Hempstead, NY - Behind 12 saves by redshirt senior Bobby Casey and a three-goal performance by sophomore Justin Sykes, the Hofstra men's lacrosse team clinched an 8-7 win over Towson from James M. Shuart Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Hofstra moves to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association with today's win. On the other end, Towson slips to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

With the score tied at 6-6 with 6:15 to play, senior Ryan Tierney set a screen for Sykes, and the sophomore midfielder drove underneath the pick and towards goal. With a good look on goal, Sykes fired high over the Towson goalie's right shoulder and into the back of the net for his second goal of the day. Sykes completed his hat-trick with 5:48 left in the fourth as Tierney drew a double-team and found Sykes unmarked on the edge of the crease, and the sophomore buried what would end up being the game-winner for the Pride.

Down a man following a late penalty and holding on to a one-goal lead, Hofstra needed one last defensive stop to earn the win with 27 seconds left. With 11 seconds to go, graduate student Michael Altmann stuck his stick into the Towson passing lane and broke up the play before scooping the ball and sending a cross-field pass to graduate student Justin Lynskey. Upon catching the lengthy pass, the attackman ran out the clock to preserve the win over the Tigers.

After Towson scored the game's opening goal, the Pride pulled ahead thanks to back-to-back goals by sophomore Colton Rudd late in the first quarter to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. Sykes scored his first of the day with an assist by Lynskey, and his strike was followed by goals from seniors James Philbin and Bryce Tolmie to give Hofstra a 5-1 lead late in the quarter. A Towson goal – the first for the visitors since 12:07 of the first quarter – brought the score to 5-2 as the first half concluded.

The Tigers made it a one-goal game with two goals to start the third quarter, but a timely score from Tierney gave Hofstra a two-goal cushion going into the fourth quarter. Towson would tie the game with 7:17 left in the game, but Sykes' goals and terrific defensive stops helped Hofstra pick up its fifth win of the season and the second conference win of 2021.

Tierney paced the Pride with four points on one goal and a trio of assists, while Sykes finished with the third hat-trick of his Hofstra career. Rudd added two goals on the afternoon, while Tolmie and Philbin found the back of the net. Lynskey and senior Riley Forte dished out one assist each in today's win. Senior Brian Herber was a force at the face-off circle for the Pride, going 13-18 and scooping up 10 ground balls.

Brody McLean led Towson in scoring with two goals and one assist for three points, while Austin Stewart, Andrew Milani and Ryan Swain all posted two points on one goal and one assist. Shane Brennan took the loss for the Tigers with 10 saves.

Hofstra continues conference play with two consecutive road games. The Pride will take on Massachusetts on Friday, April 9, at 5 p.m. in Amherst, Massachusetts before driving down to Maryland for a bout with Towson on Tuesday, April 13 at noon.

NOTES:
-Hofstra moves to 28-23 all-time against Towson with today's win.
-Ryan Tierney finished today with one goal and three assists for four points, giving him 152 goals and 227 points for his career. He is now 11 goals away from breaking the Colonial Athletic Association record for career points held by Delaware's Curtis Dickson (162, 2007-10), and is 12 points from breaking the Hofstra career points record held by Jerry Simandl (238, 1952-55).
-Prior to today's game, Hofstra recognized graduating seniors Michael Altmann, Bobby Casey, Alex Concannon, Logan Danenza, Riley Forte, Justin Lynskey, Michael Peco, Charlie Ragault, Keegan Santos, Bryce Tolmie and Ryan Tierney.
-Hofstra and Towson drew even on shots with 31 each, while Hofstra won the ground ball battle 26-19.