TOWSON, MD -- The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse team rallied from an eight-goal deficit to tie the game but Towson scored the final three goals to post a 16-13 win over the Blue Hens Friday night at Johnny Unitas Stadium in
the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams.

Delaware, which fell to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play, trailed 10-2 with 5:21 remaining in the first half but stormed back to score 10 of the next 12 goals, tying the game with 15:05 left on a goal by Megan Hager (right). Towson’s Shannon Witzel, who tied a career-high with seven goals and added two assists, put the Tigers back on top with a free position goal at the 14:23 mark, but Katie Muth scored off an assist from Laura Miller to knot the game at 13-13 with 13:33 to play.

However Witzel gave Towson the lead for good with a goal at the 12:26 mark, and after she scored again with 6:11 to play, the Tigers’ Ali Alati capped the scoring with an unassisted goal with 4:42 on the clock.

Towson, which improved to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the league, got four goals and an assist from Meggie McNamara, while Hillary Fratzke added two goals and an assist. Hager scored a career-high five goals for the Blue Hens, while Casey McCrudden added three goals and Muth had two. Lindyn Soviero posted a goal and an assist, while Jenny Diana and Laura Libertini each found the back of the net once.

Mandy Corry made 12 saves in the Tigers goal, while Jessica Cerveny stopped seven shots for the Blue Hens.

Towson jumped out to an early 4-0 lead just 4:20 into the game, but McCrudden and Hager each scored around a tally by McNamara to bring Delaware within 5-2 with 22:25 remaining in the half. However the Tigers answered with five consecutive goals to go up 10-2 late in the period.

Delaware would respond as McCrudden scored the final goal of the first half at the 1:33 mark to bring the Blue Hens within seven at the break, and UD opened the second half with four straight goals to get within 10-7. After Hager scored the first two goals of the half, goals by Libertini and Soviero made it a three-goal game with 23:57 to play.

McNamara and Fratzke countered for Towson, but the Blue Hens answered with five consecutive goals to tie the game at 12-12 with 15 minutes left. Muth ignited the run with a free position goal, and after Diana and McCrudden followed with goals, Hager scored twice to bring Delaware even.

The Blue Hens, who had a two-game winning streak snapped and fell to 27-10 all-time against the Tigers, finished the game with a 40-33 shot advantage and won 18 of 30 draw controls.

Delaware returns to action on Monday when the Blue Hens travel to Blacksburg, VA to face Virginia Tech at 3 p.m.

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