TOWSON, Md. - Junior Devin Grimaldi posted his first career hat trick, and senior Andrew Wascavage added a season-high 20 saves as Towson (7-5, 3-0 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)) defeated UMass (5-6, 0-3 CAA), 9-5, on Saturday afternoon at Unitas Stadium.

After a first quarter where neither team scored, Towson ran out to a 6-1 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter on goals from six different players. Grimaldi tallied two of his three goals early in the fourth quarter – insurance Towson needed later when UMass closed the game on a furious three-goal run.

Sophomore Greg Cuccinello tied his career high with two goals. Sophomores Rob Zoppo, Cory Dobyns and Ben McCarty and junior Thomas DeNapoli each posted a goal for the Tigers. Wascavage’s 20 saves are a season high and fell one short of his career high. UMass had five different players - Kyle Smith, Matt Whippen, Connor Mooney, Colin Fleming and Will Manny - score goals. Zach Oliveri made 10 saves in net for the Minutemen.

For just the third time all season, Towson got on the board first. Dobyns took a behind the head shot off a pass from Grimaldi at 12:40 in the second quarter. Smith took advantage of an extra-man opportunity at 6:02 in the second when the Tigers were called for a 30-second hold, but Towson then scored five unanswered goals to take its 6-1 lead.

Whippen stopped the Tigers’ run with an unassisted goal at 1:38. However, Grimaldi scored back-to-back and Cuccinello added his second when he ripped a shot past Oliveri, beating the goal high left. UMass began its comeback with 5:03 left in the game on a goal from Manny. Mooney and Fleming added their tallies at 4:21 and 3:30 in the fourth, respectively, but the effort fell short.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday, April 13 when they travel to University Park to face No. 13 Penn State.

NOTES: Grimaldi’s hat trick was the first of his career … his four points on the day were a career high … Towson is 3-0 when scoring first this season … the last time the Tigers were 3-0 in the CAA was 2010 … Towson’s win snaps UMass’ three-game win streak in the series … this is the fourth straight game the Tigers have limited their opponent to less than nine goals and fifth time in the last six games … Juniors Thomas DeNapoli and Andrew Hodgson and senior Andrew Wascavage continued streaks – DeNapoli and Hodgson each have a point in 13 consecutive games, while Wascavage has made 10+ saves in 13 straight contests.

College Men’s Lacrosse: Towson 9, UMass 5
UMass (5-6, 0-3 CAA) 0-1-1-3/5
Towson (7-5, 3-0 CAA) 0-2-4-3/9

GOALS: UMASS – Smith, Whippen, Mooney, Fleming, Manny; TOW – Grimaldi 3, Cuccinello 2, Zoppo, DeNapoli, Dobyns, McCarty. ASSISTS: UMASS – Smith, Sokol; TOW – Zoppo 2, Grimaldi, Hodgson. SAVES: UMASS – Oliveri (10, 60:00, 9 GA); TOW – Wascavage (20, 60:00, 5 GA). SHOTS: UMASS – 40, TOW – 35. GROUND BALLS: UMASS – 25, TOW – 20. FACE-OFFS: UMASS – 13-18; TOW – 5-18. CLEARS: UMASS – 12-12; TOW – 22-25. EMO: UMASS – 2-3; TOW – 0-2. ATT: 1027.

Opening Face-Off
Towson went 2-0 last week, defeating UMBC 12-9 and Delaware 7-6 in overtime, both on the road. Hofstra is ranked No. 15 in the USILA coaches’ poll this week. The Pride is coming off an 11-9 win over Dartmouth at home on Tuesday. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. and can be heard live on the Towson Sports Network on www.towsontigers.com with Spiro Morekas and former Tiger midfielder Hunter Lochte calling the action.

Updating the Tigers
Towson started the CAA season off with a 7-6 overtime win at Delaware on Friday. The Tigers are now 5-5 on the year. Towson came back from being down 6-3 and scored three goals in the fourth quarter and the game winner in overtime after suffering through a 29:54 scoring drought. Thomas DeNapoli’s 35 points (27-8) lead the Tigers. Senior Andrew Wascavage is the starter in net and has a 9.06 goals-against average and a save percentage of .591.

