NEWARK, DE -- University of Delaware sophomore Molly Burke (Pomperaug/Southbury, CT) scored two second half goals less than four minutes apart but the Blue Hens could not complete the comeback and dropped a 3-2 verdict to Towson University in Colonial Athletic Association field hockey action Friday night at Rullo Stadium.

Towson (7-7, 1-4 CAA), which had a six-game losing streak snapped, had jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead on two goals by Emily Swartz before holding off a spirited second-half comeback by Delaware for the victory. Delaware, which lost its fifth straight game, fell to 6-10 (1-5 CAA). The Hens fell to the Tigers for just the second time in 29 all-time
meetings.

The first half was all Towson as the Tigers outshot the Blue Hens by a 9-1 margin and jumped out to the 3-0 lead. Jessica Auge scored her fourth goal of the year off feeds from Kelli Richards and Swartz off a penalty corner just five minutes and 53 seconds into the contest to give Towson the 1-0 lead.

The Tigers quickly built the lead to 3-0 as Swartz scored her sixth and seventh goals of the season, both unassisted, in a span of three minutes and 17 seconds. She scored off a scramble in front of the net at the 10:46 mark and beat Delaware goalkeeper Megan Allen on the right side at the 14:03 mark for the 3-0 halftime lead.

Delaware put up a furious rally in the second half as the Hens outshot Towson 10-1 for the stanza. Burke finally got the Hens on the board with 29:51 left to play when she scored on a penalty stroke, beating Towson goalkeeper Christina Armer to the left side. Just three minutes and 41 seconds later, Burke scored again, her team-high seventh of the season, off a loose ball in front of the net to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Blue Hen had the chance to send the game into overtime in the final minute but a hard shot from All-American Amanda Warrington from 15 yards out with 30 seconds remaining went just wide to the left.

Allen posted four saves for the Blue Hens while Armer had three stops for Towson.

Delaware will return to action Sunday when the Hens host James Madison at 1 p.m. at Rullo Stadium.

Boxscore