Baltimore
Local rivalries are always important. For a second-straight season, the Tigers squared off against the three Greater Baltimore schools, Johns Hopkins, Loyola and UMBC, in three consecutive games. This season, Towson went 2-1 against local rivals, beating UMBC 8-6 and No. 6 Johns Hopkins 13-8. Towson dropped an 11-7 decision against then-No. 12 Loyola. As of April 3, Towson was the second-ranked team in Greater Baltimore, ranking 15 in the USILA Coaches' Poll and 16 by the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. Johns Hopkins and Loyola are ranked 11th and 19, respectively, in the Coaches' Poll.

Over the last three regular seasons, Towson has controlled the Baltimore Area.
Towson: 6-3
Johns Hopkins: 5-3
Loyola: 3-2
???????UMBC 3-2

The Century Club
In the Tigers' 13-8 win over No. 6 Johns Hopkins, senior attackman Joe Seider joined an elite club in the Tigers' program history. At 14:02 of the second quarter, Seider potted the 100th goal of his Tiger career. He became the seventh player in program history to hit the 100-goal mark, joining the likes of Glenn Smith (154), Kevin Sturm (125), Jonathan Engelke (113), Matt Clune (108), Mike Burke (106) and Tom Nelson (105). Seider has 102 career goals and needs just three more to catch Nelson.

No Place Like Home
Since taking over the program for the 2012 season, head coach Shawn Nadelen and the Tigers love playing at the friendly confines of Johnny Unitas Stadium. The Tigers are 30-15 all-time at Minnegan Field, including a program-record 11-1 last season. The Tigers have never suffered a losing mark at home under Nadelen, logging three 4-3 seasons (2015, 2013, 2012) at home. During the 2014 campaign, the Tigers finished with a 6-3 mark at home. The Tigers are currently 2-3 at Unitas Stadium this season.

Ground Balls Win Games
There is a long-standing adage in lacrosse that "ground balls win games". So far this season, Towson has won the ground ball battle in all but one game, out-ground balling opponents 281-220 in the early goings. Last season, Towson was a perfect 10-0 when it collected more ground balls than its opponent, and went 6-3 in games when opponents had more grounders. The Tigers' two-year record is 17-1 in games with more ground balls.

Local Flare
Not only will the Tigers play nine of their 12 games within an hour drive of Unitas Stadium, but the Tigers are bringing local talent to campus as well. On the roster this season, not only are there 26 student-athletes from Maryland, but of those 26, 25 are from within an hour of Towson University. The lone outlier is Matt Sovero, who hails from Easton, Maryland on the Eastern Shore, roughly 85 miles from Unitas.

Eight of the Tigers' 10 starters this season are from the Old Line State, including the entire starting attack and midfield units. The only two starters not from Maryland are Sid Ewell, whose hometown of Carlisle, Pennsylvania is 85 miles from campus, and Josh Miller, who will get to play near his hometown of Norwalk, Connecticut when the Tigers take on Fairfield on April 22.

Crabcakes and Lacrosse
Maryland has long been known as a hotbed for lacrosse talent. With 26 current players from the Old Line State, Towson is certainly reaping the benefits of that. Through the April 8 game against UMass, head coach Shawn Nadelen is 38-23 all-time when playing games within Maryland. This season, the Tigers will play eight games in Maryland, including six at Johnny Unitas Stadium. February 18 and March 11 were the only two games in Maryland in which Towson was not the home team. Nadelen has a sub-.500 record in a just one season when playing in Maryland, winning four of the nine games in 2012.

50 Nifty
Last season in the CAA Semifinals, head coach Shawn Nadelen picked up the 50th win of his Towson career, eliminating Drexel with a 10-6 win at Unitas Stadium. He became the third coach in program history to hit the 50-win plateau, and became the fastest of the three to gain 50 Division I victories. That game was his 81st contest at the helm. Former head coaches Tony Seaman and Carl Runk needed 88 and 89 games, respectively, to grab 50 Division I wins. However, legendary head coach Carl Runk is the fastest Towson coach to 50 total wins, hitting the mark in 1972 in just 69 total games in the Tigers' Division II Era.

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 36-5 in games when Towson scores double digits. When Towson's defense limits opponents to single digits, the Tigers are a whopping 53-8 in that same time, including the 10-6 win at Delaware (April 15). On 34 occasions, the Tigers have scored in double figures while holding opponents to single digits, obviously a 34-0 record.