HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – For the second time in seven days, the Towson University women's lacrosse team lost a one-goal game to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) North Division rival Hofstra. On Saturday afternoon at James M. Shuart Stadium on Long Island, the Pride edged Towson 15-14. Last Sunday in Towson, the Tigers dropped a 10-9 decision.
 
Blair Pearre scored a game-high six goals and had a chance to tie the game with three seconds to play, but Hofstra goalkeeper Jess Smith saved the shot.
 
Unlike last weekend when the Tigers led most of the way, Towson played catch-up most of the day - leading only one time after Pearre scored to make it 1-0. Hofstra built a three-goal advantage multiple times during the second half. However, Towson battled back to tie the game on two occasions and had an opportunity to force overtime.
 
It is the fifth straight loss for Towson (8-7), who entered the game ranked 25^th in the nation in the IWLCA Coaches Poll.
 
The CAA used a divisional format this season to reduce travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Towson is in the North Division with Drexel, Hofstra and Delaware. The Blue Hens suspended its season on April 1 after COVID-19 violations. Drexel (12-1, 4-0 CAA North) won the regular season title.
 
James Madison (9-4, 3-1 CAA South), Elon (8-2, 2-1 CAA South) and William & Mary (3-8, 0-3 CAA South) are in the South Division. Five teams – the top two in each division plus one at-large selection – will advance to the league tournament. A game featuring the fourth and fifth seeds will be played May 4 or 5 with the semifinals and championship games in Harrisonburg, Virginia on May 7 and 9.
 
The game was tied at 3-all with 18:42 remaining in the first half, after Pearre scored her third goal of the afternoon. Hofstra ended the first half on a 3-1 run to take a 6-4 lead into halftime. Pearre had all four of Towson's goals. The Pride added a goal two minutes into the second half to take its first three-goal advantage.
 
Towson responded with goals by Long Island natives Kaitlin Thornton (2g, 2a), Nikki Sliwak (2g, 2a) and Kerri Liucci during a 4-1 run to tie it at 8-all on Pearre's fifth goal of the game with 21:18 remaining.
 
Hofstra went up 11-8 with three goals in less than six minutes, but Towson narrowed the gap to 13-12 with a 4-2 run, which included a pair of goals by freshman Lindsey Marshall.
 
Hofstra was up 14-12 with less than five minutes to play but Towson would not go away. Thornton found Pearre, who scored her sixth goal with 4:27 remaining. Freshman Hannah Delahaye won the ensuing draw. Sliwak tied it with 3:11 to play after scooping up a loose ball at the 8-meter mark and firing a left-handed shot by Smith.
 
All-American Alyssa Parrella (5g, 1a) fed Kerry Walser with 40 seconds to play for the game-winning goal then won the next draw, her 10^th of the game. Towson forced a turnover with 20 seconds remaining, setting up the dramatic finish.

The Tigers made a successful clear from deep in its defensive zone. Luicci fed Pearre down low. Three Hofstra defenders quickly surrounded the sophomore. She got a shot off with three seconds remaining by was denied, ending the game.
 
"We showed some great fight right to the end," Towson head coach Sonia LaMonica said. "It was a back-and-forth affair. Our girls stayed in the hunt the entire game. We just came up a little short."
 
Records: 

• Towson – 8-7 (0-4 CAA North)
• Hofstra  – 6-5 (2-2 CAA North)

 
How it Happened: 

• Towson took a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the game when Pearre picked up a loose ball in front of the Hofstra goal and scored.
• Hofstra was up 2-1 when Pearre scored the first of two free-position goals to tie the score at 2-all at the 23:42 mark.
• Pearre produced her ninth hat trick of the season exactly five minutes later when she slashed through the Hofstra zone and scored.
• Pearre added her fourth goal of the half on another free-position tally but Hofstra led 6-4 at halftime.
• It was 7-4 when Thornton and Sliwak scored back-to-back goals in less than two minutes to narrow the gap to one-goal.
• Hofstra went up 8-6 on the next possession, but the Thornton found Liucci, her Ward Melville teammate to make it 8-7. Ward Melville is located about 45 miles from Hofstra.
• Pearre tied the game for the fourth time, with her fifth goal - taking a feed from Marshall in traffic and finding the back of the net. It was the fourth time this season she has scored at least five goals.
• Hofstra was up 11-8 then Towson started to chip away again, cutting the lead to 13-12. Marshall scored twice, Sliwak had two assists, while Thornton and Abbe Mona had goals during the 4-2 run.
• With the score 14-`12 with less than five minutes remaining, Towson made yet another comeback. Thornton found Pearre, who scored her sixth goal, to cut the deficit to one with 4:27 remaining.
• Sliwak, who grew up less than 10 miles from Shuart Stadium, tied it at 14 with 3:11 to play after scooping up a loose ball at the 8-meter mark and firing a left-handed shot.
• Trailing 15-14, with 20 seconds to play, the Tigers made a successful clear from deep in its defensive zone. Luicci fed Pearre down low. Three Hofstra defenders quickly surrounded the sophomore. She got a shot off with three seconds remaining by was denied, ending the game.

 
Key Stats:

• Towson is 0-6 this season when trailing at halftime.

Inside the Numbers: 

• Pearre has scored at least two goals in 13 of the 15 games this season. The former Under Armour All-American leads Towson in goals (49), points (53) and groundballs (33) and is second in draw controls (57). She leads the CAA with 26 free-position goals and ranks third nationally, averaging 1.73 free-position goals per game.
• Sliwak has scored a point in all 15 games this season. She is second in scoring with 44 points (27g, 17a).
• Marshall, who had a team-high six draw controls, is third in scoring (29g, 14a) and now has multiple points in 13 of 15 games. She has controlled at least five draws 11 different times.
• Kaitlin Thornton has multiple points in eight games this season. The senior, who has 128 career points (92g, 36a), has produced multiple points in 38 of 58 games in a Towson uniform. In five career games versus Hofstra, she has eight goals and five assists.
• Olivia Malamphy won a career-best five draw controls. 

 
Next Game: 
The CAA seeding will be determined Sunday evening. Five teams – the top two in each division plus one at-large selection – will advance to the CAA tournament. A game featuring the fourth and fifth seeds will be played May 4 or 5 with the semifinals and championship games in Harrisonburg, Virginia on May 7 and 9.
 
The final team could come down to Towson and William & Mary, who have yet to win a game in the South Division. The Tribe will take on Elon tomorrow afternoon in the final regular season game of the season. The Tigers defeated William & Mary by 10 goals on April 10.