TOWSON, Md. - The Towson University women's lacrosse team concludes its two-home game stretch on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. as the team welcomes Jacksonville to Tiger Field. This will be the third consecutive year that the teams have met; the Tigers lead 2-0 historically. Towson is coming off a 12-13 overtime loss against Temple. Towson will be entering with Kristen Carr as the head coach for the Black & Gold for the third season.
Scouting Jacksonville
The Dolphins enter Saturday's matchup with a 4-0 record after hosting Campbell, Rider, Brown and Marquette. Sophomore Shae Hagans leads the team in goals (15) and points (17). Last week, Haggans earned Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) weekly award honors as Offensive Player of the Week while senior Maggie Cuddy earned Defensive Player of the Week. The Dolphins have had a high-powered offense this season, as the team has found the back of the net at least 14 times per game this season. Jacksonville is ranked as the 11th highest scoring team in the country at 15.5 goals per game.
In January, senior draw specialist Abby Moran was named a preseason honorable mention All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine. Last season, Moran set a single-season program record with 174 draw controls, ranking sixth nationally in draw controls per game (10.88) which led the Dolphins to the fourth-best draw control percentage in the country.
ASUN tabbed Cuddy as the league's preseason Defensive Player of the Year, while senior goalkeeper Brookelynn Hodgin was named preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. Moran, Ainsley Scruggs and Allyx Berry were additionally named to the all-conference team. In the Coaches Poll, Jacksonville was pegged to finish second in the preseason conference standings behind reigning champion Liberty. Last year, Jacksonville won the regular season conference championship before falling to Coastal Carolina in the conference semifinals.
Preseason Accolades
The Tigers were voted to finish in third place in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 33 points. The Black & Gold were picked behind CAA defending champion Stony Brook and Drexel. Senior midfielder Valerie Thompson and junior Katie Roszko were named to the All-CAA team, while senior Ocea Leavy and sophomore Jenna Cardeno earned honorable mention recognition.
Welcome (Back) to Towson!
Kristen Carr was named the Women's Lacrosse Head Coach in July 2023. The two-time gold medalist has made assistant coaching stops at North Carolina, Delaware, Stanford, Ohio State and Johns Hopkins. Carr was an IWLCA All-American defensive midfielder at North Carolina, where she made four NCAA Tournament appearances. Alongside Rebecca Lane, Lyndsey Muñoz and Kristin O'Neill, Carr will be welcoming back Milana Zizakovic as the team's Director of Player Development.
Fresh Faces
Kristen Carr welcomes a class of eleven newcomers this season with seven freshmen and four transfers. Carr brought in senior attack Acacia Connor (Syracuse), sophomore midfielder Jacinda Connor (USF), graduate attack Elise Smigiel (Penn State) and graduate goalie Sienna Parekh (University of Nottingham). Carr's freshmen class consists of Courtney Xippolitos (defender), Tabi Reardon (midfielder), Karsen Hippert (mid/def), Annie Minoglio (attack), Emma Dulin (goalie), Lisa Magill (midfielder) and Kylie Trainor (midfielder).
Back at Unitas
The Tigers return to Johnny Unitas® Stadium this season on Saturday, March 28 to host CAA foe Hofstra.
Staying Home
The 2026 squad has 14 student-athletes that call Maryland home. Savannah Safchuck (Towson), Casey Meredith (Hampstead), Valerie Thompson (Sykesville), Annie Minoglio (Bel Air), Acacia Connor (Towson), Katie Roszko (Bel Air), Elise Smith (Ellicott City), Kylie Ritter (Ellicott City), Sydney Casserly (Baltimore), Bella Wojcik (Perry Hall), Harli Hamlett (Sykesville), Emma Dulin (Centreville), Cameron Levine (Baltimore) and Jacinda Connor (Towson) will all represent their home state.
Up Next
The Tigers are slated to open CAA play on the road in Buies Creek, North Carolina against Campbell on Saturday, March 14.