Scouting the Pride
Hofstra has been ranked or receiving votes in the USILA coaches poll since the preseason. The Pride has been ranked as high as seventh (week of March 17) after winning four straight games from February 26 to March 16. In fact, Hofstra won five of its first six games before dropping two in a row to St. John’s (7-6) and Drexel (8-7 in 3ot). The Pride are led by Torin Varn‘s 23 goals, while Sam Llinares has a team best 25 points (15g, 10a). Chris Selva minds the net for Hofstra, recording a goals-against average of 6.77 and a save percentage of .615 – both tops in the conference. He is the only CAA goalkeeper allowing under seven goals per game.

Towson-Hofstra Series History
Begun in 1961, Towson and Hofstra have played each other 43 times. The series pre-dates reliable records; five times the teams played where the sites of the games were unknown. Hofstra leads these meetings, 3-2. The Tigers have historically fared better at home, winning 12 of 19 games played in Towson. Towson won five straight games from 2003 to 2005, but Hofstra proceeded to win six of the next seven games until falling in last year’s double-overtime thriller.

Towson-Hofstra By the Numbers

BENIMON NAMED ECAC DIVISION I ALL-STAR
Junior Forward Averaged 17.1 Points and 11.2 Rebounds

CENTERVILLE, Mass. – Towson Junior forward Jerrelle Benimon has been selected to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division I Men’s Basketball All-Star team, announced by ECAC Interim Commissioner Steve Bamford.

Benimon, the 2013 CAA Player of the Year, recorded double-doubles in 20 of the Tigers’ 31 contests, which is currently tied for the second most in Division I. He was the league’s fourth-leading scorer with 17.1 points per game and reached double figures in 27 of 31 outings.

The junior forward led the CAA and ranked third in the nation with 11.2 rebounds per game and his 346 rebounds set a Towson single-season record and were the sixth-most in a season in CAA history. Showing his all-around game, Benimon was also third in the conference in blocked shots (1.9 bpg) and fourth in field goal percentage (53.3 percent) and his 79 assists were the most of any Towson player.

Junior forward Otto Porter from Georgetown and Boston College freshman guard Olivier Hanlan were named ECAC Player of the Year and ECAC Rookie of the Year, respectively.

The teams were selected based on a vote of Division I coaches.

Player of the Year   
Otto Porter, Georgetown University

Rookie of the Year
Olivier Hanlan, Boston College

First Team
Khalif Wyatt, Temple University
Shabazz Napier, University of Connecticut
Lamont Jones, Iona College
Mason Plumlee, Duke University
Otto Porter, Georgetown University
Mike Muscala, Bucknell University

Second Team  
Ramon Galloway, LaSalle University
Joe Harris, University of Virginia
Jerrelle Benimon, Towson University
Jamal Olaswere, LIU Brooklyn

BALTIMORE, Md. - Junior Andrew Hodgson and sophomore Ben McCarty teamed up on the game-winning goal in overtime as Towson men’s lacrosse (5-5, 1-0 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)) defeated Delaware (2-7, 0-2 CAA), 7-6, Friday evening at Delaware Stadium.

For just the second time all season, Towson scored first and took a 2-1 lead into the second quarter. However Delaware scored five straight goals to take a 6-3 lead midway through the third quarter. The Tigers scored back-to-back goals in the fourth to trim the Hens’ lead to 6-5 with 8:09 remaining in the game and got last-minute heroics from sophomore Greg Cuccinello, who scored with 2.6 seconds left in regulation on a dribbler to send the game into overtime. Hodgson buried a high-low shot past the Delaware keeper from 13 yards out for the game winner with 1:45 showing on the clock in overtime.

Towson is now 4-2 in CAA season openers against the Blue Hens.

“Our team played tough all night but missed some good opportunities in the first half,” said head coach Shawn Nadelen. “I was proud of the way we dug in during the fourth quarter and overtime to earn the win against a strong Delaware team.”

