As I write this blog, three days after the Tigers lost their first round NCAA Tournament game to Maryland in overtime 14-13, one word just keeps coming into my head: heartbreak.

My heart breaks for head coach Shawn Nadelen and his staff. This group puts in so much work all year around. Coach Nadelen has basically made Towson men's lacrosse into a perennial top twenty team.

My heart breaks for all the freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Playing and practicing fall ball, then moving on to those cold, cold, January practices. The hours they spend trying to improve their craft and still being able to do well in the classroom.

But mostly my heart breaks for the seniors. Coach Nadelen, his staff and all the underclassmen will be back next year with another chance to have a successful season. But for the seniors, Sunday was the end of their college careers. Stars like Zach Goodrich, Alex Woodall and Brendan Sunday will be able to continue their lacrosse careers in the pro ranks. But having spent most of my adult life around professional and college teams, the difference is night and day.

Yes professional players develop relationships with their teammates, but it doesn't compare to the comradery that is developed while you are a college athlete. For these seniors, they will most likely never feel as close to a group of people as their teammates over the last four years.

It isn't just that Towson lost to the Terrapins on Sunday, it was the way the final 90 seconds of the game went. From being less than five seconds to playing in the quarterfinals against Virginia this Saturday, to having it all fall apart. Just devastating. Time will heal though, and when it does, this senior class will be able to hold their heads high.

This senior class went to the NCAA Tournament three out of its four years. This senior class became part of the first Towson team to make it into the final four since 2001. And this senior class was part of the first
Towson team in history to ever be ranked number one in the nation which happened in March of this season.

Years from now, when they have team reunions they will be able to look back and talk proudly of all they achieved during their time at Towson University. For those of us that love this program all we can say is thank you for all the joy that you have given us. For what you have done on the field and for how you represented our university with dignity and class.

I will never forget when this senior class were freshmen, and the Tigers went out to play the University of Denver in the first round of the NCAA Tournament The team was having breakfast in the hotel restaurant. They had all left to go back to their rooms to get ready for that afternoon's game. Coach Nadelen and I were just sitting at a table chatting when an elderly couple came up and asked Shawn if he was the head coach of the team that had just been there.

Shawn said that he was, and the couple told Coach Nadelen that that was the most well behaved group of young men they had ever seen. Now I'm just the dumb little radio guy, but even I was touched by what this man and woman had just told Coach Nadelen, and as an alum it made me swell with pride to be associated with this team.

So for the entire Towson men's lacrosse team, yes it hurts now. But that hurt will go away and you will be able to look back some day and look at all you have accomplished pride and find joy in what you and your teammates have accomplished.
 
Until next week, GO TIGERS!!!