TOWSON, Md. – While it takes a lot of coordination with the defense to secure a shutout, Towson University goalkeeper Taylor Sebolao had little else to worry about on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Scotch Plains, New Jersey native picked up her third shutout of 2016 as the Towson women's soccer team blanked visiting George Washington, 2-0, at the Tiger Soccer Complex.
 
How It Happened

• Playing in front of the home crowd for the first time in the month of September, the Tigers (3-6-1) wasted little time applying the pressure on the Colonials. Sophomore Evelyn Neidert put the game's first shot on goal in just the second minute.
• It would be another 20 minutes before the next shot came, this time from senior forward Natalia Pinkney in the 22^nd minute.
• George Washington (6-3-0) did not get a shot off until the 29^th minute, with the effort going wide to the left.
• Colonial keeper Miranda Horn came out near the edge of her 18 yard box to play a ball at the feet of Tiger freshman Moriah Wigley, but the rookie kept her composure, dribbled around the keeper and logged the first goal of her Tiger career in the 40^th minute.
• The Colonials, who were ranked sixth in last week's NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Coaches' Poll, got one last chance shortly after Towson's goal. Ivana Szwejkowski tipped a header towards the Tiger goal, but the chance fell off to the left.
• Towson out-shot George Washington 7-3 in the opening stanza, putting one of those chances on frame, the game's lone goal to that point.
• Like the first half, Towson came out firing in the second half. Freshman Justine Stoner sailed in a corner kick in the 47^th minute. After a long offensive stand, Horn played a ball out to her team, but Neidert collected the would-be passing a sent it home to the back of the net for her first college goal.
• Towson had one more chance late in the game during the 82^nd minute as Neidert slipped a beautiful pass to Pinkney, but Towson's penultimate shot trickled left of the goal.

 
Behind the Numbers

• Towson out-shot the Colonials 16-7, including nine chances in the second half. George Washington did not take a shot on goal through the full 90 minutes as Sebolao logged a scoreless shutout victory.
• Horn made five saves in the game, including four on Towson in the second half. Horn was active in the game on corner kicks as well, with the Tigers sailing in eight against four for George Washington.
• Towson improved to 15-9-4 at the Tiger Soccer Complex since head coach Greg Paynter took over the program in 2007. Towson is 1-1-1 at home in 2016, elevating the program's record to 6-1-1 in home nonconference finales since Paynter began.
• Sebolao logged her third shutout of the season and second at home. The senior now has 10 career clean sheets, which ties her for third all-time with Jocelyn Papciak.
• Towson returned to the Tiger Soccer Complex for the first time since drawing even with St. John's on August 26.
• The Tigers went through the nonconference portion of their season a 3-6-1 mark.

 
What Head Coach Greg Paynter is Saying
On setting a tough nonconference schedule
The level of competition on our nonconference schedule this year is very different than in years past. It was designed that way to prepare us for the start of our conference schedule. I think that for us, learning each game and developing through this slate… and now we're really focused on results. This has been about progress. Now it matters about wins and losses. Every point on the road, every point at home matters in the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association).
 
On returning to the Tiger Soccer Complex
Our field is a great field to play on. It suits our style really well, in terms of being a very possession-based team. It's nice to be back here and not adjust to turf or fields that are a little bit slower. It's an advantage for us because we know what it is. And to be at home in front of our fans.
 
On getting into CAA play
We start on Friday at Elon. These last couple of weekends when we were on the road, we talk about getting results and how hard it is to play Friday and Sunday. We've had our schedule that mirrors that and we're prepared for the grind of CAA. A lot of programs have been playing Thursday and get that extra day of rest. We know what it's going to take on Sundays to come out and play well. Elon is our next focus.
 
- TowsonTigers.com –