Sophomore Cory Dobyns and Hodgson led the Tigers with two goals. Sophomores Justin Mabus and Cuccinello and junior Thomas DeNapoli each scored a goal for Towson. Redshirt sophomore Rob Zoppo, Hodgson, DeNapoli and McCarty each added an assist. Senior Andrew Wascavage made 13 saves in net for TU. Ian Robertson and Nick Diachenko each posted two goals for Delaware. Connor Peaks made 11 saves for UD.

Towson and Delaware split the face-offs eight apiece, and the Tigers outshot the Blue Hens 42-27 and picked up 29 ground balls to UD’s 27.

Dobyns scored his 16th of the year just outside the crease off a feed from Zoppo at 8:40 in the first. Mabus notched his second goal in two games when he scored unassisted just over two minutes later. Diachenko followed with the Blue Hens’ first of the game at 4:14. DeNapoli extended his points streak to 11 games when he notched the Tigers’ third goal of the half at 12:31 in the second for a 3-1 Towson lead.

But Delaware scored the next three straight goals to lead at the break. The Hens continued to generate offense at the start of the third. Robertson scored his second of the game after a failed Towson clear to give UD a 5-3 lead at 10:38 then assisted on Beau M. Jones’ goal at 6:05.

The Blue Hens extended their lead to three goals when Jones and Robertson teamed up to beat Wascavage high left. Dobyns ended a 29:54 scoring drought for the Tigers with an EMO tally at 12:37 in the fourth. Hodgson’s unassisted goal with 8:09 to go in the game inched Towson within one, 6-5.

Cuccinello’s ninth goal of the year forced overtime, and the Tigers won the opening face-off in the extra period. McCarty rifled a pass to Hodgson who was waiting 13 yards out and ripped his shot past Peaks for the winner.

Towson returns home to Johnny Unitas® Stadium to host CAA foe No. 10 Hofstra on Saturday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m.

NOTES: Towson and Delaware met in the Tigers’ CAA opener for the sixth time and fourth straight … Towson is 4-2 in those games … Thomas DeNapoli extended his points streak to 11 games with his goal in the first quarter … After not scoring in the first eight games, Justin Mabus has now posted a goal in back-to-back games … Towson scored first for just the second time in 2013 … The Tigers suffered through a 29:54 scoring drought in the middle of the game … Cory Dobyns scored his team-leading seventh EMO goal … He came into the week ranked tied for second in the nation in EMO goals … This was the third time this season Towson required overtime … The Tigers are now 2-1 in overtime this season.

College Men’s Lacrosse: Towson 7, Delaware 6

Towson (5-5, 1-0)     2-1-0-3-1/7

Delaware (2-7, 0-2)       1-3-2-0-0/6

GOALS: TOW – Dobyns 2, Hodgson 2, DeNapoli, Mabus, Cuccinello; UD – Diachenko 2, Robertson 2, Fitzgerald, Jones. ASSISTS: TOW – Zoppo, DeNapoli, Hodgson, McCarty; UD – Jones, Robertson. SAVES: TOW – Wascavage (13, 62:15, 6 goals allowed); UD – Peaks (11, 62:15, 7 goals allowed). SHOTS: TOW – 42; UD – 27.GROUND BALLS: TOW – 29; UD – 27. FACE-OFFS: TOW – 8-16; UD – 8-16. CLEARS: TOW – 13-16; UD – 12-15.EMO: TOW – 1-4; UD – 0-4. ATT: 325

Opening Face-Off
The Tigers are trying to win back-to-back games for the second time this season after a 12-9 win over UMBC powered by Thomas DeNapoli’s seven goals and 10 points. Delaware comes into Friday night’s game off a 10-5 CAA loss to No. 10 Hofstra this past Saturday. Friday night’s game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and can be heard live on the Towson Sports Network on www.towsontigers.com with Spiro Morekas and former Tiger midfielder Hunter Lochte calling the action.

Updating the Tigers
Junior Thomas DeNapoli scored a career-best seven goals and 10 points to lead Towson past UMBC this past Tuesday. The Tigers struggled defensively in the first half before locking down on “D” in the second. Senior goalie Andrew Wascavage made a season-high-tying 15 saves in the win. Sophomore Cory Dobynsadded two goals.

