TOWSON, Md. – After six games away from the Tiger Soccer Complex, the Towson University women's soccer program will finally return home on Sunday for its final nonconference game of the season. But first Towson makes its second trip to Philadelphia this year.
 
The Tigers (2-5-1) head to the University of Pennsylvania for a 7 p.m. tilt on Friday, followed by a 2 p.m. contest at the Tiger Soccer Complex against George Washington University, which is ranked seventh in the most recent NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Coaches' Poll.
 
The Coverage
Towson's two games this weekend will feature live video and live stats. Friday's match will have the game on the Ivy League Digital Network for a fee, while live stats will be free. Sunday's contest will be live and free on the Towson Sports Network with Ian Jett on the call. Sunday's game will also have live stats.
 
The Series: Penn
Friday's game will be the fourth meeting all-time between the Tigers and the Quakers. Towson is unbeaten in its last two games against Penn, including a 0-0 double overtime draw at home last season. The Quakers (3-1-0) won the first meeting 3-1 on October 11, 1992. Towson, which is 1-1-1 in the series, picked up its win 1-0 on Sept. 3, 2010 at Rhodes Field.
 
The Series: George Washington
Towson and the Colonials will resume a series that has not been contested since 2012. The Tigers are 1-4-0 in the series, picking up a 2-1 double overtime win on Sept. 18, 2002 in the last game of the series played in Towson. Four of the five games in the series have been decided by one goal, including the last three. George Washington (6-1-0) has won the last three matchups. Towson has not played at home against George Washington under the direction of Greg Paynter (2007).
 
With a Win Friday…

• Towson would pick up its third win in its last four games.
• The Tigers would pick up their second win in the City of Brotherly Love, improving to 2-1-0 in Philadelphia this season.
• Towson would extend its unbeaten streak against the Quakers to three.
• The Tigers would get a second straight win at Rhodes Field.

 
With a Win Sunday…

• Towson would get its first home win of the 2016 campaign. The Tigers are currently 0-1-1 at the Tiger Soccer Complex.
• The Tigers would get their second straight win at home against George Washington, with the last coming in 2002.
• Towson would extend its unbeaten streak in nonconference home finales to five. Towson has not dropped its final home nonconference game of the year since 2009, a 2-0 defeat against Brown.

 
Tigers Split at the Navy Invitational
Last weekend, Towson split its games at the Navy Invitational. The Tigers dropped a 5-1 decision on Bowling Green in the opener, but fell 3-0 against unbeaten Drake in the finale. Towson's five goals was its biggest offensive performance since 2011. Towson has won at least one game in all but one of its appearances at the Navy Invitational.
 
Neutral Good
With the Navy Invitational in the rearview mirror, the Tigers capped its regular season neutral site appearances for 2016. Neutral field games have been kind to the Tigers over the years. Since Paynter began in 2007, the Tigers are 11-4-4 at neutral site games, a 68.4 winning percentage.
 
Home is Good Too
The Tigers Soccer Complex has been good to Towson over the years. In home nonconference games since 2007, the Tigers hold a 14-9-4 record, a shade under .600 in winning percentage. Towson will have one more chance this season to add to that win total with a 2 p.m. game against George Washington on Sept. 18. A win in that game would bump the Tigers a winning percentage over 60 percent in home nonconference games.
 
Home Nonconference Finales
With the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) schedule looming next week, Towson will host George Washington on Sunday for its finale nonconference game of the season. Since head coach Greg Paynter took over in 2007, the Tigers are 5-1-1 in their finale home nonconference game. Towson has gone unbeaten in such games in the last four outings. Towson did not play a single nonconference home game during the 2010 and 2012 seasons.
 
Road Nonconference Finales
Friday's game will be Towson's final road game of the nonconference season. Since Paynter took over, the Tigers are 4-4-1 in road nonconference finales. The Tigers are 2-0-1 in the previous three seasons in their final nonconference road games.
 
The 25^th Anniversary Team
In the coming weeks, the Towson women's soccer team will release five names for the program's 25^th Anniversary Team. On Wednesday, the second set of five names was released. Stay tuned to TowsonTigers.com each Wednesday for the next three groups, culminating on Oct. 5.
 
Towson University Women's Soccer 25^th Anniversary Team (to date) – Alphabetical
Ashlee Douglas (1993-96)
Bridget Harthausen (1996-99)
Jaime Hartigan (1993-96)
Christi Landi (1994-97)
Maggie Lennon (1998-2001)
Megan Lumsden (1996-97)
Melissa Mueller (1999-2002)
Holly Noga (2000-03)
Shelley Seivert (1995-98)
Tracy Zettle (1992-95)
 
Climbing the Books
Several Tigers appear on the program's top 10 charts.
 
Senior forward Natalia Pinkney is currently tied for fourth in program history with six game-winning goals after her deciding strike at Temple. Another winning marker will move Pinkney into a three-way tie for second with Erica Marshall (2006-09) and Kaitlyn Zamroz (2005-09).
 
Pinkney is now ninth all-time in program career goals after scoring against Bowling Green at the Navy Invitational. She sits alone in ninth with 15 career markers. Pinkney is just one point away from jumping into the top 10 for that category as well. Tracy Zettle holds down 10^th place with 35 career points.
 
Classmate Taylor Sebolao is currently ninth all-time at Towson with 150 career saves since 2013. She surpassed Megan Lumsden (1996-97), who had 141 during her career. She is also eighth all-time in goalie minutes played at 2,397. Next on the list is Michelle Robinson (1992-93) at 2,550 minutes for seventh place.
 
The Silver Anniversary
The 2016 campaigns marks the 25^th anniversary for the Towson University women's soccer program. Playing its first game on September 9, 1992, the program begins its silver year on campus. A celebratory weekend is slated around a rare Saturday game for the Tigers on October 8 as Towson hosts Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rival James Madison. In the coming weeks, Towson will announce its 25^th Anniversary Team, culminating around the October 8 weekend.
 
Preseason Nods
Senior speedster Natalia Pinkney was named to the Preseason All-CAA Team, announced by the league office prior to the season opener.
 
After a breakout season Pinkney was named as the team's Offensive Most Valuable Player. She finished with a team-best 15 points on seven goals, three of which were game-winners. The forward added an assist to her stats as well. Pinkney's overtime game-winning goal against Saint Francis University was shown on ESPN SportsCenter, garnering the No. 10 spot on the coveted list. Pinkney was named Third Team All-CAA at the end of the season.
 
- TowsonTigers.com –