TOWSON, Md. – It's not how you, but how you finish.
 
While September was a rough stretch for the Towson University women's soccer team, the Tigers ended the month in style, topping visiting Elon University 2-1 Thursday afternoon at the Tiger Soccer Complex.
 
The Tigers (4-6-2, 1-1-0 CAA) snapped a 342-minute scoreless drought midway through the first en route to their first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) victory of the season in what proved to be Towson's 11^th one-goal game of the season.
 
How It Happened

• After each side had minimal chances in the first 15 minutes of the game, action went into a flurry of shots over a five-minute stretch.
• Elon (7-4-2, 0-2-1 CAA) ripped off four shots and had a corner kick during that stretch, but none of the shots found the frame.
• Towson's Elizabeth Coletti put a shot right of the goal, followed 10 minutes later by a blocked shot.
• The Tigers broke through the stalemate in the 34^th minute as rookie Afton Kalkose got her first career assist, sending a perfect pass through the Elon defense and on to senior captain Maddie Bové. That goal was Towson's first since the 71^st minute of the George Mason game on Sept. 10, a stretch of 342 minutes.
• The 1-0 Tiger lead held up through the remainder of the first half. Elon out-shot the Tigers 7-4, but could only get one shot on goal, which was stopped by Taylor Sebolao.
• The Phoenix put pressure on Towson early in the second half as Meredith Christopher put a rip on goal, by Sebolao made the save to preserve the clean sheet.
• Twenty minutes later, the Tigers tacked on a crucial goal and took a 2-0 lead in the 66^th minute. Madi Lawrence got a header chance inside the Elon penalty area, but that chance was blocked but not cleared. Towson's Sam Lotti collected the rebound and banged home what stood up as the game-winning goal, the first of her career.
• Elon made things interesting in the 79^th minute as Kendall Ballotti headed home a corner kick off the foot of Hannah Doherty, cutting the Tiger lead in half, 2-1.
• The final 20 seconds of the match were frantic as Elon looked to equalize the game. Carson Jones took a shot on goal with Sebolao away from the play, but the would-be tying goal was stopped by a defender for a team save.
• Four seconds later, Elon got another chance, this time from Tori Balitico but that opportunity was blocked and Towson held on for the win.

 
Behind the Numbers

• The Tigers' 2-1 victory snapped a six-game winless streak for Towson, dating back to a 1-0 win at Lehigh on Aug. 31.
• The Phoenix out-shot Towson 15-10, but could only put five shots on goal. Sebolao finished with three saves while there was one team save.
• Sebolao's counterpart, Hanna Macauley, made just one save in her 90 minutes.
• Towson remains unbeaten at home all-time against Elon with a 3-0-0 record. The Ballotti goal was Elon's first-ever goal scored at the Tiger Soccer Complex, snapping a 159 minute drought in Towson for the Phoenix.
• The 2-1 result gave Towson its 11^th game this season decided by one goal or resulting in a tie. Since the 2012 season, the Tigers have now played in 71 such contests.
• The three combined goals were the most in series history. Towson won the first two matches 2-0 and 1-0, followed by a 2-1 Elon last season in North Carolina.
• Towson's first CAA win of the season ended a five-game losing streak in conference games; the Tigers' last league win came as a 1-0 victory at home over UNCW.
• The Tigers' two goals on Thursday were the most Towson has scored in a conference game since a 2-1 win at William & Mary on Sept. 25, 2016.

 
Up Next for Towson

• Towson takes to the road for the first time in CAA play on Sunday with a trip to Philadelphia.
• The Tigers take on host Drexel University at 2 p.m. at Vidas Field.
• It will be the 21^st meeting all-time between the programs.
• Drexel (6-4-1, 1-0-1) is on the road Thursday night for a 7 p.m. game at Hofstra.

 
- TowsonTigers.com –