When it comes to retaining possession, it only seems like Towson has built a moat, high walls and a vault around the ball.
The No. 15 Tigers (8-3 overall and 2-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association) lead the country in fewest turnovers per game, averaging just 11.2 thus far. Coach Shawn Nadelen said he wasn't aware of the team's ranking, but noted that last year's squad was just as protective. (That group averaged 12.0 giveaways, ranking as the fifth-fewest in the nation.)
"Obviously, we didn't have as much success as we would have liked last year," Nadelen said Tuesday, referring to an 8-7 record in 2014. "But the decrease in turnovers helps you out with not giving teams more opportunities. We've definitely had some games where we had more turnovers than the norm that have put us in tough situations. We really look to play as efficient as possible, and decreasing turnovers is a part of that."
Nadelen said the team's ability to hold onto the ball is somewhat surprising because he and the rest of the coaching staff don't rail about turnovers.
"It's not like we really preach too much about not committing turnovers or not throwing a pass because it could lead to a turnover," he said. "We preach playing smart lacrosse and try to teach guys the right looks and footwork and being on the move to move the ball and possessing and taking care of the ball. But we don't harp on not committing turnovers. We definitely don't want to beat ourselves, but it's not anything we harp on too much."
With three seniors starting on offense and one senior and three juniors starting on defense, Towson does feature a veteran group that is experienced and savvy enough to understand the value of retaining possession. Nadelen said another factor could be the team's methodical approach on offense.
"I think veteran or not, a team could have turnovers depending on your style of play," he said. "We're not a run-and-gun style. So we're not too risky in regards to transition or up-tempo offense. If anyone has watched us, they see more of a six-on-six, half-field game. Having the older guys in the mix helps with understanding how to manage possessions, and you've got to hope that their skill level is maybe better than the freshmen's. But I think it's more linked to our style of play than anything else."