 "Photo: Field Hockey vs Drexel by Eric Gazillo/The Towerlight")
Towson wrapped up its season this weekend, falling to two conference foes to finish the season 5-12 and winless in the CAA. Saturday night’s 3-2 loss against the Hofstra Pride played out like many of the Tigers’ games this season.
The team came out with a sense of urgency, keeping possession in their offensive zone much of the first half while pressuring a Pride defense that struggled to match Towson’s intensity.
Towson kept the pressure on early, scoring the first goal of the game just over 19 minutes into the game from an unassisted goal by junior Blythe Mackie as she lofted a shot over a sprawling Hofstra goalie. The lead didn’t last long, however, with Hofstra tying up the game after a controversial penalty call in front of Towson’s goal. The call allowed a Pride penalty stroke, which Tiger goalie Jamie Dowling was unable to stop.
With the game tied up, the teams fought hard until halftime, but neither team was able to produce another goal.
Coming out in the second half, Towson was hungry to get back on the scoreboard, but found itself in their defensive end early on. The Tigers were having trouble clearing the ball, but it only took one perfect pass to senior forward Christina Boarman to turn things around.
Boarman took the pass at midfield, turning and racing against Hofstra defenders toward the goal. As she weaved around a defender, Boarman blasted a shot toward the goal, but was denied by Hofstra goalie Amanda Heyde. Boarman didn’t quit on her ball, recovering her rebound and making sure her second try found the back of the net.
Towson reclaimed the momentum after the goal, but it was quickly taken away as Hofstra scored on a penalty corner only four minutes later.
Hofstra’s second straight goal only two minutes later during a three-on-two fast break by the Pride’s forwards gave them the lead and sealed the game for Hofstra.
Towson also dropped their game Friday against No. 12 Drexel, 5-2, struggling to get their offense going during a physical contest, but were in too deep of a hole at halftime to get back in it as Drexel was leading 4-1.
Though the losses were discouraging, head coach Michelle Webber still felt her team has made significant improvements over the last few weeks and should be ready for a better season next year.
“I think coming from where we came from in September to now, we’ve scored more goals in the last three weeks than we did probably from the beginning of the season,” Webber said. “We’ve stepped up and played against top 20 teams…and I think it’s a great step in the right direction for our program.”
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