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The Tigers finished the 2012 season with the eighth best scoring defense in the nation, allowing an average of just 8.65 goals per game. Towson held 14 of its 20 opponents to under 10 goals and boasted a record of 13-1 in those contests.
Fortunately for the Tigers and their fans, most of the defensive unit will return in 2013. Towson lost Third Team All-American Mary Teeters in goal and Shannon Kennedy to graduation but returns four players that started at least 12 games on defense.
Highlighting the returning defense stars for the Tigers will be Third Team All-American Alexa Demski and CAA All-Rookie selection, Michelle Dufault.
Demski started the first 16 games of the year, before an injury cut her season short. She led the team with 20 caused turnovers and finished second on the team with 39 ground balls. Demski, who was also a first team All-CAA selection, enters her senior season needing two more caused turnovers to move into the top three for career caused turnovers at Towson.
Dufault jumped into the starting line-up at the beginning of the season and stayed there. She finished the season with 14 caused turnovers and 19 ground balls. Dufault earned a spot on the CAA All-Tournament team for her play which helped the Tigers capture the title.
Other key components on the defensive end that return for Tigers will be juniors Kaitlin Sheridan and Katie Leech. Sheridan played in 16 games and made 12 starts for the Tigers. She contributed 11 caused turnovers and 13 ground balls. Leech started the season as a midfielder but made the slide to defense and contributed in a big way. She appeared in all 20 games and started the last 14 contests while finishing second on the team with 17 caused turnovers.
These four players played a key role for the Tigers who finished the season with 138 caused turnovers. That stat is one that head coach Sonia LaMonica credits to the team’s success.
