Delaware Gets Off to Strong Start in CAA Opener But Falls to Towson, 10-8
April 1, 2012
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Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
TOWSON, Md. – The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse team got off to a strong start in its Colonial Athletic Association opener at Towson Sunday afternoon but fell just short against the Tigers, suffering a 10-8 setback at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
Freshman Allison Hahn (at right) led the way for Delaware (2-9, 0-1 CAA) with a game-high three goals for her first career hat trick to go along with one assist. Freshman Caitlin McCartney (bottom left) netted two goals for the Hens while Shannon Burns, Chelsea Fay, and Abbie Hartman scored one goal each.
Towson, which received votes in this week's Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) national Top 20 poll, was led by Kelly Custer, Andi Raymond, and Taylor Moore, who all found the back of the net twice as the Tigers improved to 7-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
“The CAA is always a dog fight,” stated second-year Delaware head coach Kateri Linville. “We made a lot of hustle plays today. Our inability to play disciplined and convert offensively cost us the win. We will focus on getting better and be prepared for our next conference games.”
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Delaware came out strong, firing off three consecutive goals to take an early lead that would last for all but the last 2:53 of the first half.
The Tigers remained scoreless until the 18:40 mark when Sarah Maloof netted an unassisted goal. Her efforts were followed with another Towson goal at the 10:58 mark by Custard, tightening the score at 3-2.
Burns found the back of the net minutes later to extend Delaware’s lead to 4-2.
The score was knotted at 4-4 at halftime, but the Tigers mirrored Delaware's hot start with a 3-0 run of their own to start off the second half and take the lead for the rest of the game.
Delaware answered the run with back-to-back goals to make it a 7-6 game with 16:28 to go, but Custer scored her second goal of the game with 15:14 left to extend Towson’s lead to 8-6.
Hahn netted her third goal of the game to bring Delaware to within one-goal once again at the 13:33 mark, but Towson rallied with back-to-back goals from Moore and Sarah Hogan to go up 10-7 with 6:44 left to play.
Fay scored one last time for the Hens with 3:30 to go, tightening the score at 10-8, but that would be as close as Delaware would get.
Delaware will look to get back into the win column in its next outing as the Blue Hens continue conference play with a 7 p.m. draw at Old Dominion.
