The loss left the Tigers still looking for a win after three starts. Maryland, meanwhile, improved to 4-0 on the season and upped its series record against Towson to 27-5. It was the Terps' ninth straight win over the Tigers.

The Terps sprayed 25 shots at the Tigers' goal while allowing only six for Towson in building an 8-3 first half lead. Turnovers haunted Towson also, partly accounting for just three clears in seven attempts in the early going. The hole was too deep for the Tigers to climb out of despite a much better effort in the second half.

"The whole thing comes down to man up," said Tiger coach Tony Seaman. "You've got to score in those situations, They did. We didn't. That's the difference in a four-goal game."

The Tigers entered the game ranked fourth nationally in extra man opportunities but could convert just one of eight tries against Maryland. The Terps were two of three.

Maryland got off to a fast start, scoring twice in the opening six minutes. John Haus put the Terps on the scoreboard first with an unassisted zinger from 13 yards out. Two minutes later Warren Hansen added to Maryland's lead with help from Travis Reed.

A 30-second pushing penalty on Hansen gave the Tigers their first break of the game. They made quick work of their advantage. Will Harrington, who has 5 of Towson's 6 extra man goals for the year, took a pass from Christian Pastirik to ram home Towson's first score of the contest.

The Terps got the goal right back on an extra man goal of their own when Reed fed Joe Cummings at the 3:18 mark. But the Tigers had the last hurrah of the quarter when Stephen Norris beat Maryland keeper Brian Phipps with 13 seconds remaining to close the gap to 3-2.

The two teams traded goals to start the second quarter. Ryan Young put Maryland on top 4-2 but a minute later Pastirik tallied for the Tigers to keep it a one-goal game.

Maryland then started to pull away. Michael Shakespeare started a four-goal run at 9:58. Drew Snider scored unassisted 52 seconds later. Cummings made good on a man up opportunity for a 7-3 lead at the 5:24 mark. Long sticker Brian Farrell, all 6-5, 240 pounds of him, ended the first half scoring when he lumbered full field to score with 2:12 left, sending Maryland into the lockeroom ahead by an 8-3 count.

The Tigers made a goalie change to start the second half, inserting Travis Love. Defensively, it made a difference. Love made five saves in the first five minutes of the period as Maryland continued its strategy of bombarding the Tigers' goal.

Towson scored the first goal of the second half when Matt Hughes tallied on a pass from Pat Britton at the 8:08 mark. That ended a scoring drought that had lasted almost 18 minutes for Towson and stopped Maryland's four-goal run.

Maryland boosted its lead to five again when Snider scored unassisted but Harrington answered twice for the Tigers to cut into Maryland's lead, 9-6 as the period ended.

Tim Stratton trimmed Maryland's lead further, 9-7, with an unassisted marker to start the fourth quarter. That's as close as Towson would get the rest of the contest.

Shakespeare ended Towson's 3-0 run 56 seconds later when he scooped in a garbage goal off a loose ball on the crease after a Love save. Haus added to the cushion unassisted with 7:20 left for an 11-7 lead.

Goals would be traded as the game wound down. Pastirik scored with 5:28 left to close to within three, 11-8. Maryland scored into an open net when the Tigers were scrambling defensively to double the ball.

The Tigers outshot Maryland 21-18 in the second half but were still behind 43-27 at game's end. Towson finished with 21 turnovers. Matt Thomas won the faceoff battle for Towson with a 12-11 edge on draws. Love recorded seven saves while giving up four goals. Starter Rob Wheeler made six saves before being replaced by Love.

Harrington, who played at Maryland in 2006, led the Tigers' scoring parade with three goals.

Towson is back in action again Tuesday night when the Tigers host Navy in Johnny Unitas Stadium at 7:00 p.m.