BOX SCORE TOWSON, Md. -- Tim Montgomery picked a very good time for his first career hat trick, scoring the game-winning goal, his third of the day, in overtime as Towson University men's lacrosse grinded out a 7-6 overtime win over No. 12/No. 12 Loyola.

Towson (3-5) picked up its second overtime win of the season on the back of a hat trick from Montgomery. The Tigers led for just seven seconds in regulation after Montgomery's second of the day in the fourth quarter.

Montgomery was the lone Tiger to score multiple goals. Shane Brennan made eight saves for Towson, including one in overtime on the doorstep. Four other Tigers contributed goals. Austin Stewart had Towson's only assist.

Twelfth-ranked Loyola (4-3) was led by two goals each from Aidan Olmstead and Joey Kamish. Peter Swindell scored once with an assist as well. Bailey Savio won 12 of his 16 draws in the game, grabbing six ground balls as well.

How it Happened

• It was a low-scoring first half in the Tigers' longest-standing rivalries. Olmstead scored the game's first pair of goals at 13:02 and 7:35 of the first quarter.
• Montgomery struck first for the Tigers on an extra-man feed to the inside from Austin Stewart with just 17 seconds left in the opening stanza.
• Loyola won the next face off and Kamish scored with three seconds to play in the first.
• The second quarter was sloppy in transition for both teams. Towson cleared just three of eight times while Loyola had three successful clears on four attempts.The teams combined for 11 turnovers in the second. 
• Jake McLean broke a scoreless drought with his first goal in a month, scoring at 12:42 of the second on a sweep across the top of the box.
• Loyola's Peter Swindell scored the final goal of the first 30 minutes, getting a feed from Seth Higgins at 6:29.
• Kamish scored his second of the game and Loyola's lone marker of the third quarter at 8:52.
• Two minutes later, Riley Gaeger scored his second of the year at 6:53, dodging the alley and going with an off-speed shot past the Greyhound netminder.
• Mid-way through the fourth quarter, Towson wore down Loyola with a five minute possession before James Avanzato ended the possession in the plus for Towson and a 5-5 tie.
• Montgomery got his second with 3:15 to play in regulation, sweeping across the top of the box. Towson's lead would end seven seconds later as Savio won the next draw and scored at 3:08, sending the game to a 6-6 tie and the first overtime in the series since 1996.
• Towson's defense held firm on several close chances in the fourth quarter. Savio won the opening faceoff in overtime, but Brennan was equal to the task on a Higgins shot. Towson got down on offense and head coach Shawn Nadelen called timeout.
• Out of the pause, Montgomery got loose on the wing, slipped under his defender and got inside for the game-winning goal and the first hat trick of his career.

Behind the Numbers

• As the final score indicated, much of the game was tight as well. Towson out-shot the Greyhounds 38-34, including 21-16 in the third and fourth quarter.
• The Tigers edged Loyola in ground balls by one with 28.
• Towson's defense forced Loyola into 16 turnovers and a 15-of-16 effort in clears. The Tigers struggled to clear, going 18-of-24. Towson committed 13 turnovers, but had none in the fourth quarter or overtime.
• Towson is 3-8 all-time against teams ranked 12th in the USILA Coaches' Poll. This was Towson's first home win over a 12th-ranked opponent since besting Hofstra 9-8 on April 23, 1983. It was the Tigers' first win over a 12th-ranked team since beating Duke 12-10 in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
• The Tigers have beaten a ranked Loyola team in back-to-back games at Johnny Unitas ® Stadium, paired with a 12-10 win over the top-ranked Greyhounds in 2019.
• Towson has won back-to-back overtime games at home, coupling this win with an 8-7 over Saint Joseph's on Feb. 13.
• Saturday's game was Towson's first home game in over a month, dating back to Feb. 20 against No. 1 Duke.
• Towson-Loyola is the longest running series in program history. The Tigers are now 30-34 all-time against their Charles Street Rivals.
• Towson is now 7-6 all-time in overtime games under Nadelen (2012) and 2-1 this season. The Tigers are 2-2 in one-goal games this spring.

Up Next for Towson

• After a step outside Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play, Towson returns to league action next weekend.
• The Tigers travel to Hempstead, New York for a Saturday clash at Shuart Stadium, site of the 2021 CAA Championships in May.
• Game time is set for noon on Long Island.