NEWARK, Del. – Caitlin McCartney's goal with 16.7 seconds to play in regulation lifted the University of Delaware to a 6-5 win over the Towson University women's lacrosse team on Wednesday night in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener for both squads. Freshmen Erika Cavallo and Emily Gillingham led the Tigers with two goals each.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair between the Tigers and Blue Hens. Delaware jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 15:11 to go in the half. Towson used back-to-back free position goals from redshirt senior attacker Andi Raymond and Gillingham to pull to within one, 3-2 with 7:25 left in the first half. Cavallo tied the game at 3-3 with her tally at 4:27. The Blue Hens went back on top, 4-3 as Casey Lyons scored off a pass from Kara Dattellas at 2:56. Cavallo scored her second of the half with 58 seconds to go and it tied the game at 4-4. The two teams went into the half deadlocked at four.

The Blue Hens (6-3, 1-0 CAA) outshot the Tigers 13-6 in the first 30 minutes and won five of the nine draw controls. Senior Kelsea Donnelly made seven first half saves for the Tigers.

Neither team was able to dent the scoreboard until there was 18:59 to play, Dattellas' goal gave Delaware a 5-4 lead at that point. Towson got the equalizer as Gillingham broke free from the pack at the top of the circle with 2:08 to play and fired one home. The two teams looked like they could be headed for overtime entering the final minute still tied at 5-5. Delaware was awarded a free position shot with 30 seconds to play. The shot was blocked but the Blue Hens were able to collect the ground ball and McCartney got a shot past Donnelly for the game-winner.

Delaware outshot the Tigers 7-5 in the second half and finished the game with a 20-11 advantage. The Blue Hens won two of the three draw controls in the second half and ended the game with a 7-5 edge in that category.

Alex Zaugra made two saves to earn the win in goal for the Blue Hens. Donnelly finished with eight saves for the Tigers (2-3, 0-1 CAA).

Cavallo and Gilllingham each tallied two points in the game with their goals. Raymond had the other goal while junior Emily Roth led the defensive efforts with three ground balls and three caused turnovers.

McCartney had two goals to lead Delaware while Dattellas had a goal and an assist.

Towson is back in action when it returns home to host California on Saturday, March 21 at 1 p.m. in Johnny Unitas ® Stadium.