HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The No. 18 Towson University women's lacrosse team used an overwhelming defensive effort and a strong second half offensively to earn a 9-3 win at Hofstra University in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play on Friday night. The Tigers (10-2, 3-0 CAA) won their fourth straight game and reached the 10-win mark for the fifth time in six years under head coach Sonia LaMonica.

THE BASICS
No. 18 Towson 9, Hofstra 3
Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, N.Y.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Tigers and Pride (3-9, 1-2 CAA) went back and forth early on as freshman Angie Benson came up with a stop on a free position shot.
• Towson broke through on the scoreboard at 20:52 as junior midfielder Samantha Brookhart curled around the back of the net and scored her fourth goal of the season.
• The two squads continued to fight on both ends of the field. The visitors added to their lead as Brookhart passed to sophomore attacker Jenna Kerr at 9:07. Kerr put a high shot over the Hofstra goalkeeper's shoulder for the 2-0 lead.
• The Tigers carried the 2-0 advantage into the half.
• Neither team was able to break through in the second half until Lexi Lenaghan scored for Hofstra at 17:16, which made it a 2-1 game.
• Back-to-back goals from freshman midfielder Natalie Sulmonte and sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn Montalbano made it a 4-1 game in favor of the Tigers with 12:12 to play in the game.
• Hofstra cut the Tiger lead to two, as Lindsey Scott's free position goal made it a 4-2 game with 11:41 showing on the clock.
• The Tigers responded with a 4-0 run which made it an 8-2 game with 3:41 to play. Montalbano scored a pair of goals during that run to complete her fourth hat trick of the season. Sulmonte scored her second of the day while Brookhart picked up a pair of assists. Redshirt junior attacker Alyssa Ferro also scored a goal for the Tigers during that stretch.
• Hofstra ended the Tiger run by winning the draw and going straight to the cage for a Drew Shapiro goal at 3:32.
• The Tigers added one final goal as sophomore midfielder Emily Gillingham scored off a pass from Montalbano with 14 seconds left which made the final score 9-3.

QUOTABLE

• "We really limited Hofstra's shots tonight," said LaMonica. "Collectively our defensive unit played very well together and limited Hofstra's chances. We definitely keyed in on Scott tonight and what a strong player she is but our zone was ready to overplay her if necessary and we caused them to make some errors. Sam Brookhart is hungry to contribute and to help this team win and she's moved into a role playing low and has great vision. Hofstra threw a mix of zone and man-to-man on us and credit to our kids for getting open."

                                               
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Benson finished with six saves to earn the win in goal for the Tigers. Alexis Greene made a career-high 12 saves in the loss for Hofstra.
• The Tigers outshot Hofstra 32-10 in the game. Towson's defensive held Hofstra to just two shots in the first half of the game. Towson also won nine of the 14 draw controls in the game.
• Towson has now limited 11 of its 12 opponents to single-digit goals this season. The Tigers have held six opponents to five goals or less.
• Montalbano, the reigning ILWomen.com StringKing National Player of the Week, led Towson with three goals and an assist for four points. She added three ground balls, four draw controls and a caused turnover.
• Brookhart posted her second straight game with four points after scoring a goal and dishing out three assists.
• Sulmonte had two goals and an assist and pulled down four draw controls.
• Shapiro had a goal, two ground balls and two caused turnovers for Hofstra.

The Tigers wrap up a four-game road trip when they visit Drexel on Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m.