__Tribe prepares for Towson in CAAs__
Making its first appearance in the CAA playoffs since 2004, the no. 5-seeded men’s soccer team (9-8-3 CAA 6-4-1) will travel to no. 4-seeded Towson University (10-7-1 CAA 7-4) to kick off the CAA postseason Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m.
p. The game is the second meeting of the season between the two squads, as Towson scored on a late overtime goal to beat the Tribe 1-0 at Towson Oct. 19.
p. “It is a good match-up,” Head Coach Chris Norris said. “We felt like our first result was very unfortunate. The team’s attitude is loose, [and] we are playing really well.”
p. The first match of the year saw the Tribe battle the Tigers into overtime before Towson midfielder Pat Healy headed in the game-winner just as time expired in the first overtime.
p. “Earlier in the season we had the advantage in shots. They took us in OT, anything can happen in OT, and they got a late goal,” redshirt freshman goalie Andrew McAdams said. “We had the better of a lot of statistical categories, but in the end that doesn’t mean much.”
p. The Tribe outshot the Tigers 13-12 in their previous meeting, including an 8-4 advantage in the second half.
p. The College has prided itself on defense all year, tallying nine shutouts to date and giving up only 1.05 goals per match. Towson comes into the game with a high-powered offense having netted 35 goals this year to the Tribe’s 19.
p. McAdams feels that the Tribe’s defense stacks up against the relentless Tiger offense.
p. “Our formation sets up well against [Towson],” McAdams said. “We have to play sound defense and hope to get a couple of breaks and get a couple of goals.”
p. The offense, led by sophomore Price Thomas and redshirt freshman Alan Koger, will look to break through the Towson defense that has allowed its opponents to gain a 265-212 lead in shots and a 113-61 edge in corner kicks this year. Thomas has seven goals on the season to lead the College and rank seventh in the CAA.
p. “We are pretty confident [heading into the game],” junior captain and midfielder Doug McBride said. “In the regular season we had the better game. We are looking forward to playing against them again and getting a better result.
p.“We are playing very well as a team and possessing and moving off of the ball really well. We need to work on getting forward and finishing our opportunities, it will be a major factor in the game.”
p. The Tigers are 15-1-2 when playing at home since late 2005. Three of the Tribe’s four CAA losses this season have come on the road, but the team will look to reverse this trend Tuesday.
p. The winner of the match will advance to face the top-seeded Drexel University Dragons Nov. 16 in the CAA semifinals in Virginia Beach.
