TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's lacrosse team defeated Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rival Drexel in overtime on Saturday afternoon, 16-15. Drexel is currently receiving votes in the ILWomen/IWLCA poll.  

After Blair Goodrich won the draw to start the overtime period, Kerri Liucci came up clutch for the Tigers on Senior Day, scoring the game-winning goal just 48 seconds into play.  

Kaitlin and Kerri Thornton led the way for the Black & Gold in regulation, combining for seven goals. Kaitlin Thornton also dished out an assist to give both sisters four points, respectively.  

Kaitlin Thornton recorded a season-best three goals for her 12th career hat trick. She also scored her 100th career goal at the 6:07 mark of the third quarter to become the 16th Tiger in program history to reach the century mark.  

Lindsay Clarke added two goals and an assist while Milana Zizakovic also recorded two scores. In addition, Gabby Garrett, Paige Abbott, Sam Intrieri and Hannah Delahaye found the back of the net for the Tigers.  

The Black & Gold's defensive unit was solid, limiting the Dragons to just five goals in the second half. Olivia Malamphy set a new career best with three caused turnovers while Shannon Sullivan also grabbed a career high six draw controls. Carly Merlo also came up big, with 11 saves between the pipes, her second double-digit performance this campaign. 
 
Records    

• Towson – 5-7 (2-1 CAA)    
• Drexel – 7-6 (2-1 CAA) 

How it Happened    

• Towson started off the contest on a three-goal run to take an early lead. Drexel answered with a goal, before Kerri Thornton scored her second goal of the day. The Dragons added one more score before the end of the first quarter to cut the deficit, 4-2.  
• Drexel then proceeded to go on a 7-0 run to take the 8-4 advantage. Clarke ended the drought with a free position goal to put the game within three scores.  
• The Dragons secured another goal before Kaitlin Thornton and Abbott found the back of the net to make the score 9-7. The opposition once again had an answer, but the Tigers hung tough as Kerri Thornton scored back-to-back goals to end the second and start the third period, to make it a one-goal game, 10-9.  
• After another goal from Drexel, the Black & Gold went on a three-goal spree, led by Zizakovic who scored consecutive goals just 56 seconds apart. Kaitlin Thornton followed with her 100th career goal to give the Tigers their first lead, 12-11, since 14:17 of the first quarter. 
• Drexel strung together their own three-goal spurt, stretching from the third into the beginning of the fourth. Towson rallied with goals from Delahaye, Kaitlin Thornton and Intrieri to regain the 15-14 edge.  
• With 4:08 to go in regulation, the Dragons scored to tie it up for the fifth and final time, 15-all. Neither team scored in the remaining time four minutes and the contest was sent to overtime.  
• Goodrich won the opening draw control to give Towson possession. Clarke brought the ball out from behind the goal and found Kerri Liucci at the top of the zone. She ripped a shot from just inside the 8-meter to score the golden goal and seal the 16-15 victory.  

Key Stats  

• The win marks the first of the season for the Tigers over an opponent mentioned in the ILWomen/IWLCA poll.   
• Towson went a perfect 19-19 on clear attempts. The performance marks the team's fifth perfect outing of the season and second in a row. The team is now 193-215 (89.8%) on the season.  
• Clarke and Kaitlin Thornton each tallied one assist to pace the Tigers. Clarke has now recorded helpers in nine consecutive games. She leads the team with 17 total assists. 
• Malamphy broke through to set a new career best of three turnovers caused after recording two caused turnovers 10 times in her career, including five times this slate.  
• Sullivan set a new career high with six draw controls. She had secured her previous best of two draws four times this season.  
• The Tigers picked up eight more ground balls than the Dragons, 22-14. Merlo (5) and Blair Pearre (4) and Erin Williams (3) led the charge.  
• Intrieri's clutch goal in the fourth quarter  to put Towson up, 15-14, was the first of her career. 

Inside the Numbers     

• Saturday's game marks the second consecutive time Towson and Drexel have gone into overtime. Their last meeting (May 7, 2022) in the CAA Tournament Semifinals ended with a 15-14 overtime win in the Dragons' favor. The outing is also the second game in a row of the season that was sent into extra time as their previous contest against Johns Hopkins also went into overtime.  
• With three draw controls on Saturday, Pearre now has 142 career draw controls to move up to fifth in program history. She is now 26 behind Becky Trumbo (168). 
• The Thornton sisters had eight points today, increasing their combined number to 235 (167 goals, 68 assists).  
• With 101 career goals, Kaitlin Thornton is now tied for 15th on the program's top 20 scoring list with Kim Wilson. She is just two away from tying teammate Blair Pearre with 103 goals in the 14th spot.  

Next Game 

The Tigers will travel to Long Island to face Hofstra in CAA play on Saturday, April 16 at 12 p.m.