TOWSON, Md. – Conference action begins this weekend for the Towson University women's lacrosse team with a road trip to No. 10 James Madison.
 
The first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game of 2019 will also be broadcast on LSN as the CAA game of the week. Opening draw is set for noon with live stats available on JMUSports.com.
 
Last Time Out
In Tuesday's game against No. 19 Johns Hopkins the Tigers posted as season-low three goals and fell at home. It was Towson's eighth ranked opponent of the year and a flurry of turnovers on both ends of the field resulted in a low-scoring game. Shelby Stack, Natalie Sulmonte and Hannah Hobbes scored for the home team.
 
The JMU Series
Sunday will be the 44th meeting between these two teams and the Dukes lead 30-13. Since joining the CAA in 2002, the Tigers have won 22 meetings including six in the CAA championship game. The two squads have combined to win each of the last 11 conference titles with Towson claiming six. JMU has won five of the last six games, including an overtime victory at Johnny Unitas ® Stadium last April. Natalie Sulmonte led the Tigers with four goals in the 17-16 loss, while five of her teammates also scored.
 
Scouting the Tigers
Towson enters the weekend 2-8, led by Natalie Sulmonte with 25 goals. The senior leads the team in points with 29, while Kaitlin Thornton has 26 on the year with 17 goals and nine assists. Sulmonte and Thornton lead the team in draw controls with 62 between the pair, 32 for Sulmonte and 30 for Thornton. Leading the team in ground balls is goalie Kiley Keating with 28 while Sami Chenoweth leads in caused turnovers with 41. In the net, Keating has grabbed 98 saves and holds a .452 save percentage on the season.
 
Scouting the Dukes
The 8-3 Dukes enter the week in the top-11 in all three polls. Three players have scored 20 or more goals for James Madison this year, led by Hanna Haven with 21 total. Haven leads the team in points with 41 as she has a team-high 20 assists. Maddie McDaniel leads the team in draw controls with 55 while Emma Johnson leads the team in ground balls with 31 and Caroline Sdanowich leads in caused turnovers with 16. The CAA save percentage leader, Molly Dougherty, is the Dukes' starter in the net with a .497 save percentage and 99 saves.
 
Tigers in CAA Statistics
In the conference leaderboards are a few members of the Towson squad. Natalie Sulmonte is fifth in the CAA in goals per game (2.5) and shots per game (5.4). Kaitlin Thornton is eighth in assists per game (.90). Defensively, Kiley Keating is fourth in ground balls per game (2.8) with Olivia Conti fifth (2.4), Meg Lynch seventh (2.3) and Sami Chenoweth ninth (2.2). Chenoweth leads the conference in caused turnovers per game (4.1) while Conti is second (2.9) and Lynch is fourth (1.6). Sulmonte is eighth in the league in draw controls per game (3.2).
 
Towson in National Stats
With Sami Chenoweth leading the nation in caused turnovers per game (4.1), the Tigers are fifth nationally (12.8). Olivia Conti is fifth nationally in caused turnovers per game (2.4). Kiley Keating is 29th nationally in saves per game (9.8)
 
Just a Few Ranked Opponents, That's All
As of Friday, April 5, the Towson schedule is the seventh-toughest in the nation. In 2019 the Tigers have faced eight ranked opponents, including the first six teams faced. So far the slate has three teams that were ranked No. 10 at the time of game, including James Madison this weekend. The possibility remains for another team to enter the rankings before the season is over, as Hofstra has received votes on one poll the last two weeks.
 
Current CAA Standings
Entering the first conference weekend, the Dukes hold onto first place. In second is Hofstra, William & Mary third, Delaware fourth, Drexel fifth, Elon sixth and Towson seventh. This weekend will see plenty of action, starting Friday afternoon with William & Mary and Hofstra facing off on Long Island. Before the Dukes and Tigers meet on Sunday, James Madison travels to Delaware on Friday night.
 
Promotional Updates
The Towson University women's lacrosse team updated its promotional schedule for the remaining home games. Next Friday, April 12 will be One Love and both days will be Youth Games with a promotion for youth lacrosse players admitted free in jerseys and parents can buy a $5 ticket. The regular season finale will be Senior Day on Sunday, April 21. Alumnae appreciation will also take place on Friday, April 12.
 
Tigers in the Community
In February, Towson University's athletic teams were celebrated as national champions after winning the NCAA Team Works Helper Helper Competition. The competition was open to all Division I programs and the Tigers finished on top with a total of 5,583 community service hours completed from September to November 2018 in the Greater Baltimore Area.
 
Join us at Johnny Unitas® Stadium
Tickets remain on sale for all remaining Towson 2019 home games. The Tigers will host Elon (April 12), William & Mary (April 14) and Drexel (April 21). Please contact Scott Casten for more information or visit our ticket website.