TOWSON, Md. - - Senior attackman Ryan Obloj (Farmingdale H.S./Farmingdale, N.Y.) scored three goals and added two assists as top-seeded Towson University (8-5) jumped out to a 5-1 first quarter lead en route to a 16-11 victory over second-seeded Hofstra University (11-5) in the first annual Colonial Athletic Association Championship game at Minnegan Field at Towson Stadium on Saturday night.

With the victory, the Tigers earn the CAA^Òs automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Championship Tournament. The 16-team tournament field will be announced on Sunday evening. Hofstra, which came into the CAA Championship Game with a six-game winning streak and a number seven national ranking, is a strong contender for an at-large berth.

This will be Towson^Òs seventh trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament.

Towson, the CAA regular season champion and a 15-8 winner over Hofstra last month, jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first nine minutes of the game. Just 1:17 into the game, junior midfielder Alex Fountain (Fayetteville-Manlius H.S./Fayetteville, N.Y.) scored an unassisted goal to give Towson a 1-0 lead. Junior midfielder Drew Pfarr (St. Mary^Òs H.S./Severna Park, Md.) added an unassisted goal with 12:10 left in the first quarter to put the Tigers ahead, 2-0. Senior Hunter Lochte (Boys Latin H.S./Baltimore, Md.) scored off a rebound with 11:41 left in the quarter for a 3-0 lead. A goal by junior Brian Myers (Orchard Park H.S./Orchard Park, N.Y.) with 6:44 left made it a 4-0 lead.

The Tigers never trailed in the game. Hofstra got on the scoreboard with 4:58 left in the opening quarter when senior Jim Femminella (Bethpage H.S./Plainview, N.Y.) scored an extra man goal off a pass from senior Joe Kostolansky (Corning East H.S./Corning, N.Y.) to cut the lead to 4-1. With 2:08 left in the period, junior midfielder Matt Florio (Bethpage H.S./Bethpage, N.Y.) gave Towson a 5-1 lead with an unassisted goal.

Femminella^Òs unassisted goal just 1:56 into the second quarter brought Hofstra within 5-2 before senior Todd Spear (Friends School/Towson, Md.) tallied an unassisted goal to put the Tigers ahead, 6-2. He was the sixth different Tiger to score a goal.

Hofstra rallied to pull within 6-4 midway through the second quarter. An extra man goal by freshman Tim Treubig (Farmingdale H.S./Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Kostolansky^Òs unassisted goal with 8:55 left cut the margin to 6-4.

However, the Pride would never get any closer the rest of the way. Towson answered the Hofstra rally by scoring three consecutive goals to up its lead to 9-4. An extra man goal by Obloj and Pfarr^Òs second goal of the game made it an 8-4 lead. With 1:05 left in the half, Fountain scored his second goal to put the Tigers ahead, 9-4.

The Pride came back with a goal by freshman Chris Unterstein (Shoreham Wading River H.S./Shoreham, N.Y.) to make it a 9-5 game with just 31 seconds left in the half. After Hofstra won the ensuing faceoff, senior defenseman Neil Adams (Archbishop Spalding H.S./Severna Park, Md.) forced a turnover which set up a fast break goal by Spear off a pass from Obloj, giving Towson a 10-5 lead with 13 seconds left in the half.

In the first 16 seconds of the second half, the Tigers scored twice to take a 12-5 lead. Junior Ben DeFelice (Towson H.S./Towson, Md.) won the opening faceoff and raced down to score a goal just ten seconds into the second half. Hofstra was called for a penalty on the play and six seconds later, senior Brad Monaco (Orchard Park H.S./West Seneca, N.Y.) scored an extra man goal off a pass from Obloj to give Towson its biggest lead of the game.

After the Pride scored three consecutive goals to make it a 12-8 game, Lochte scored an extra man goal to give the Tigers a 13-8 lead with 8:45 remaining in the third quarter. A pair of goals by Obloj in the third quarter helped the Tigers take a 15-10 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Tigers dominated play in the fourth quarter and ran time off the clock as they allowed just one goal in the fourth quarter, a goal by senior Bryan Walker (Hicksville H.S./Hicksville, N.Y.) with 6:06 left in the game. Pfarr^Òs third goal of the game with 2:50 left in the game closed out the scoring.

Senior defenseman Adam Baxter (Severna Park H.S./Severna Park, Md.) of Towson was named as the CAA Tournament^Òs Most Valuable Player as he led a Tiger defensive effort that helped the Tigers outshoot Hofstra, 52-30. Towson also forced 25 turnovers by Hofstra and had a 55-44 edge on ground balls.> Obloj and Pfarr, who each scored three goals to lead Towson, were also named to the all-tournament team. Lochte added two goals and an assist while Fountain and Spear each scored twice.

Senior Danny Cocchi (Hicksville H.S./Hicksville, N.Y.) also made the all-tournament team, along with DeFelice.

Kostolansky led Hofstra with two goals and two assists while freshman John Keysor (Ward Melville H.S./Setauket, N.Y.) had two goals and one assist.

The CAA championship was the Tigers^Ò first in any sport since joining the league last year. .

2003 Colonial Athletic Association Men^Òs Lacrosse All-Tournament Team

Drew Pfarr Midfield Towson University
Ryan Obloj Attack Towson University
Ben DeFelice Midfield/Faceoff Towson University
Danny Cocchi Defense Towson University
Joe Kostolansky Attack Hofstra University
Brian Zuchelli Defense Hofstra University
Bryan Walker Midfield Hofstra University
Owen Corso Defense Villanova University
Brian Marks Attack Villanova University
Ryan Harney Goalkeeper Drexel University
Patrick Friel Midfielder Drexel University

Most Valuable Player Adam Baxter-Defense Towson University

Towson vs. Hofstra

Towson

16

Scoring
Ryan Obloj	(3, 2)
Drew Pfarr	(3, 0)
Hunter Lochte	(2, 1)
Brad Monaco	(1, 1)
Todd Spear	(2, 0)
Alex Fountain	(2, 0)
Ben Defelice	(1, 0)
Brian Myers	(1, 0)
Matt Florio	(1, 0)

Saves
Reed Sothoron	12 (0.522)

Current Record
Towson	8-5

Hofstra

11

Scoring
Joe Kostolansky	(2, 2)
John Keysor	(2, 1)
Ryan Lucas	(2, 0)
Jim Femminella	(2, 0)
Jeremy Kyrkostas	(0, 1)
Ryan O'donnell	(0, 1)
Mike Morrison	(0, 1)
Bryan Walker	(1, 0)
Chris Unterstein	(1, 0)
Tim Treubig	(1, 0)
Ryan Vilar	(0, 1)

Saves
Matthew Southard	10 (0.417)
Steve Izzo	1 (0.333)

Current Record
Hofstra	11-5