FAIRFIELD, Conn. – With seven different goals scorers, No. 16 Towson improved to 3-0 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play for the first time since 2013 as the Tigers topped Fairfield 8-7 in a battle for the top of the league standings.
 
Despite both teams' defenses ranked top five nationally, the first quarter featured a combined eight goals and ended in a 4-4 tie. But the Tigers (9-3, 3-0 CAA) scored four goals over the next 45 minutes and keeping Fairfield (7-5, 2-1 CAA) off the board in the second quarter.
 
Max Siskind was the only player in the game with multiple goals, finishing with two to help the Tigers end Fairfield's five-game winning streak. Ben McCarty, Justin Mabus and Ryan Drenner had two point games with a marker and assist each. Joe Seider extended his scoring streak to 14 games with one goal while Mike Lynch and Tyler Konen added goals. Spencer Parks notched two assists, both to Siskind.
 
Seven Stags scored with goals from Colin McLinden, Tristan Sperry, TJ Neubauer, Dave Fleming, Jake Knostman, Charlie Schnider and Joe Rodrigues. Drew Federico, McLinden, Neubauer and Sperry finished with two goals.
 
Overcoming a slow start, redshirt junior Tyler White made a dozen saves, including five in the final quarter to aid Towson to a 7-0 record in weekend games. His counterpart, Tyler Behring, suffered the loss but made nine saves.
 
Towson had a strong outing at the faceoff spot, winning 11 of the games 19 draws. Alec Burckley won eight of his 12 chances, collecting five groundballs on the way. Pat Conroy went one-for-two while Steven Stillwell won two of his five opportunities.
 
Extra-man chances were key for the Tigers, who won their first-ever meeting with Fairfield. Towson scored on two of its four extra-man opportunities, with Seider scoring the first in the first quarter while Siskind scored his in the first minute of the second period. The Tiger penalty killing unit allowed just one goal on three penalties.
 
The Tigers had the edge in groundballs, collecting 24 while the Stags had 21. Towson gained the offensive zone on 12 of its 14 chances while Fairfield failed to clear just once in 15 opportunities. Towson, which ranks first in the country in turnovers per games, gave the ball away just 10 times in the game.
 
Despite featuring two top-five defenses, the first quarter was filled with goals and featured four lead changes and four ties. Fairfield struck first on a Schnider goal but Towson answered back with a pair from Seider and Lynch. The Stags evened the score with 9:07 left but Drenner's marker gave Towson the edge, 3-2. Rodrigues deadlocked the contest at 3-3 before Siskind broke the tie for a fourth time. The Stags potted the final goal of the quarter for a 4-4 score after 15 minutes.
 
The first quarter out-scored the rest of the game as Towson logged the only marker of the second period on Siskind's extra-man goal. Fairfield tied the game 5-5 out of the halftime break but a three-goal spurt by Mabus, McCarty and Konen, gave the Tigers the edge they needed. Down but not out, Fairfield made a run at it, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes. But White and his defense held strong to hang on for the win.
 
After two CAA games on the road, the Tigers return to Johnny Unitas Stadium next Saturday for its final league game at home. Towson hosts Hofstra for a noon game, proceeding Tiger Bowl V, the Towson football spring game. Fans unable to attend the lacrosse game can catch the action on the Towson Sports Network with Spiro Morekas on the call with Hunter Lochte on the color.