PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Blair Pearre and Lindsey Marshall combined for 10 points and 15 draw controls as the #14/#16 Towson women's lacrosse team defeated St. Joseph's, 14-12, at Sweeney Field Saturday afternoon. The Tigers improved to 6-2.
 
Pearre, who was named to the Tewaaraton Watch List earlier this month, scored five goals and controlled seven draws, including five in the first half. The five goals matches a career-high she set a week ago at Georgetown. The sophomore from McDonogh has now scored at least two goals in 13 of 14 games at the collegiate level. The former Under Armour All-American has eight career hat tricks. She leads Towson in goals (25), points (28), is tied for first in groundballs (13) and ranks second in draw controls (28).
 
Freshman sensation Marshall scored two goals, added a career-best three assists, all in the second half, and won eight draw controls for the second consecutive game. The Catonsville product ranks second on in goals (19), points (24) and has a team-high 40 draw controls.
 
"Both of them have been big weapons for us all season on the draw play and on the offensive end of the field. Their consistency is unparalled," Towson head coach Sonia LaMonica said. "I am really excited for them to continue to have these performances and it opens up things for those around them. I am pleased with the entire group, particularly Blair and Lindsey."
 
Shelby Stack (2g, 1a), Molly Lynch (1g, 2a) and Kaitlin Thornton (2g) also had multiple point games.  On the defensive side, goalie Carly Merlo made 11 saves, including seven in the first half. 
 
Pearre scored three times in the first half as the Tigers built a 9-4 advantage. Sliwak and Stack each scored twice, while Lynch had a goal and two assists during a four and a half minute stretch.
 
The Hawks cut the Tigers lead to 10-8 during the opening 10 minutes of the second half, but Towson answered when Marshall found Kerri Liucci and Kaitlin Thornton on back-to-back possessions to make it 12-8.
 
St. Joe's sophomore Riley Evans scored three consecutive goals to make it a one-goal game. The Hawks had three chances to tie the score but were denied by Merlo.
 
Marshall then gave Towson some breathing run with a great individual effort. She picked off a pass then went coast-to-coast, scoring left-handed to give the Tigers a 13-11 lead with 3:48 to play.
 
St. Joe's scored to make it 13-12 with 1:58 remaining, but Marshall controlled the ensuing draw and fed Pearre, who scored her fifth goal with 52 seconds on the clock for the final margin.
 
Towson now leads the all-time series with St. Joseph's, 3-1. The Hawks fall to 3-4 on the season but have three one-goal losses.
 
Records: 

• Towson – 6-2
• St. Joseph's – 3-4

 
Head coach Sonia LaMonica Postgame Quotes: 

• "It was definitely a tough battle. St Joe's would just not go away. They are a tough team and they battled hard. Credit to our group for holding on for a great victory."

 
How it Happened: 

• Towson took a 1-0 lead when Pearre scored unassisted at 26:45.
• Tied at 1, Stack gave the Tigers the lead for good with a free-position goal at 17:11.
• Merlo made back-to-back saves to keep the score 2-1 before Marshall scored on a free-position with 13:25 remaining in the opening half to make it 3-1.
• Towson would eventually go up 5-1. First, Lynch found Nikki Sliwak, who scored via quick stick at 8:43. Two minutes later, Pearre scored her 14^th free-position goal of the season.
• Lynch was involved in Towson's next two goals. The junior fed Pearre then scored unassisted during a 1:09 span.
• The score was 7-4 with less than 75 seconds remaining in the half when the Tigers found the back of the net twice in 36 seconds. Thornton scored her first of the game at the 1:11 mark. Stack scored her second after a spin move. It was 9-4 after the opening 30 minutes of play.
• After St. Joe's scored a man-up goal less than two minutes into the second half, Stack found Pearre to make it 10-5.
• The Hawks went on a 3-0 run to make it 10-8. Marshall then had assists on consecutive possessions, finding Kerri Liucci and Kaitlin Thornton for a 12-8 advantage with 17:32 to play. For Thornton, it was her 80th career goal. 
• Evans had a natural hat trick in less than two minutes as the Hawks pulled to within one with 12:36 remaining.
• Merlo then made three saves from 10:22 to 7:00 as St. Joseph's looked to tie the game.
• With about four minutes on the clock, St. Joe's was looking to clear after a defensive stop, when Marshall made the play of the game. She leaped to pick off a pass then took the ball into the offensive end, scoring left-handed. 
• The Hawks made it a one-goal game again with 1:58 remaining but Towson won the ensuing draw with Marshall getting the loose ball after hard work on the circle by Pearre and Olivia Malamphy. One minute into the possession, Marshall found Pearre, who scored for the fifth time to provide the final margin.

 
Key Stats:

• Towson won 17-of-28 draws. Pearre controlled five in the first half, while Marshall won six in the second half.
• The Tigers also had more groundballs (10-8) and caused more turnovers (6-3). 
• In the last two games, Lynch had three goals and three assists. The John Carroll graduate is fourth on the team in scoring (6g, 6a).
• Sliwak, one of three talented transfers on Towson's roster, has scored a goal in eight games. She ranks third on the team with 22 points (13g, 9a). In 24 games at Maryland, she scored 10 points.

 
Inside the Numbers: 

• Kaitlin Thornton has multiple points in four games this season. The senior, who has 113 career points (80g, 33a), has produced multiple points in 34 of 51 games in a Towson uniform.
• Towson All-American defender Sami Chenoweth caused two turnovers to increase her school record total to 169. She has 18 in eight games this season.
• Stack, who had a season-best three points today, has scored at least one goal in 25 of the last 30 games, dating back to 2019.
• The victory was 124^th for LaMonica as a head coach. She is 116-69 (.627) at Towson.

 
Next Game: 
Towson will begin Colonial Athletic Association play next Saturday, March 27 at Delaware.