Ben McCarty made sure that his first start of the season was a successful one.
The junior midfielder – who hails from Westminster and graduated from South Carroll – scored four goals on eight shots and was critical in Towson rallying from a 7-2 halftime deficit before losing, 11-10, at Colonial Athletic Association rival Drexel on Saturday.
The decision to elevate McCarty from the second line may have been risky, but his performance certainly validated the coaching staff's decision to promote him.
"It definitely helps the cause," coach Shawn Nadelen said Monday. "Ben's a competitor, and he rose to the challenge and did well for us. But we know and he knows that Drexel is going to do everything they can to not allow that to happen. So he's got to turn it up that much more."
McCarty replaced senior Greg Cuccinello, who has struggled registering two goals and three assists in 14 games including 13 starts. McCarty had posted two goals and five assists in five contests prior to Saturday's outburst.
"He's been one of the better midfielders we've had over the past few games," Nadelen said. "So putting him out there helps us in many different ways – from wings to defense to offense. Just with our lineups and things, it was just the way we thought we needed to go."
McCarty appeared to fit in easily with senior Justin Mabus and junior Spencer Parks (St. Paul's) on the first midfield, and Nadelen credited offensive coordinator Anthony Gilardi with acclimating the team's top six midfielders after redshirt senior Andrew Hodgson was lost for the season with a left foot injury suffered against Ohio State on March 17.
"At times throughout the year, those guys have been running together just because our midfields have been a little fluid with injury or the way the game's playing out," Nadelen said. "Coach Gilardi does a really good job in practice of making sure that guys are comfortable running with each other. So it's not usually a surprise when the top three guys have to get mixed up due to a situation."
Nadelen at first declined to declare that McCarty would start again when Towson (9-5) tangles with Drexel (7-7) in Thursday's semifinal of the CAA tournament. But then Nadelen acknowledged that there's no point in hiding anything from the Dragons.
"They've got to expect it," he said. "It's not a secret. I'm sure they'll be just as prepared as we are."