Scouting the Blue Hens
Delaware has had a rough year so far, going 2-5 in the non-conference slate and opening CAA play with a 10-5 loss to Hofstra. The Hens are 0-4 at home and are being outscored by an average of 1.5 goals per game (85-73). Eric Smith leads UD with 20 points on the year, while Nick Diachenko is the Blue Hens’ leading goal-scorer with 16. Tyler Barbarich is finding success at the face-off X, winning 96-of-168 attempts (.571).Chris Herbert minds the net for Delaware and has a 10.49 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .541.

Towson-Delaware Series History
This is one of Towson’s oldest series. Starting in just the third season the Tigers had a program, the teams have met 53 times in the last 51 years. Towson has won five of the last eight meetings. Thirty have been decided by three goals or less; the Tigers are 18-12 in those games. Of the 30 matchups decided by three goals or fewer, 12 have been one-goal margins of defeat. Delaware holds the edge in those games, 7-5.

Towson-Delaware By the Numbers

TIGER BOWL III SET FOR APRIL 27 IN UNITAS STADIUM

Tiger Bowl To Conclude Tigers’ Spring Season

TOWSON, Md. – Coming off back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association championship seasons, the Towson University football team will hold Tiger Bowl III on Saturday, April 27 at 11:30 a.m. on Minnegan Field at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.

Last year, the Tiger Bowl attracted more than 1,500 fans to Unitas Stadium. Admission to the Tiger Bowl is free and it is open to the public.

Current 2013 season ticket holders are invited to a prime location to enjoy Tiger Bowl III. Held in the back of the East end zone opposite the videoboard, this special area will feature complimentary sandwiches provided by Chick-fil-A and 2013 football posters.

A registration table will be located by the entrance of this premium location for all current season ticket holders to gain entrance into this area.

New season tickets can be purchased at the box office of Johnny Unitas® Stadium. Only current or new season ticket holders will be allowed into this area.

As the season ticket renewal deadline approaches on April 27, fans are encouraged to contact the Towson Athletics Ticket Office at 1-855-TU-TIGER.

Tiger Bowl III will conclude the Tiger football team’s spring season. The Tigers, who have posted a 16-7 record the last two seasons and have posted a 13-3 two-season CAA record, have a very strong nucleus returning. On offense, the Tigers will rely on an experienced offensive line which includes three All-CAA selections, rising seniors Eric Pike, Randall Harris and Doug Shaw. Running back Terrance West also returns after earning first team All-CAA honors twice.

Senior linebacker Monte Gaddis, cornerback Jordan Love and defensive tackle Arnold Farmer are some of the top veterans returning on the defense, a unit that led the CAA last season.

After the conclusion of Tiger Bowl III, the Tiger men’s lacrosse team will honor its seniors when the Tigers host St. Joseph’s in a vital CAA matchup in Unitas Stadium at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-855-TU-TIGER.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, April 27

7 a.m.               Tiger Football Captain’s Breakfast

11:30 a.m.          Tiger Bowl III; Admission is Free

2 p.m.               Towson Softball (second game of doubleheader) vs. George Mason; Admission is Free

2 p.m.               Towson Baseball vs. UNC Wilmington; Admission is Free

7 p.m.               Towson Men’s Lacrosse vs. St. Joseph’s; Senior Night

PAT SKERRY NAMED FINALIST FOR 2013 HUGH DURHAM AWARD
Skerry is Among 21 Finalists for the Award Given to the Nation’s Top Mid-Major Coach

BOSTON, Mass. – Towson head men’s basketball coach Pat Skerry is among 21 finalists for the 2013 Hugh Durham award, given annually to the nation’s top mid-major coach.

The award is named in honor of Hugh Durham, who is one of just 12 coaches to have led two different programs to the NCAA Final Four (Florida State in 1972 and Georgia in 1983). He is the only coach among that group to have led both schools to their lone Final Four appearance.

