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Reece Potter Defends against Virginia
Larry Maurer
18
Winner Virginia VA 3-0
9
TOWSON TOWSON 1-2
Winner
Virginia VA
3-0
18
Final
9
TOWSON TOWSON
1-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Virginia VA 1 6 7 4 18
TOWSON TOWSON 4 2 1 2 9

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | | John Stark

Men’s Lacrosse Falters in Second Half Against No. 1 Virginia

TOWSON, Md. – Playing its third game in the last nine days, the Towson University men's lacrosse team started hot with a 4-1 lead, but faltered in the second half, ultimately falling 18-9 against No. 1 University of Virginia Saturday afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Towson (1-2) got a trio of double goal days from Kyle Berkeley, James Avanzato and Nick Demaio. Berkeley led the Tigers with four points thanks to a pair of helpers. Shane Santora had his best outing of 2022, winning 12 of his 25 faceoffs. Shane Brennan made 14 saves in his 57 minutes of action.

Virginia (3-0) was led by a six-point effort from Payton Cormier on four goals and two assists. Xander Dickson added two goals and two assists while Connor Shellenberger notched five points on two goals and three assists. Matthew Nunes made six saves, including three in the fourth quarter to stave off a Towson run.

How it Happened
  • Towson picked up a 1-0 lead as Berkeley bullied his way through Virginia's defense just two minutes into the game.
  • The Cavaliers tied the game at 1-1 on Shellenberger's first goal with Cormier on the assist and 12:32 to play in the first quarter.
  • The Tiger offense got hot over the final seven minutes as the Tigers reeled off three unanswered goals. Close defenseman Koby Smith ripped a sidearm bouncer with Reagan McNemar on the back end in transition, followed by Nick DeMiao's seventh goal of the year with a dish from Ryan Swain. Avanzato rounded out the run with 1:12 to play in the quarter to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead after 15 minutes.
  • Virginia's high-powered offense returned the run with a five-goal burst in the first five minutes of the second quarter. Dickson led the run followed by faceoff specialist Petey LaSalla, Jack Simmons, Griffin Schutz and Shellenberger in succession.
  • Towson weathered the storm and scored two of the game's  next three goals. Luke Shilling, a fifth-year transfer from Johns Hopkins, got his first Black & Gold goal with a Berkeley cross-crease feed. Simmons scored for Virginia but Berkeley got the final tally of the half with 5:30 to play.
  • Virginia led 7-6 at the break.
  • The sides traded goals in the first six minutes of the fresh half, first from Virginia's Will Cory, but followed two minutes later with DeMaio's second.
  • The Cavaliers strung together a nine-goal run over the remaining eight minutes of the third quarter and the first nine minutes of the fourth.
  • Towson broke up the run with 4:58 to play on Avanzato's second of the day with Shilling on the assist. Freshman Bode Maurer got his second career goal on a quick-stick dunk on the crease from Avanzato.
  • The visitors got the final goal of the day with 1:41 to play on Patrick McIntosh's first of the year.
Behind the Numbers
  • Towson weathered an offensive storm as the Cavaliers took 55 shots, including 17 in the second half. Virginia put 33 chances on goal, but the Tigers put 15 of 32 chances on the cage, scoring on nine of those 15 shots.
  • The Cavaliers controlled the ground balls, picking up 48 while Towson managed 31. Both teams were frenetic in rides and clears; Towson gained the zone 17 times on 22 chances while Virginia went 22-of-27.
  • Virginia held a narrow 17-of-30 edge in faceoffs. LaSalla won 12 chances, tying the Virginia program record for career wins. Shane Santora won 12 of his 25 draws while grabbing two ground balls.
  • Towson's defense was controlled against the Cavaliers, serving just two penalties but still playing a physical game. Virginia scored on both of its power play chances. Towson went 1-for-4 with the man advantage as Avanzato scored the lone extra-man goal with 4:58 to play.
Up Next for Towson
  • Towson closes out its four-game homestand to open the year next Saturday as the Tigers host University of Richmond.
  • Game time is set for noon at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
  • The game will be carried on FloLive; a subscription is required.
  • Single-game tickets are still available on TowsonTigers.com or by clicking here.
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