McConnell scores twice as Towson field hockey rallies past Georgetown, 3-1
TOWSON, Md. — Towson University field hockey erased an early deficit and scored three unanswered goals to defeat Georgetown, 3-1, Friday afternoon at the TU Field Hockey Complex. The victory in Towson’s 2026 home opener gave the Tigers their first win of the season after beginning the year with road losses to Appalachian State and Davidson. Towson improved to 1-2, while Georgetown dropped to 1-2.
Georgetown struck first late in the opening quarter when Katherine Malloy scored with 44 seconds remaining. Kate McManaman earned the assist on the goal at 14:16, sending the Hoyas into the first break with a 1-0 advantage. Towson did not record a shot during the opening quarter, but the Tigers responded with a dramatically different performance in the second.
Towson unleashed nine shots during the second quarter, its highest total in any quarter through the first three games of the season. Ava McConnell produced the equalizer at 22:55 after Gianna Tripodi sent the ball toward the top of the circle and McConnell redirected it into the cage. The goal was McConnell’s first of the season and completely changed the momentum of the game.
The Tigers were not finished before halftime. Towson earned its fourth penalty corner of the quarter with approximately 90 seconds remaining, and Delfina Larripa played the ball to Anouk Westerink at the top of the circle. Westerink drove her shot into the far bottom corner at 28:31 for her first goal of the season, sending Towson into halftime with a 2-1 lead after trailing at the end of the opening quarter.
Georgetown attempted to answer after halftime and generated one of its best opportunities early in the third quarter. The Hoyas earned a penalty corner approximately four minutes into the period and put two quick shots on cage, but Towson goalkeeper Riley Redding stopped both attempts. Those saves helped the Tigers protect their one-goal advantage through a scoreless third quarter.
McConnell then delivered the insurance goal Towson needed in the fourth. After Georgetown received a yellow card, Ella Jefferson controlled the ball near the bottom of the circle and sent it toward McConnell, who finished the opportunity at 48:40 for her second goal of the afternoon. It marked the first multi-goal game of McConnell’s collegiate career and gave Towson a 3-1 advantage it would not surrender.
Towson finished with an 11-7 advantage in shots and placed seven attempts on goal compared with Georgetown’s four. The Tigers also earned five penalty corners to the Hoyas’ three, continuing an early-season trend in which Towson has earned more corners than its opponent in each of its first three games. Georgetown goalkeeper Alex Duff made four saves, while Redding stopped three of the four shots she faced.
McConnell led the offense with two goals on two shots, while Westerink scored on both of her attempts on goal. Tripodi, Larripa and Jefferson each recorded an assist, with Larripa and Jefferson registering their first points as Towson Tigers. Redding’s three-save performance also gave the goalkeeper the first victory of her collegiate career.
The comeback carried additional significance because Towson did not win a game after falling behind during the entire 2025 season. This time, the Tigers responded to Georgetown’s opening goal by taking control of the second quarter and scoring three times without allowing another goal. It was also Towson’s 11th victory in 18 all-time meetings with Georgetown and improved the Tigers’ home record in the series to 7-3.
The victory ultimately started an excellent opening weekend at home for Towson. Two days later, the Tigers defeated Rider, 1-0, in overtime after dominating the Broncos 29-2 in shots, moving Towson to 2-2. The Tigers now face their biggest test of the young season Friday night when they travel to College Park to face Maryland before returning home Sunday against American.
MSB Take
This was exactly the type of response Towson needed after opening the season 0-2. Falling behind late in the first quarter could have allowed the frustrations from the opening weekend to carry over, but instead the Tigers produced their best offensive quarter of the season. Nine second-quarter shots and two goals transformed the game and showed the type of attacking pressure Towson is capable of generating.
McConnell was the difference-maker, and her first career two-goal performance could be an important development for the Tigers. Towson needs players who can consistently finish the opportunities created by its midfield and penalty-corner attack, and McConnell did exactly that against Georgetown. Getting first Towson points from Larripa and Jefferson also shows that this roster is beginning to develop additional offensive options.
Redding’s performance should not be overlooked either. She made two important saves during Georgetown’s third-quarter push and earned her first collegiate victory in goal. With Towson following this win by shutting out Rider, the Tigers have quickly turned an 0-2 start into a 2-2 record and will now have an opportunity to measure themselves against Maryland in College Park.