Other finalists include: Jim Baron (Canisius), Rick Byrd (Belmont), Bill Coen (Northeastern), Keith Dambrot (Akron), Kermit Davis (Middle Tennessee), Billy Donlon (Wright State), Andy Enfield (Florida Gulf Coast), Anthony Evans (Norfolk State), Chris Holtmann (Gardner-Webb), Danny Kaspar (Stephen F. Austin), Matt Matheny (Elon), Joe Mihalich (Niagara), Jim Molinari (Western Illinois), LeVelle Moton (North Carolina Central), Steve Pikiell (Stony Brook), Joe Scott (Denver), Zach Spiker (Army), Wayne Tinkle (Montana), Tod Kowalczyk (Toledo) and Michael White (Louisiana Tech).

“This is as good of a list of candidates that we have had,” said Durham. “It will be difficult to select one winner from this group.”

Skerry, the 2013 CAA Coach of the Year, guided Towson to the biggest turnaround in NCAA Division I history this year. After going just 1-31 during Skerry’s inaugural campaign in 2011-12, the Tigers posted an 18-13 mark this season, which was the most victories by a Towson squad since 1993-94. Towson’s 13-5 record in CAA play and second-place finish in the league standings were the best ever marks for the Tigers since joining the league in 2001.

Towson won 12 of its 18 games away from home, which was the program’s highest total since 1976-77. The Tigers closed the season with eight victories in their final nine contests.

The 2013 award will be presented at the CollegeInsider.com awards banquet in Atlanta, site of the men’s NCAA Basketball Championship.

-TowsonTigers.com-

JERRELLE BENIMON & PAT SKERRY TAKE TOP HONORS AT ANNUAL CAA AWARDS BANQUET
Tigers Take Home CAA Player and Coach of the Year Honors

RICHMOND, Va. – Towson junior forward Jerrelle Benimon was selected as the Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball Player of the Year in voting by the league’s head coaches, media relations directors and members of the media. The announcement was made Friday night at the league’s pre-tournament awards banquet in Richmond, Va.

Also receiving top honors were Towson’s Pat Skerry as the CAA Coach of the Year, Georgia State freshman guard R.J. Hunter as the CAA Rookie of the Year and Delaware senior forward Jamelle Hagins as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Northeastern senior guard Jonathan Lee was the recipient of the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award.

Benimon is the first Towson player to earn CAA Player of the Year honors. The junior forward recorded double-doubles in 20 of the Tigers’ 31 contests, which is currently tied with UNCW’s Keith Rendleman for the most in Division I. He was the league’s fourth-leading scorer with 17.1 points per game and reached double figures in 27 of 31 outings.

Benimon led the CAA and ranked third in the nation with 11.2 rebounds per game and his 346 rebounds set a Towson single-season record and were the sixth-most in a season in CAA history. Showing his all-around game, Benimon was also third in the conference in blocked shots (1.9 bpg) and fourth in field goal percentage (53.3%) and his 79 assists were the most of any Towson player.

Skerry guided Towson to the biggest turnaround in NCAA Division I history this year. After going just 1-31 during Skerry’s inaugural campaign in 2011-12, the Tigers posted an 18-13 mark this season, which was the most victories by a Towson squad since 1993-94. Their 13-5 record in CAA play and second-place finish in the league standings were also the best ever.

Towson won 12 of its 18 games away from home (9 away/3 neutral), which was the program’s highest total since 1976-77. The Tigers closed the season with eight victories in their final nine contests.

Benimon was also named to the All-CAA first team and the CAA All-Defensive Team.

Joining Benimon on the All-CAA first team were Hunter, Rendleman, Delaware junior guard Devon Saddler, and Northeastern senior guard Joel Smith.

Joining Benimon on the CAA All-Defensive Team were Hagins, Rendleman, Hofstra senior guard Stevie Mejiaand Georgia State senior center James Vincent.

Towson was also represented on the CAA All-Rookie team as Tiger freshman Jerome Hairston joined Hunter, James Madison guard Andre Nation, Old Dominion guard Keenan Palmore and Northeastern guard David Walker to make up the squad.

Hairston, who was the only other vote getter aside from Hunter for the CAA Rookie of the Year award, ranked second among freshmen in the league in scoring at 9.9 points per game. He led the Tigers in steals (35) and was second on the team in both assists (77) and three-point field goals (38).

