4-27-2025 9:55pm

TU WINS CAA

Jeff Barto Editor

Towson Men’s Lacrosse Hosts CAA Tournament for Second Straight Season, Championship Begins Thursday at Unitas Stadium

TOWSON, Md. – For the second consecutive season, Towson University will host the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) men's lacrosse championship. The two-day event will be held at Johnny Unitas® Stadium beginning Thursday, May 1. The Tigers earned the right to host after winning the 2025 regular season title.

Towson will play in the first semifinal on Thursday at 4 p.m. with the second semifinal set for 7 p.m. The two winners will play in the CAA title game on Saturday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed on LacrosseTV.

This season, Shawn Nadelen's team finished with a 7-0 conference record for the second straight season. The Tigers will face No. 4 seed Hofstra on Thursday at 4 p.m. Towson defeated the Pride on Saturday in the regular season finale.

Tickets are available for the CAA Tournament here: https://am.ticketmaster.com/towson/buy/caamlaxchampionship

Since joining the CAA in 2002, Towson has won conference title nine times. The Tigers earned trips to the NCAA Tournament after CAA championships in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2024.

2025 CAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
Unitas Stadium – Towson, Md.

Thursday, May 1, 2025
#1 Towson (9-5, 7-0 CAA) vs. #4 Hofstra (8-6, 4-3 CAA) – 4 PM
#2 Fairfield (12-2, 5-2 CAA) vs. #3 Drexel (7-7, 4-3 CAA) – 7 PM

Saturday, May 3, 2025
Semifinal winners – 3:30 PM

Towson Men’s Lacrosse Secures Perfect CAA Regular Season with Win at Hofstra

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The No. 16/15 Towson University men's lacrosse team muscled out a 9-7 victory at Hofstra to earn the program's second consecutive perfect Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) regular season.

Towson (9-5, 7-0 CAA) came back from down one at halftime at Hofstra (8-6, 4-3 CAA), allowing just three goals in the final half with seven saves from Matt Nilan. Towson's five-goal third quarter gave the Tigers the lead for good.

With the win, 1-seed Towson will rematch against 4-seed Hofstra in the upcoming CAA Tournament at Johnny Unitas® Stadium on Thursday, May 1 at 4 p.m. Tickets are available here: https://www.gofevo.com/group/2025caamlax. The other semifinal will be at 7 p.m. between 2-seed Fairfield and 3-seed Drexel.

Key Stats:

The game was even most of the way, with Hofstra having a slight lead 41-40. Towson had 14 saves to Hofstra's 12 and had 36 ground balls to 34 for the home team.
On defense, Towson split between two goalies, each of whom had seven saves. Luke Downs had the first half with four goals allowed, then Matt Nilan got the win with three goals allowed in the second half. Sam Morin scored two goals on LSM while Joe Petro had five ground balls and a caused turnover.
Ronan Fitzpatrick led Towson in scoring with two goals and an assist, one of seven Tigers with goals. Mikey Weisshaar had a goal and an assist.
For Hofstra, Rory Jones had a hat trick, adding an assist. Sean Kennedy had the loss with nine goals allowed and 12 saves.

How It Happened:

Dealing with the rainy conditions early for a wet turf, the sides went back and forth with turnovers. After Conor Spagnolli intercepted a pass and cleared, Sam Morin stayed on offense and scored on the open look. The next possession, Ronan Fitzpatrick tried to score on a fast break but was saved, but Morin was there again and scored on the second chance on the doorstep for a 2-0 Towson lead with 8:38 left in the first.
After forcing another turnover on Hofstra's offense, the other way, Fitzpatrick dropped off a pass to Bode Maurer far side for the short shot and score, leading Hofstra to call a timeout with 5:51 to go in the first and Towson up 3-0. Towson's defense continued to hold as Luke Downs made four saves in the opening period to hold the 3-0 score.
Into the second, the aggressive play ramped up as the possessions continued to be traded. Towson held off a one-minute man-down situation, but Hofstra got on the board with 10:02 left in the period on a Rory Jones shot while diving. This started a 4-0 run in the next two minutes for the home team and a 4-3 Hofstra lead with 8:17 left in the period.
After holding off the Pride on several chances, Towson peppered the goal with six shots in a nearly two-minute possession but could not connect. Hofstra led 4-3 at half.
Hofstra took advantage of a faceoff violation to begin the third and scored on a Drew Bogardus close shot. Towson immediately stopped the run as Kai Lopez burst off a faceoff win and scored five seconds later. Next possession, Owen Scott hit a shot inside the left post to tie the game at 5-5 with 12:47 remaining in the third.
Towson continued the attack as Mikey Weisshaar found Ryan Schrier on the doorstep with a beautiful feed and finish with three on the shot clock, then Fitzpatrick added another close range to continue the 4-0 run. Towson led 7-5 with 7:53 to go in the third.
The teams exchanged goals as Weisshaar added his first goal of the game on a shot past a defender and the goalie. Towson led 8-6 after three.
Fitzpatrick harassed Hofstra on the ride and forced a turnover. Josh Webber pushed him the ball and Fitzpatrick finished for the score to give Towson a three-goal lead. For the next several minutes, each defense held, with Long Island natives Matt Nilan holding in goal and Joe'll Spagnuolo forcing a turnover with a yard sale. Hofstra broke its scoring drought with a John Madsen goal with 7:01 to go as Towson held the lead 9-7.
Towson used the shot clock and ran through a couple of possessions to limit Hofstra's offense. Nilan had a save on the doorstep on a Pride chance to keep the Towson lead at two. Towson held and won 9-7.

Inside the Numbers:

Towson earns its second consecutive perfect CAA regular season, having won its last 18 league regular season games dating back to 2023. Before Towson's two CAA regular season titles, the last undefeated CAA season for Towson was in 2004.
Mikey Weisshaar has earned a point in his last 36 games while Ronan Fitzpatrick has at least one point in his last 13 games played. Chop Gallagher's 31-game point scoring streak was snapped tonight.
Towson has won three straight against Hofstra.

Next Game:

Towson is set to host the CAA Tournament, beginning on Thursday, May 1 at 4 p.m. vs. Hofstra. Tickets are available here: https://www.gofevo.com/group/2025caamlax