Opening Faceoff
It's a fresh start for the Towson University men's lacrosse program as the Tigers begin the 64th season of varsity lacrosse at Towson University. And its a familiar foe as the Tigers open the slate against Charles Street rival Johns Hopkins for some Friday Night Lights.

In The National Rankings
Towson received votes in both the Week One USILA/Dynamic Coaches' Poll and the Inside Lacrosse Media Preseason Poll. Johns Hopkins was slated 16th in the first coaches' poll of the year and is 19th in the preseason media poll.

The Homestanding Tigers
The 2022 season will look to be a blend of veteran experience and youthful talent. Towson returns four of its top five point getters from a season ago, led by senior attackman James Avanzato (18g, 22a, 40p) who led the Tigers last spring. Pure scorer Andrew Milani (23g, 2a, 25p) finished 2021 as the third-leading scorer with Ryan Swain (15g, 9a, 24p) back as the top threat in the midfield. Austin Stewart (9g, 8a, 17p) is also back in the midfield for the Tigers. On defense, Towson's entire starting unit is back, led by Garrett Zungailia (15ct, 40gb) and Koby Smith (13ct, 23 gb). Colby Barsz (12ct, 17gb) has the ability to play at both close and longstick midfield, with Reagan McNemar (5ct, 8gb) providing depth down low. Sixth-year netminder Shane Brennan (159sv, 11.05gaa) is back once again for Towson, looking to start the season in goal for a third-straight season. Faceoffs will be key for the Tigers in 2022 with the return of junior Shane Santora (.379, 22gb) and freshman Matt Constantinides. Towson's offense will be bolstered by several transfer this season: Nick DeMaio (Maryland), Kyle Berkeley (Maryland) and Luke Shilling (Johns Hopkins).

Scouting the No. 16/No. 19 Blue Jays
Johns Hopkins opened the 2022 season last weekend with a battle against Jacksonville, topping the Dolphins 11-8 at Homewood Field. Jack Keogh led the offense with five points (2g, 3a) as Connor DeSimone potted a hat trick. The Blue Jays had tallies from eight different goal scorers as Keogh and DeSimone were the lone multi-goal scorers. Owen McManus caused three turnovers in the opener while Tyler Dunn went 11-of-18 at the faceoff with eight ground balls. Josh Kirson got the nod in goal, finishing with eight saves in his 60 minutes of action. Hopkins out-scored the Dolphins 4-3 in the first quarter and 4-2 in the third to make the difference. The teams tied goal-for-goal in the second and fourth periods.

Towson-Hopkins History
It's a rivalry renewed after a bizarre 2021 season in which the two teams missed playing one another for the first time since the series began in 1976. Hopkins played a Big Ten only slate last spring. Separated by just 4.5 miles, the Tigers and Blue Jays will meet for the 49th time on Friday night. Johns Hopkins won the last meeting in 2020 by a 15-7 count at Homewood Field, but the Tigers have won the last three meetings at Johnny Unitas ® Stadium, including a 17-8 decision to open the 2019 campaign.

Towson-Hopkins By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Johns Hopkins 42-6
at Towson JHU 20-4
at Hopkins JHU 22-2
at Neutral Sites n/a
at Unknown Sites n/a
First Meeting  March 27, 1976
Last Meeting Feb. 8, 2020
#11 Johns Hopkins 15, #19 Towson 7
Streak......................................................... Hopkins +1

Last Time Out vs. Johns Hopkins | Feb. 8, 2020 | Baltimore, Md. | Homewood Field
It was a tight matchup early as Koby Smith scored a pole goal just over a minute into the second half to tie the game 6-6, but a four-goal run from Johns Hopkins, which was eventually a 9-1 burst, broke the game open for a 15-7 win by the home side. A close defenseman, Smith led the Tigers with four points on two goals and two assists. Brody McLean (1g, 1a) Jon Mazza (2g) and James Avanzato (1g, 1a) led the Tigers' offensive unit. Garrett Zungailia caused three turnovers for the Tigers. Cole Williams led the game with seven points (3g, 4a) while Connor DeSimone scored a hat trick. Towson's Tyler Canto made 15 saves in 57 minutes of action before being spelled by Jake Stout. Hopkins' netminder Ryan Darby made 11 saves in the win.

