TOWSON, Md. – Freshman midfielder Ali Lathroum (Stephen Decatur H.S./Bishopville, Md.) scored the eventual game-winning goal with 6:20 remaining in the second half and sophomore goalkeeper Casey Lean (Annapolis H.S./Annapolis, Md.) made a save with one second left as 20th-ranked Towson University (8-3, 2-0) won its fifth straight home game, a 13-12 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Hofstra University (4-6, 1-1) at the Tigers' Johnny Unitas Stadium on Friday afternoon.

The Tigers, who trailed by 9-5 at the intermission, outscored Hofstra by an 8-3 margin in the second half to earn their first come-from-behind victory of the season.

Led by two goals from sophomore midfielder K'Leigh Vanaman (Penn Yan Academy/Penn Yan, N.Y.), the Pride jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first 16:16 of the game. However, the Tigers took a 4-3 lead by scoring three goals in a two-minute span. Junior midfielder Hillary Fratzke (Queen Anne's County H.S./Centreville, Md.) scored twice during the run.

But, the Pride took control and scored six of the final seven goals in the half to regain the lead at 9-5. Vanaman and sophomore midfielder Corrine Gandolfi (Northport H.S./East Northport, N.Y.) each scored twice for the Pride during the final eight minutes.

Trailing by four to start the second half, the Tigers put together a quick four-goal run to even the score at 9-9 with 20:08 remaining. Fratzke and sophomore midfielder Nikki Marcinik (Southern H.S./Deale, Md.) tallied all four of the goals while junior midfielder Britt Woodfield (South Carroll H.S./New Windsor, Md.) recorded a pair of assists.

The Pride regained a two-goal advantage by scoring two straight goals from junior Lauren Whitcomb (East Rochester H.S./East Rochester, N.Y.) and freshman midfielder Stephanie Rice (Skaneateles H.S./Skaneateles, N.Y.) before Towson put together a four-goal run to take a 13-11 advantage with 6:20 remaining.

After Marcinik scored on a free-position shot with 9:14 remaining, Woodfield tied the game with 7:09 left by recording the 50th goal of her college career. Just 23 seconds later, Marcinik scored her fourth goal of the game off a Fratzke feed to give the Tigers their first lead of the second half before Lathroum added a goal off a Marcinik assist with 6:20 left.

With 38 seconds remaining, Vanaman tallied her fifth goal of the game, an unassisted marker past Lean to close within 13-12. After the Pride forced Towson to make a turnover with 12 seconds left, Gandolfi had one last chance to force overtime, but her point-blank shot with one second left was stopped by Lean to earn the win.

“The game was a tale of two halves today,” Towson Coach Missy Doherty said. “Casey Lean really stepped up in the second half and made some big saves for us today. Hillary Fratzke came up with some huge goals in the second half and really put us on a run.

“We didn't have a good first half and I knew that we could play a lot better,” she added. “It was a matter of tightening up some things defensively and running Hofstra down by using our depth.”

The leading scorer in the CAA, Fratzke led the Tigers by matching her career high with five goals while adding an assist. Marcinik also tied her career high with a four-goal effort in addition to one goal and three assists from Woodfield. Lean, who came in for senior goalkeeper Mandy Corry (West Essex H.S./North Caldwell, N.J.) at half-time, posted five saves in earning her second win of the season.

Vanaman led Hofstra in the loss with the first “hat trick” of her career with a team-high five goals while Gandolfi scored twice.

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2008-04-04