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

TOWSON HOSTS RIVAL DELAWARE ON WEDNESDAY SEEKING THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
The Game Can Be Seen Live on Comcast SportsNet

TOWSON, MD. - The Towson men’s basketball team will look to complete a season sweep of second-place Delaware on Wednesday as the Tigers host the Blue Hens in a game that can be seen live on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.

Al Koken and Ron Thompson will be calling the action for CSN.

Towson (12-12, 7-4 CAA) is off to its best start ever in the CAA and best start overall since the 2006-07 season.

The Tigers are coming off an 81-68 win over UNC Wilmington on Monday night. The 81-point effort was the second best scoring performance by Towson this season.

Junior forward Jerrelle Benimon led four Tigers in double figures with 20 points to go along with 12 rebounds for his NCAA-leading 16th double-double. Freshman Jerome Hairston scored a season-high 18 points and junior Rafriel Guthrie chipped in 14 points off the bench.

Delaware (11, 6-3 CAA) currently sits in second-place in the CAA, just percentage points ahead of third-place Towson. The Blue Hens have won three straight games, including a 71-56 home win over UNC Wilmington on Saturday.

Junior guard Devon Saddler leads the team and ranks first in the CAA by averaging 19.3 points per game. Senior forward Jamelle Hagins is averaging a double-double this season with 12.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

Wednesday will be the 70th all-time meeting between Towson and Delaware. The Tigers have only played Loyola (71) more often in their history.