TOWSON, Md. – Despite facing the top-ranked team in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in Hofstra University, the Towson women's soccer team gave it all they had. After leveling the game midway through the second half, the Tigers fell in the 102nd minute at the Tiger Soccer Complex Friday afternoon.
 
How it Happened

• Touting the defending CAA Offensive Player of the Year, Leah Galton, the Pride (10-4-0, 3-1-0 CAA) took 10 shots in the first half, limiting the Tigers to four.
• The Pride took a 1-0 lead in the 19^th minute as Jenn Buoncore took a cross-box pass from Kristin Desmond, finishing to the left side.
• Towson (6-5-3, 0-2-1 CAA) got five saves in the first half from Taylor Sebolao, who finished with a dozen stops, including one in the first overtime.
• Corners were close in the first half with the Pride earning three against the Tigers' one. In the second half, Hofstra took seven while Towson nabbed three.
• Setting the Tigers up for another overtime game at home, sophomore Maddie Bove tipped home a header on the left side of the Pride goal. Marissa Green received a throw in from Emily Marshall, played the ball back to Marshall who then sent in the long cross from 35 yards out Bove on the back post.
• Hofstra, which received votes in this week's NSCAA Coaches Poll, took an additional four shots after the Tiger goal, but just one made it to the goal and was stopped by Sebolao.
• After Green took the opening shot in the first overtime, which was saved by Pride keeper Friederike Mehring, Hofstra took three shots in a two-minute stretch. Again the Towson defense, one of the top units statistically in the CAA, blocked one, saw one go wide with Sebolao stopping one as well.
• With 10 seconds left in overtime, Hofstra had a breakaway chance as Desmond dribbled in the Towson penalty area. The Pride player stumbled over the ball while Sebolao came charging out, breaking up the chance.
• Hofstra took the only two shots in overtime, with Buoncore putting a header over the goal before the game-winning goal came. Jill Mulholland spun around her Tiger defender inside the 8-yard box, slipping in a shot that ended the game in the 102^nd minute.
• It was a chippy game as both teams combined for 29 fouls, including five yellow cards. Two yellows were issued to Towson players while three were assessed to Hofstra.

 Behind the Numbers

• Friday's game was the fifth time this season Towson has gone to double overtime this season, with all but one at home. Towson is 1-1-3 in such games in 2015.
• The double overtime loss snapped a seven-game unbeaten streak at the Tiger Soccer Complex for Towson. It was Towson's first home loss this season (2-1-2).
• For the first time since the 2001 America East Conference tournament, a 0-0 draw, the Tigers and Pride played an overtime match. It was the first time since both teams joined the CAA extra time was required.
• Towson kept the conference's best scorer, Galton, off the board and limited her to just one shot on goal on four total chances.

 Up Next for Towson

• Towson returns to the Tiger Soccer Complex for another CAA game on Sunday, welcoming in two-time defending league champion, Northeastern University.
• Game time is set for 1 p.m. between the two long-time rivals, who meet for the 16^th time on Sunday.

 Towson Head Coach Greg Paynter
On Battling With Hofstra
We fought all the way through the game for 90 minutes. That's key in a game like this. If you fall asleep for any amount of time… Hofstra's too good. They're going to tuck a couple away. I thought we really fought for 90 minutes, all 102 minutes. Even on the game-winning goal we were down there battling.
 
On going into Sunday's Game Against Northeastern
We have great leadership. The captains will make sure everyone is ready. The seniors have been through this before. We were 0-3-1 in conference last year and we know how to recover from this. There's still hope out there for us to regroup and get ready for Northeastern.
 
- TowsonTigers.com -