Towson, Maryland – A rain delay could only hold back the Quakers offense for so long as it unleashed a barrage on the Towson Tigers to give Penn a 15-9 win. Penn is still in contention for the Ivy League Title and they showed that they are playing strong heading into the Ivy League Tournament.
Towson would open up the scoring on their first possession of the game. After winning the face off, Towson midfielder Justin Mabus scored as unassisted goal to give the Tigers the lead. Penn would even the score at one as Kevin Brown found Joe McCallion.
At the 3:14 mark of the first quarter, Towson scored as Peter Athens fired a shot passed Penn goalie Brian Feeney, the assist coming from senior Thomas DeNapoli. The pace was deliberate as each team was finding their bearings. Feeney played strong to keep it even with the Tigers. Kevin Brown scored for the Quakers to tie the game at two for each team.
Justin Mabus drove to the goal from behind the cage, scoring his second of the game to give Towson a 3-2 lead. Isaac Bock scored in transition as the Quakers won the opening face off of the second quarter to again tie the game.
Penn got its first lead in transition when Drew Belinsky found Bock for his second straight goal. The Quakers scored the goal in transition after Towson turned the ball over trying to overcome a one-minute penalty against them. Ryan Drenner scored on Towson’s own extra man opportunity with the assist credited to Mabus, his third point of the game. This tied the score at four.
Penn broke the tie in their favor, as Nick Doktor would score two straight goals to lead the Quakers into halftime with a two-goal lead at 6-4. With thirty seconds remaining, both teams fit the last seconds of the half in as a shower approached. Lightning would postpone the start of the second half, with the second half starting at ten o’clock.
Penn opened the third quarter on a run that would prove the difference in the game. Up two goals, the Quakers would the next four goals to increase their lead to 11-4. Belinsky got his first of the game, as did Zack Losco, Chris Hilburn, and Andrew Staller. All four of these were unassisted tallies for Penn.
Towson and Penn would trade goals through the rest of the quarter. Thomas DeNapoli broke the Penn streak, but Mike Power would score to keep the lead at seven goals. Max Siskind got Towson on the board again. Danny Feeney and Joe Seider both scored to close the quarter in favor of Penn with the score at 13-7.
Two Penn scores would bookend two by Towson in the final stanza. Chris Hilburn scored his second goal of the season to increase the Penn lead. Towson freshman Joe Seider would finish a hat trick gaining the next two for the Tigers. Nick Doktor finished the scoring with 3:11 left. Penn was able to close the last minute of the game as a Towson penalty sealed their fate.
Penn goalie Brian Feeney was outstanding on the evening. He was credited with thirteen saves, but he continually prevented Towson from gaining momentum while giving his team extra possessions. He was equally athletic out of the cage as he picked up loose balls and created opportunities for the Penn offense. Tyler White had seven saves for the game.
Justin Mabus lead the Tigers in scoring with two goals, two assists. Seider’s hat trick lead Towson in goals in the contest. Penn’s Nick Doktor had a hat trick of his own to lead the Quakers. Eleven Quakers scored in the game as all but six of the goals went unassisted.
Next up for Towson is the CAA Semi Final against Drexel. The game will be played in Philadelphia. Penn faces local rival St. Joseph’s University this weekend to close the regular season.
