Lacrosse Pipeline from Decatur to Towson Wide Open

BERLIN- The pipeline for talented former women's lacrosse players from Stephen Decatur to Towson University is wide open with three standout Seahawks on the roster as the Tiger's prepare for their season opener against UMBC this week.

Ranked 17^th in the Division I preseason poll, Towson typically draws players from its tradition-rich surrounding areas and not much as changes as the Tiger's roster is riddled with players from the Baltimore area. But the Towson roster also has an increasingly Stephen Decatur look with three former Seahawks currently preparing for the 2010 campaign.

Leading the way is former Seahawk Ali Lathroum, now a junior at Towson who already has an impressive resume at the Baltimore Division I school. Lathroum is joined this year by her sister Chele, a defensive stalwart at Decatur for the last four years, and Olivia Turner, one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the Berlin high school's girls' lacrosse program.

Ali Lathroum appeared in all 19 games as a freshman at Towson two years ago, scoring six goals including three in her first-ever game against Mount St. Mary's. Last year as a sophomore, Lathroum appeared in all 19 games for Towson and started six, scoring seven goals and collecting three assists. She scored two goals in a big overtime win over Hofstra. Lathroum was named to the Colonial Athletic Conference Commissioner's List in her first two years at Towson.

At Decatur, Ali Lathroum was a four-year starter and started every game, scoring over 100 goals. She was All-Bayside Conference three times and was named All-America as a senior. She helped lead the Seahawks to the state finals as a junior and a return to the state semifinals as a senior.

This year, two other former Decatur standouts are getting ready to make their own marks on the Towson program. Chele Lathroum has followed in her sister's footsteps to Towson, but her contribution to the team should come on the defensive end of the field for the Tigers. Chele Lathroum was a defensive stalwart at Decatur and was named All-Bayside four times and was selected as the Seahawks' defensive MVP three times. Chele Lathroum helped lead the Seahawks to four straight Bayside Conference titles and two state regional titles.

Meanwhile, Olivia Turner is another former Seahawk now on the Towson roster and will likely make an immediate impact on the offensive end of the field for the Tigers. Turner was one of the most prolific scorers ever at Decatur, finishing with 126 career goals including a school record 53 as a junior after scoring 19 goals and collecting 11 assists as a sophomore. Turner was a two-time All-America at Decatur and was the offensive MVP as a junior. She was also All-Bayside South in 2008.