TOWSON, Md. – Redshirt junior midfielder Michelle Gildea scored the game-winning goal with 1:06 to play in overtime which lifted the No. 17 Towson University women's lacrosse team to a 7-6 win over the University of Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener. Freshman Angie Benson made eight saves, including two in overtime to help secure the victory.

THE BASICS
No. 17 Towson 7, rv/rv Delaware 6 (OT)
Johnny Unitas® Stadium, Towson, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Towson found itself down early as Megan Santoleri sandwiched a pair goals around a tally from sophomore midfielder Emily Gillingham in the first 11 plus minutes of action. That gave Delaware a 2-1 edge with 18:43 to play in the first half.
• Sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn Montalbano tallied the equalizer with a free position goal with 15:22 left in the half.
• Freshman midfielder Natalie Sulmonte followed with a free position goal of her own at 13:15 which put the home team ahead 3-2.
• Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the final 13 minutes of the half and Towson took the one-goal lead into the break.
• The Tigers and Blue Hens traded goals early in the second half. Gillingham's second of the day gave Towson a 5-4 lead with 13:36 to play in regulation. Sulmonte also tallied her second of the day during that opening stretch of the second stanza.
• Delaware scored back-to-back goals and took a 6-5 lead with 5:06 to go in regulation. Kara Dattellas' 11th goal of the season gave the Blue Hens the advantage.
• Towson got the equalizer as freshman attacker Carly Tellekamp fought through traffic and scored her 15th goal of the season with 3:46 to play in regulation.
• Delaware had possession in the final 20 seconds of regulation but was unable to get off a shot.
• Towson won the opening draw in overtime but a Tiger turnover gave Delaware the ball back.
• Benson came up with two big saves on point blank shots to keep the Tigers and Blue Hens knotted at 6-6.
• The two sides switched ends as the first half of overtime came to an end and Towson won the draw control to start the second half of overtime.
• The Tigers brought the ball down and passed it behind the net to Montalbano. Montalbano hit a cutting Gildea, who buried it home for the game-winning goal with 1:06 left in the extra session.

QUOTABLE

• "Delaware is a great opponent and I thought they played a great defensive game," said Towson head coach Sonia LaMonica. "They played well defensively and forced us to work harder. We stepped up on the draws in the second half. The draw is like a chess match and I thought Natalie stepped up and helped us today. I'm excited for Angie, she was huge and the defense in front of her played well."

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Delaware won five of the six draw controls in the first half. The Tigers won nine of the final 10 draw controls in the game, including both in overtime. Sulmonte won all six of her career-high draw controls in the second half and overtime.
• Delaware outshot the Tigers 23-17 in the game.
• Montalbano finished with a goal and an assist in the game. She now has 17 goals and nine assists this season, bettering her total from a year ago.
• Gillingham and Sulmonte each tallied two goals for the Tigers.
• Towson improved to 4-1 on the year at home, matching its home win total from a year ago.
• Benson finished with eight saves to earn the win in goal. Taylor Carpentier made eight saves for the Blue Hens.

The Tigers are back in action on Saturday, April 2 when they make the short trip up Charles Street to visit Johns Hopkins. Opening draw from Homewood Field is set for 1 p.m.