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Sports of the Year

By Pete Lorenz

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Published: Monday, May 12, 2008

Updated: Sunday, February 22, 2009

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Boarman and Field Hockey:

When long time head coach Lynette Mitzel abruptly resigned last June, assistant Michelle Webber was promoted to lead the program. Under the tutelage of the first-year acting head coach, the Tigers finished 8-11. Despite starting 1-5 in the CAA, Towson rallied to win their final two regular season games and qualified for the postseason for the second time in three years. Sophomore forward Christina Boarman was a first team all-CAA selection after leading the conference with 14 goals scored. Boarman also set the Towson single-season record with 38 points. Senior forward Kajee Murangi was a second team All-CAA choice.

--Paul Williams

Women's Basketball

Surviving a rash of injuries throughout the season, Towson finished 22-10 and advanced to the semifinals of the CAA conference tournament. The Tigers started the season 14-3, including a month-long winning streak that spanned 10 games. Senior guard Holly Mahan and sophomore guard Shanae Baker-Brice were the only two players to play in all 32 games and led Towson in scoring with 13.2 and 11.7 points per game, respectively.

--Paul Williams

Led by ECAC Gymnast of the Year Decelia Willacy, the Tigers won their third straight ECAC Championship. Willacy took first in the all-around competition, with a score of 38.825, and the team held off second-place Penn in the overall team standings. Christina Ghani, injured for much of the season, still contributed to the Tigers success with an impressive showing on the vault competition and floor exercises in early competitions. The Tigers had five of the top six individual scores on the vault and also had the three top scores on the floor exercise on their way to their 11th championship since 1987.

--Kevin Hess

Led by high-scoring junior Hillary Fratzke, the Tigers captured the CAA Championship and earned a date with Syracuse University in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. After an 11-5 regular season that featured an up-tempo style of play with a plethora of offensive threats, the Tigers defeated conference foes George Mason and William & Mary to win the conference tournament before falling at the hands of No. 5 Syracuse. Towson (13-6) had a successful season under fifth-year head coach Missy Doherty, who boasted five players who scored 20 or more goals and senior goaltender Mandy Corry, who started every game in her collegiate career.

--Kevin Hess

The Tigers suffered through an injury-laden season, with nearly half of the offensive players sideline at different times of the season. The team won just three of its 11 games but did manage to defeat conference power Richmond with a game-winning touchdown in the closing moments. Defensively, senior linebackers Brian Bradford, John Webb, and Maurice Wilkens combined for 348 tackles. Bradford was named an All-American by several publications including the Associated Press. Wide receiver Marcus Lee and safety Kenny Scott were both named All-CAA.

-Daniel Abraham

Playing on the road plagued the Tigers all season as they finished 1-14 away from home. However, their ability to protect their home court allowed the squad to finish with an overall record of 10-15 and 6-9 in the CAA. Sophomore guard Josh Thornton, who averaged over 13 points per game and junior forward Junior Hairston, who averaged 12 points while grabbing almost nine rebounds each contest, led the Tigers. Head coach Pat Kennedy will be returning with all but three players next season.

--Daniel Abraham

The Tigers experienced one of the more disappointing seasons in head coach Tony Seaman's decade of tenure at the school. Towson got off to a 1-4 start and crawled to a 3-3 record in the conference, failing to reach the CAA tournament. The Tigers' offense struggled for much of the season; they scored 10 goals just twice in conference play. With little left to play for, however, the Tigers scored a season-high in an 18-12 victory over Pennsylvania in the season finale April 26.

--Pete Lorenz

The Tigers compiled an 11-1 regular season record, 7-0 in the conference, en route to a convincing win in the CAA championship meet; Towson finished the meet with a score of 753.5 points while second-place William & Mary had just 470. Freshman Meredith Budner was named CAA Rookie of the Year as she and 10 other swimmers were named all-conference performers in at least one event. Head coach Pat Mead received CAA Coach of the Year accolades in addition to a contract extension as a result of the team's successes.

--Pete Lorenz

Baseball and softball both yielded results that far exceeded all expectations this spring. Baseball, predicted to finish last at the outset of the season, is currently in sixth place and is in contention to make the CAA tournament. A strong middle infield and heavy bats - particularly seniors Greg Furmanek and Brian Conley - have contributed to the Tigers' success and to head coach Mike Gottlieb earning his 500th win as a coach.

Softball made it to the CAA tournament and lasted until the semi-final round before being knocked out of contention for the championship by Hofstra.

--Carrie Wood

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