PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's Hawks men's lacrosse team held off a late push from the No. 16 Towson Tigers to secure its second ranked victory in as many games, earning a 12–11 win Friday evening in the home opener on Sweeney Field. It marked the first time in program history that the Hawks defeated a ranked opponent in consecutive games.
 
Towson jumped out quickly, scoring three times in the opening five minutes to build an early advantage. The Hawks answered eight minutes later when Ben Dutton opened the scoring off a Griffin Mallory assist. Following the ensuing faceoff, Matthew Akers scooped up a ground ball from a Dylan Lee caused turnover and raced coast-to-coast, firing home to cut the deficit to one with goals just 20 seconds apart. The Tigers added a man-up strike in the final minute of the quarter to carry a 4–2 lead into the second.
 
Mallory shifted from facilitator to finisher five minutes into the second quarter, finding space and ripping a shot into the near high corner. After Towson answered, the Hawks drew level as Tyler Moore buried back-to-back goals in the final two minutes of the half to send the teams into the break tied at 5–5.
 
Towson reclaimed the lead just 35 seconds into the third quarter, but Dutton ignited a decisive 4–0 run, scoring twice to complete his hat trick and push Saint Joseph's ahead 9–6 in a three-minute stretch. Moore added his third goal of the game during the surge while Keaton Zavitz netted his first of the season. The Tigers trimmed the margin to one before Will Barber struck with 1:50 remaining in the quarter to give the Hawks a 10–8 edge entering the fourth.
 
After a scoreless opening five minutes of the final frame, Towson pulled within one with 9:40 to play. Barber responded with a highlight behind-the-back finish as the shot clock expired to restore a two-goal cushion. Colby Wood answered again following a Tiger goal, rifling home a strike with 4:14 left to extend the lead to 12–10.
 
Towson scored with 2:38 remaining and secured the final possession with a chance to tie, but goalkeeper Tommy Gross delivered two critical saves in the closing seconds to seal the 12–11 victory as time expired.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ben Dutton and Tyler Moore paced the Hawks with four points each (3g, 1a).
• Will Barber recorded two goals, building on his hat trick against Villanova.
• Griffin Mallory (1g, 2a) and Trae Ika (2a) each posted multi-assist outings.
• Liam Quinn anchored the defense with three caused turnovers as Saint Joseph's held a 10–4 advantage.
• Tommy Gross made 13 saves for a .542 save percentage and now has 27 stops across the last two games.
• Both teams registered 38 shots, with Towson holding a 24–21 edge in shots on goal and an 18–9 advantage at the faceoff X.
• SJU went a perfect 19-for-19 on clears.
• Head coach Scott Meehan earned his second consecutive ranked win early in his head coaching tenure, the Hawks achieving the feat for the first time in program history.
• The Hawks snapped a two-game skid in home openers.
• Saint Joseph's now leads the all-time series 5–4 and improves to 3–1 at home against Towson.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Joseph's hits the road for a midweek contest against Monmouth on Tuesday, February 24. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.