With a Win Friday Towson Would...
- Win a season opener for the first time since the 2019 campaign, a 17-8 win over Hopkins.
- Snap a three-game slide dating back to last spring.
- Win its fourth-straight showdown against Hopkins at Johnny Unitas ® Stadium.
- Make Shawn Nadelen the program's first coach to win four games over the rival Blue Jays.
- Be Towson's third-straight win over an in-state opponent after going 2-0 last spring.
- See Towson win its eighth homeopener in the last nine seasons.
- Improve the Tigers to 9-2 under head coach Shawn Nadelen in home openers.
- Be Towson's first win over a ranked foe since a 10-8 win at home over #17/#15 Hofstra.
- Be the 90th career win for head coach Shawn Nadelen.

Key Rule Change
- Entering this spring, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Committee approved a shot-clock reset rule.
- A shot-clock reset under 60 seconds will reset the shot clock back to 60 seconds.
- A shot-clock reset between 60-80 seconds will reset the shot clock back to 80 seconds.
- Once play is stopped in flag down, slow whistle scenarios and the shot clock is at or below 60 seconds while possession remains in the offensive half of the field, the shot clock will reset to 60 seconds.
- When play is stopped for a defensive injury and the shot clock is above 60 seconds, the reset will be 80 seconds. If the shot clock is at or below 60 seconds in the offensive half of the field, it will be reset to 60 seconds.

The Gauntlet
- Stop us if you've heard this before, but Towson has one of the toughest schedules in DI.
- Towson will face 10 opponents listed in the Week One USILA/Dynamic Coaches Poll.
- No. 1 Virginia, No. 2 Duke, No. 10 Loyola, No. 12 Denver, No. 16 Johns Hopkins, No. 17 Drexel, No. 19 Delaware, (rv) Richmond, (rv) Massachusetts, (rv) Mount St. Mary's.
- The only opponents that did not receive votes in Week One are UMBC, Saint Joseph's, Fairfield and Hofstra.
- The first five foes on tap this spring were all mentioned in the poll: No. 16 Johns Hopkins, rv Mount St. Mary's, No. 1 Virginia, rv Richmond and No. 10 Loyola.
- Towson will face the first four at home before a quick trip to Cold Spring Lane on March 2.

On this Date: February 11
- Towson will embark on just its second game ever on February 11 Friday night.
- The Tigers are 1-0 all-time on this date.
- Towson picked up a 12-10 win at Jacksonville during the 2012 season, the first win under head coach Shawn Nadelen.
- Towson and Johns Hopkins have never played on February 11.

All-Time vs. No. 16
- The Tigers are 7-8 all-time against a team ranked 16th in that week's USILA Coaches' Poll.
- Towson dropped its last meeting against a 16th-ranked foe, falling 13-12 in overtime at Delaware on March 20, 2021.
- Towson has never faced a Johns Hopkins team ranked 16th in the USILA Coaches' Poll.
- Friday will be the first time since 2012 the Tigers draw a 16th ranked opponent at home.
- The Tigers are 4-3 at home against a 16th ranked opponent.

Transfer Station
- Towson bolstered its roster this off-season with a number of transfer.
- Offensively, the Tigers added Nick DeMaio (Maryland), Kyle Berkeley (Maryland), Luke Shilling (Johns Hopkins) and Sam Weisshaar (Anne Arundel Community College). On defense, Peyton Winters (Harford Community College) adds depth to a veteran backline.
- Those five transfers join a pair of established Transfer Tigers: James Avanzato (Maryland) and Austin Stewart (Denver).

The Top Third
- Towson University head coach Shawn Nadelen is in his 11th season at the helm of the program.
- Hired as the top man following the 2011 season, Nadelen is the 24th-longest tenured Division I head men's lacrosse in the country.
- Nadelen was one of four head coaches elevated during the 2011 offseason: Brian Brecht (Rutgers), Keegan Wilkinson (Marist) and Taylor Wray (Saint Joseph's).