Two Tigers were also recognized for their work in the classroom. Sophomore guard Kris Walden was named to the CAA All-Academic Second Team and graduate student Bryan Blackstone was chosen CAA All-Academic Honorable Mention.

2012-13 CAA Player of the Year - Jerrelle Benimon, Towson
2012-13 CAA Coach of the Year - Pat Skerry, Towson
2012-13 CAA Rookie of the Year - R.J. Hunter, Georgia State
2012-13 CAA Defensive Player of the Year - Jamelle Hagins, Delaware
2012-13 CAA Dean Ehlers Leadership Award - Jonathan Lee, Northeastern

First Team All-CAA
Jerrelle Benimon, Towson
R.J. Hunter, Georgia State
Keith Rendleman, UNCW
Devon Saddler, Delaware
Joel Smith, Northeastern

Second Team All-CAA
Jamelle Hagins, Delaware
Damion Lee, Drexel
Frantz Massenat, Drexel
Marcus Thornton, William & Mary
Sherrod Wright, George Mason

Third Team All-CAA
Quincy Ford, Northeastern
Rayshawn Goins, James Madison
Jonathan Lee, Northeastern
Devon Moore, James Madison
Tim Rusthoven, William & Mary
Jarvis Threatt, Delaware

CAA All-Rookie Team
Jerome Hairston, Towson
R.J. Hunter, Georgia State
Andre Nation, James Madison
Keenan Palmore, Old Dominion
David Walker, Northeastern

CAA All-Defensive Team
Jerrelle Benimon, Towson
Jamelle Hagins, Delaware
Stevie Mejia, Hofstra
Keith Rendleman, UNCW
James Vincent, Georgia State

CAA All-Academic First Team
Kyle Anderson, Delaware
Kyle Gaillard, William & Mary
Donte Hill, Old Dominion
Shane Reybold, UNCW
Tim Rushoven, William & Mary

CAA All-Academic Second Team
Brandon Britt, William & Mary
Daquan Brown, Hofstra
Jonathan Lee, Northeastern
Tanner Milson, UNCW
Kris Walden, Towson

CAA All-Academic Honorable Mention
Bryan Blackstone, Towson
Brett Goodloe, William & Mary
Fred Heldring, William & Mary
Doug Howard, William & Mary
Anton Larsen, Old Dominion
Stevan Manojlovic, Drexel
Andrew Pavloff, William & Mary
Tom Schalk, William & Mary
Will Townsville, Delaware

HAIRSTON EARNS FIFTH CAA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK AWARD

The Freshman Averaged 13 Points & 4.5 Assists in Towson’s 2-0 Week

RICHMOND, Va. - Towson University freshman Jerome Hairston was named the Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week, it was announced by the league on Monday. It marks the fifth time this season that the guard has garnered the weekly award.

Hairston averaged 13.0 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in Towson’s 2-0 week. The freshman guard scored a team-high 17 points, dished out four assists and swiped three steals in a 67-64 win over Hofstra and had nine points and a season-high tying five assists in an 85-81 overtime victory at George Mason.

Hairston ended his rookie campaign averaging 9.9 points per game, third on the team and second in the CAA among freshmen. The freshman led Towson with 35 steals and was second on the squad with 77 assists.

Hairston played in all 31 games as a freshman, starting 30 at the point guard spot. His 29.2 minutes per game was third-best on the team.

HAIRSTON NAMED CAA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK FOR THE FOURTH TIME

Freshman Scored a Career-High 20 Points in Towson’s Win Over Drexel on Saturday

RICHMOND, Va. - Towson University freshman Jerome Hairston was named the Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Co-Rookie of the Week, it was announced by the league on Monday. It marks the fourth time this season that the guard has garnered the weekly award.

Hairston scored a career-high 20 points and swiped three steals in Towson’s 72-71 victory over Drexel on Saturday. The freshman guard made a steal with less than 10 seconds to play, was fouled and made a free throw for the game-winning point.

Hairston finished the game 7-of-13 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

Hairston and the second-place Tigers are next in action on Tuesday at George Mason. The game, set to tip at 7 p.m., can be seen live on Comcast SportsNet.