When: Saturday, February 11, 2023
Where: Waldron Family Stadium | Emmitsburg, Md.
Time: Saturday- 12 p.m.
Team Records: Towson (0-0) at Mount St. Mary's (0-0)
Stream: Mount All-Access
Series: Towson Leads Mount 6-1                                                                                                                                           

TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's lacrosse team comes into the 2023 season looking to reclaim the CAA title after falling in overtime to Drexel in the championship match.
 
Opening Draw
This will mark the third consecutive season, and the fourth time overall, the Tigers have opened a campaign against The Mount. The Black & Gold hold a 2-1 record against the Mountaineers. The Tigers were defeated 14-11 last year but were victorious 10-7 at Emmitsburg in 2021.
 
In the previous 12 seasons with Sonia LaMonica at the helm, the Tigers have won 128 games and earned spots in the NCAA Tournament seven times, most recently in 2021. Towson has won seven Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament titles since 2005, including four under LaMonica. 
 
Hard Mode Activated 
The Tigers have a tough schedule ahead of them this season. Towson plays three teams that were selected in the IWCLA Preseason Poll, including two top ten opponents. The Tigers host #10 Loyola on Feb. 22nd in Towson's home opener. The Black & Gold head down the road to play #20 Johns Hopkins on April 18th, then host #6 Stony Brook on April 22nd. Towson plays seven teams that made the NCAA tournament last year: Mount St. Mary's, #10 Loyola, Saint Joseph's, Central Michigan, Drexel, #20 Johns Hopkins and #6 Stony Brook.
 
Preseason Accolades
In late January, the CAA announced Jo Torres and Blair Pearre both received Preseason All-CAA honors in addition to an honorable mention for Olivia Malamphy, Lindsay Clarke and Milana Zizakovic. The All-CAA Preseason honor marks the third of Pearre's career while Torres earns her first in the CAA. 
 
In the order of finish, the Tigers were voted to end the season in second place with 43 points. Stony Brook was picked to finish first in the league, receiving seven first-place votes and 49 total points. Defending champion Drexel was picked third, then Hofstra, Delaware, Monmouth, Elon and William & Mary in descending order. The All-CAA teams and order of finish were voted on by the conference's head coaches.  
 
Winning Tradition
Head coach Sonia LaMonica is the winningest coach all-time in Towson Women's Lacrosse history. She ended 2022 with 136 career wins and has a 128-85 record at Towson. She is also the longest-tenured coach in the CAA.
 
Returning Starters 
Towson brings back seven players that started in 14 or more games last season. The Tigers bring back their leading goal scorer in Blair Pearre and their leader in assists in Lindsay Clarke. The team also returns the top two defenders in Olivia Malamphy and Blair Goodrich.
 
Oh Captain My Captain!
Blair Pearre and Gabby Garrett were selected as team captains for the 2023 season. This is the first time that both seniors have been selected as captains.  
 
Fresh Faces   
Sonia LaMonica beings in a class of ten freshmen to Towson for the upcoming 2023 season. She brought in Savannah Safchuck (midfield), Valerie Thompson (midfield), Rory Turner (goalkeeper), Luca DeMaio (midfield), Emma Baker (midfield), Hannah Glawe (defense), Meghan Hoskins (attack), Molly Jacobson (midfield), Ocea Leavy (midfield) and Jessica Lampasone (defense). 
 
Transferring In   
The coaching staff added one transfer this season in goalkeeper Jo Torres from Navy.  Torres comes to Towson after two seasons at Navy, where she was named Second Team All-Patriot League last season after recording 155 saves across 20 games. The Prince Frederick, Maryland native registered a 47.7% save percentage, which ranked 17th in the nation and had a 9.12 GAA, eighth best in the NCAA. Torres accumulated double-digit saves in six contests, including a season-high 14 against Saint Joseph's.
 
Staying Home
The 2023 squad has 16 student-athletes that call Maryland home. Savannah Safchuck (Towson), Valerie Thompson (Sykesville), Paiton and Paige Abbott (Mount Airy), Mia Rehkemper (Catonsville), Jenna DiPeso (Forest Hill), Lindsay Clarke (Parkton), Blair Pearre (Pikesville), Blair Goodrich (Chester), Emily King (Monrovia), Lindsay Posner (Monkton), Hannah Glawe (Frederick), Meghan Hoskins (Towson), Lindsey Marshall (Columbia), Halley Koras (Lutherville) and Olivia Malamphy (Crofton) all represent their home state.
 
Climbing the Ranks    
Senior midfielder Blair Pearre continues to write her name all over the record book. Pearre became the 15th player in program history to reach 100 goals with seven goal against Elon (April 2) to tie her career high. With five scores against Delaware in the CAA Semifinals, she remains 12th on the top 20 scoring list with 118 career goals. She is now four goals behind Andi Raymond (122) for 11th all-time.
 
The former High School Under Armour All-American now has 24 career hat tricks and has scored at least two goals in 33 of 40 games at the collegiate level. Pearre also sits fifth in program history in career draw controls with 165, only three behind Becky Trumbo (168).
 
O Canada
Milana Zizakovic represented Canada in the Super Sixes Event last October. The sophomore midfielder made an instant impact last season after starting in all 17 games and scoring in 13. She ranked fifth in goals (25), third in assists (8), second in draw controls (52) and sixth in points (29). 
 
Returning to the Field
Junior midfielder Lindsey Marshall returns to action after missing her sophomore season due to an injury. In her first season at Towson, Marshall was named All-CAA First Team and CAA All-Rookie Team after leading the team with 102 draw controls, the second Tiger to ever accomplish that. The midfielder from Columbia, Maryland finished second on the team in goals (38) and third in points (53). Marshall totaled seven hat tricks, including a hat trick against the Mount in her collegiate debut.
 
Scouting The Mount 
The Mountaineers have moved to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) after winning the Northeast Conference (NEC) the previous two years. The Mount was picked to finish tied for second place with Siena, receiving one first-place vote each. Margaret Lonergan and Abigail Zeigenfuse were named to Preseason All-MAAC while Madison Bradley and Zeigenfuse earned All-America Honorable Mention. Dani Donoghue will lead the offense this year after scoring 51 goals last season. Erin Anderson returns for her fifth season after tallying 46 points with 32 goals and 14 assists.
 
Looking Ahead 
The Tigers will travel to the nation's capital to face Georgetown on Wednesday, Feb. 15th at 4 p.m. Towson will return to Tiger Field for its home opener against #10 Loyola on Wednesday, Feb. 22nd at 4 p.m. on FloLive.