TOWSON, Md. – In its first mid-week game of the season, the Towson University women's lacrosse team hosts local rival No. 10 Loyola on Wednesday evening. Originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. start the game has been moved up to a 5 p.m. opening draw due to cold temps in the area.
 
This will be the Tigers' fifth nationally-ranked opponent and second time facing a No. 10 team after taking on then-No.10 Stony Brook over the weekend. The game will be streamed by the Towson Sports Network on TowsonTigers.com, and live stats will be available on TowsonTigers.com.
 
Last Time Out
Towson is coming off a tough loss to Stony Brook last Friday night in its home opener. The 23^rd ranked Tigers fell to the Seawolves 14-8 after a three-goal performance from Rayna Deltuva. A back-and-forth scoring effort started the first period before Stony Brook scored three unanswered goals before halftime. Natalie Sulmonte scored in the second half, cutting the lead to 7-4, but once again the road team scored three-straight goals. Towson responded with three consecutive goals, making it a three-point game. With a 10-7 advantage the Seawolves scored four straight and held a 14-7 lead. On a free position attempt, Annie Sachs scored her eighth goal of the year and the final goal of the night for the Tigers.
 
Last Time Against Loyola
In 2018 the roles were reversed as the then-No. 10 Towson squad traveled to see then-No. 16 Loyola. The Tigers reached a five-goal lead with 21 minutes and 17 seconds remaining, up 13-8. In the final 21 minutes the Greyhounds scored five goals and tied the game, while holding the road team scoreless. Regulation ended with a 13-13 tie, entering overtime. Neither team scored in the first two overtimes, finally the silence was broken by Loyola's Taylor VanThof who scored the game-winner.
 
Scouting the Tigers
Towson's schedule this year is proving tough, with ranked opponents in the first four games and both opponents this week are ranked in the top-15 through all three polls. The Tigers are ranked 25^th in the IWLCA poll without a win. Natalie Sulmonte and Annie Sachs are leading the offense with eight goals apiece while Kaitlin Thornton leads the team in points with 11. Thornton has six goals and five assists on the year, leading the team in helpers. Rayna Deltuva holds the highest shots-on-goal percentage with five goals on six shots. In the net Kiley Keating has 34 saves and a .400 save percentage. Olivia Conti and Sami Chenoweth have 11 caused turnovers each while Sulmonte has 11 draw controls to lead the team.
 
Scouting the Greyhounds
Loyola enters the week with a 2-2 record, ranked 10^th in the IWLCA Poll, 11^th in the Inside Lacrosse Poll and ninth in the US Lacrosse Magazine poll. The Greyhounds have defeated No. 5 Florida and No. 8 Penn State, both games at home. Loyola's two losses are to No. 23 Johns Hopkins and No. 4 Syracuse. Leading the offense is Livy Rosenzweig with 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points. Taylor VanThof leads the team in draw controls with 20 while Lindsey Ehrhardt leads in caused turnovers with 11. The Greyhounds are favorited to win the Patriot League this season and had Rosenzweig named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year with Kristen Yanchoris as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
The Loyola Series
Wednesday will be the 47th meeting between the two Baltimore-area teams, a series dating back to 1977. In the last three games Towson has won two, but Loyola holds the series lead 33-13. The Greyhounds have an 18-2 advantage while playing the Tigers in Towson.
 
Talk About TOUGH Opponents
Towson has already faced four ranked opponents, will face two this week, and will see at least two more before the season ends. Seven opponents ranked in the top-25 for all three polls makes for a tough nonconference slate, with James Madison looming on the schedule. The Dukes are ranked seventh in two polls and sixth in another, still six games away for the Tigers.
 
Tigers in National Statistics
Sami Chenoweth remains the nation's leader in caused turnovers per game, averaging 3.75. Olivia Conti is 21st in the category with 2.25 per game. As a team Towson is 14th in the nation with 12.25 caused turnovers per game. Shelby Stack is in the nation's top-100 in free position percentage (50 percent) while Natalie Sulmonte is in the top-100 for free position goals per game (.75).
 
Leading the Colonial Athletic Association
Sami Chenoweth and Olivia Conti are the league-leaders in caused turnovers. Also appearing in the top-10 is Meg Lynch with 1.5 caused turnovers per game, she is ninth. Kaitlin Thornton is sixth in the CAA in assists per game with 1.25. Kiley Keating is fifth in the conference in saves per game with 8.5.
 
On the Road Again
This weekend the Tigers take their first road trip since Feb. 23, traveling to No. 13 Michigan for a Sunday afternoon matchup.