TOWSON, MD -- Host Towson University grabbed the lead for good early in the second quarter and held on the rest of the way, using a big shot advantage to upset No. 13 University of Delaware by an 11-7 score and spoil the Blue Hens’ Colonial Athletic Association men’s lacrosse opener Saturday night at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

The Blue Hens, who captured the CAA regular season title a year ago, were outshot 37 24 and lost for just the second time this season, falling to 8-2 (0-1 CAA). Towson, the defending CAA tournament champion, got goals from nine different players on its way to capturing its second straight win to improve to 4-3 (2-0 CAA). The Tigers entered the game ranked No. 20 in this week’s Inside Lacrosse Top 20 poll.

Delaware, which had a three-game CAA road winning streak snapped, was led by junior Adam Zuder-Havens (at right) who scored a career-high three goals to go with one assist while Cam Howard added two goals, increasing his point-scoring streak to 16 games, and Vincent Giordano and Marty Kupprion each had a goal and an assist. Goalkeeper Tommy Scherr posted 14 saves while UD All-American faceoff specialist Alex Smith, who entered the game leading NCAA Division I in the category, won just 9 of 22 attempts.

Towson, which defeated Delaware in Towson for the third straight time, got goals from nine different players as Kyle Batton had two goals and an assist, Keith Obloj scored twice, and Phil Grillo added one goal and one assist. Casey Cittadino dished out two assists and Matt Eckerl scored a goal and won 11 of 19 faceoffs. Goalkeeper Mark DeGroat stopped seven shots.

A high-scoring first quarter ended with a 4-4 tie as Delaware jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Zuder-Havens and Howard. Towson answered by scoring four straight, including one by Bratton with 4:51 left in the first quarter, to go up 4-2. Giordano and Zuder-Havens each scored in the final four minutes of the stanza to send the game tied at 4-4 heading into the second quarter.

A goal by Towson’s Nick Williams with 7:31 left in the first half not only started a 3-0 Towson run, but also put the Tigers up for good at 5-4. Justin Schneider and Eckerl added goals to increase the lead to 7-4.

Delaware never gained the lead again but did cut the margin two two twice, pulling to within 7-5 on a Zuder-Havens goal with 4:04 left in the first half and to within 8-6 on a score by Kupprion with 7:09 left in the third quarter.

Towson answered Kupprion’s goal with a score by Bratton with just 11 seconds left in the third quarter and increased the lead to 10-6 when Obloj scored just over two minutes into the final stanza. Neither team scored during the final nine minutes of the contest.

Boxscore