NCAA Men's Lacrosse Preview: Nitpicking with No. 11 Towson

USA Lacrosse Magazine is beginning its countdown to Feb. 1 — the first day of the 2025 men's lacrosse season — by releasing one team preview per day beginning on Monday, Jan. 13.

We continue the countdown with No. 11 Towson, a team seeking efficiency in all areas.

Is Towson 2025’s breakout team? There’s a reasonable argument to be made the Tigers’ breakout came a year ago, but the lacrosse world at large might not have noticed until partway through the campaign.

It had been tough sledding prior to the Tigers’ CAA championship and thrilling NCAA tournament showing against Syracuse, ultimately an 18-15 loss that brought Towson to the forefront of teams ready to upset the apple cart this year.

Last year was Towson’s first winning season since 2019, which was also the last time Shawn Nadelen’s team captured a CAA crown.

The key to unlocking a next level comes from an intentional coaching focus that Nadelen admittedly described as “nitpicky.” The goal is to become a more efficient program in every area.

“We always focused on the fundamentals and believed in developing our guys,” Nadelen said, “so I was really looking at how were we instructing a shooting drill? What were we focusing on? What was the message being delivered to the guys? It was, for lack of a better word, being a little more nitpicky in our process. The guys responded to it in a great way.”

It helped to have an offense last season that ranked seventh nationally and returns just about everyone. Led by Mikey Weisshaar and Joaquin Villagomez, the offense should once again be a juggernaut.

There are some defensive holes to fill, which will be tough considering the shoes of LSM Sam Morin and defenseman Colby Barsz are the ones vacated, but Nadelen is confident in his team’s depth.

“We have guys that have been there and been in some pretty heavy games and earned a CAA championship,” Nadelen said. “That experience is extremely valuable.”

TOP RETURNERS

Mikey Weisshaar, M, Jr. (42G, 19A)
Matt Constantinides, FO, Sr. (205-for-358)
Sam Morin, LSM, Sr. (51GB, 15CT)

Nadelen racks his brain to name just three top returners. Weisshaar, of course, is a given. Constantinides is as close to a lock as can be given his value as a faceoff ace. The fact that there’s an argument to be made for so many players in that third spot further speaks to the team’s depth. Nadelen ultimately settled on Morin, a senior LSM who has played a big role since his freshman year.

KEY ADDITIONS

Rocky Grossman, M, Fr. (Perkiomen School, Pa.)
Owen Scott, A, Fr. (Calvert Hall, Md.)
Kai Lopez, FO, Fr. (Garnet Valley High School, Pa.)

Towson has the luxury, at least as things stand now, of not needing to lean too heavily on freshmen in key roles ‑ though Grossman received quality reps out of the midfield in the fall, as did Scott on attack. Lopez could spell Constantinides on draws with the transfer of Rocco Mareno (UAlbany).

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Nick DeMaio, A; Reece Potter, SSDM; Colby Barsz, D; Austin Ducommun, M; Jamison Gaskins, M
Transfers: Rocco Mareno, FO (UAlbany)

X-FACTOR

Alex Roussel, A, Jr. (19G, 12A)

Roussel’s value is already known inside the program, but it wouldn’t surprise Nadelen if he took a step forward. Stepping in for an injured Joaquin Villagomez in the NCAA tournament against Syracuse, he produced seven points – far and away his best output of the season.

THE NARRATIVE

Quick to admit that he cares little about what folks outside his program say, Nadelen is intent to respectfully push back on one thing – this Towson team is capable of contending. Maybe enough people learned that against Syracuse last May. Still, Nadelen wants to silence anyone out there still doubting.

“Like everybody, we’re a work in progress,” Nadelen said, “but I do think with our experience and depth, and hopefully being able to stay healthy, we’ve got pieces to be a pretty elite program this year.”

“Good” is one thing. “Elite” is another. But the Tigers could have the offense to be a Top 10 mainstay. They finished seventh nationally a season ago in scoring offense and replacing Nick DeMaio’s production will be difficult, but not impossible given the wealth of options.

Although every team is different, and nobody should rush to anoint the Tigers as anything but a surefire contender, Nadelen said this team has qualities similar to his team that earned a national No. 1 ranking in 2019.

“The team leadership has a very similar feel,” he said. “It’s a mature junior and senior class with those guys having experience.”