Towson senior goalie Mandy Corry isn?t worried about facing fifth-seeded Syracuse and Big East Player of the Year Katie Rowan at the Carrier Dome on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Corry said she faces a player just as good routinely in practice.
“We have [Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year] Hillary Fratzke,” Corry said. “I play against her everyday. I?m not worried about that kind of stuff. It doesn?t go through my head.”
But Corry and Fratzke (59 goals, 24 assists), a junior midfielder, will have to be at their best to upset the Big East champion Orange (16-2). Towson already lost once in the Carrier Dome this season, 22-5, on March 19. Corry, however, feels the team making the five-plus hour bus trip to upstate New York this weekend is a much different one than six weeks ago.
“The first game humbled us, and our defense is a lot different and is stronger, more confident and we don?t sit back,” she said. “If Syracusewants to judge us on what we did the first time, then they are going to be surprised because they have a lot more coming for them.”
Towson (13-5) earned the Colonial Athletic Association?s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by defeating George Mason and William & Mary to win last week?s conference tournament.
Corry, who almost lost her starting spot earlier this season, was phenomenal in those games, making a combined 22 saves ? highlighted by a sprawling one in the final seconds against George Mason ? en route to being named the tournament?s Most Outstanding Player.
She will have to be just as good to win the school?s first NCAA Tournament game.
Rowan, a junior attacker, is a Tewaaraton Award finalist and has set single-season school records with 123 points and 57 assists. For her career, Rowan is the school?s all-time leader in goals (171), assists (94) and points (265).
And the Tigers realize the way to contain the potent Orange attack begins and ends with Rowan.
“We can?t go after their sticks and we have to watch our checking,” Towson junior midfielder Britt Woodfield said. “We have been intense this whole year at practice and we aren?t trying to make this game bigger than it is ? we just have to play our game.”
NEXT UP
TIGERS (13-5) vs. No. 5 SYRACUSE ORANGE (16-2)
Faceoff: Sunday, 3:30 p.m
Where: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Radio: 89.7 FM
Tickets: Available