Greater Baltimore is Lovely this Time of Year
- Hope you like the view from Johnny Unitas ® Stadium.
- The Tigers will be at home for the first four games of the 2022 season.
- Towson doesn't leave The U until a March 5 trip all the way over to Loyola University Maryland (a whopping four miles).
- The Tigers don't leave the state of Maryland until a March 12 trip to Saint Joseph's.
- Towson's longest trip of the regular season is a jaunt to Denver on March 26.

Towson Lacrosse x Lax Sports Network
- Towson men's lacrosse and Lax Sports Network will continue to enjoy the partnership the organizations have fostered over the years.
- This spring, Towson will appear on LSN four times as the CAA Game of the Week: Feb. 11 vs. Johns Hopkins, Feb. 19 vs. Virginia, April 23 at Fairfield, April 30 vs. Hofstra.

The North Americans
Towson has representation from 17 different states and one Canadian province: Maryland (21), New York (5), New Jersey (3), California (2), Florida (2), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (2), Virginia (2), Connecticut (1), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Texas (1), Washington (1), British Columbia, Canada (1).

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 70 total wins in the
CAA, six 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 11 times, bringing home the trophy on a league-record eight occasions.

Team: Wins (CAA Titles, Last)
Towson: 70 (8, 2019)
Hofstra: 65 (2, 2008)
Drexel: 56 (2, 2021)
Delaware: 44 (3, 2011)
UMass: 33 (2, 2012, 2018)
Fairfield: 11 (0)

CB30 Award
In the summer of 2018, Towson Lacrosse great Carl Beernink passed away. An integral part of the program's rise to dominance in the 1990s, Carl was a leader and inspiration to the program both on and off the field. This season, Garrett Zungailia will wear a CB30 badge in place of his captain's C to honor the late Carl Beernink. This annual award will be given to a Towson player who embodies the fighting spirit of Carl Beernink.

Previous CB30 Award Winners
2019 - Zach Goodrich
2020 - Koby Smith
2021 - Carson Gaeger

Wearing the C
This season, head coach Shawn Nadelen and his staff announced five student-athletes that will serve as captains for the 2022 season.


This year's captains are: Shane Brennan, Brandon Hund, Koby Smith, Ryan Swain and Garrett Zungailia.

Brennan, Hund, Smith and Swain will wear captains' Cs on their jerseys while Zungailia will have the CB30 badge in lieu of the captain's letter.

Home Cooking
Johnny Unitas ® Stadium is a tough place to play for visiting opponents. Since head coach Shawn Nadelen took over the program in 2012, no current member of the CAA has won more home games than the Tigers.

Team: Home Record Since 2012 (as of February 6, 2022)
Towson: 46-26
Hofstra: 45-30
UMass: 41-26
Drexel: 40-20
Fairfield: 38-31
Delaware: 33-33

Near. Far. Wherever You Are.
Playing for the home crowd is always a pleasure for any team. But the Tigers have had success on the road in the Shawn Nadelen Era as well. Since taking over the program in 2012, the Tigers have racked a 35-31 (.530) record in road games.

How Big is a Tiger?
- Not only has the roster size gotten larger this year, but the student-athletes that comprise have gotten bigger as well.
- Since Shawn Nadelen took over the program in 2012, the Tigers have gotten bigger and heavier.
- As researched by former Media Relations Interns Zoë Winslow and Ashley Cottrell, below are the average heights (in inches) and weights (in pounds) for the last 11 Towson University men's lacrosse teams.
2012: 71.2 / 182.3
2013: 71.4 / 182.3
2014: 71.5 / 182.7
2015: 71.5 / 184.2
2016: 71.4 / 183.9
2017: 72.0 / 187.9
2018: 72.0 / 187.2
2019: 72.4 / 190.3
2020: 72.2 / 187.7
2021: 71.89 / 185.1
2022: 72.1 / 184.3

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 56-8 in games when Towson scores double digits.
- When Towson's defense limits opponents to single digits, the Tigers are a whopping 75-12 in that same time after a 9-6 slugfest win at UMass (April 17, 2021)
- On 47 occasions, the Tigers have scored in double figures while holding opponents to single digits, obviously a 47-0 record.