The Matchup: Towson (7-6-3, 2-4-1 CAA) vs. Drexel (5-6-3, 1-3-2 CAA)
Place: Tiger Field – Towson, Md.
Date/Time: Sunday, October 24, 1 p.m.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Live Stats: towsontigers.com
 
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team is back at the friendly confines of Tiger Field for the final home game of 2021, hosting Drexel on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
 
All games at Tiger Field are free to attend for the public.  The game will be broadcast on FloSports, available via subscription.  Visit FloSports.tv/CAA to view the full Colonial Athletic Association schedule and sign up today.
 
This is Towson's 10th game at home this season and the fifth time at Tiger Field in the last seven contests.
 
Towson is looking to snap a three-game winless streak, falling at Delaware 2-1 on Thursday to enter at 7-6-3 overall and 2-4-1 in CAA play.  Drexel is winless in its last four games, coming off a 2-0 defeat vs. Hofstra on Thursday, to stand at 5-6-3 overall and 1-3-2 in the league.
 
With the CAA regular season set to conclude on Oct. 31, Towson is in seventh place in the league, two points out of third, while Drexel is in ninth place.
 
Meeting #25 will commence on Sunday afternoon, with Drexel holding a slight 11-10-3 edge in the all-time series.  The Dragons won 1-0 in double overtime on Mar. 21, 2021 for its second straight win.  Towson's last win in the series came on Sept. 29, 2013, a 3-0 home victory.
 
MELENDEZ EARNS PRESEASON ALL-CAA HONORABLE MENTION
Riley Melendez was voted as a 2021 CAA All-Conference Honorable Mention in the preseason coaches poll.  Earning Second Team All-CAA in the spring, Melendez was a three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Week with 31 saves on the season, allowing just five goals in the first seven games.
 
NIA GOING FOR TOWSON SEASON RECORD
Nia Christopher, as of Oct. 21, is tied for ninth in all of Division I with 12 goals this season, also second in the CAA.  12 goals currently stand tied for third all-time in Towson single season history and is the highest Tiger single season goal tally since 2013: Emily Banes hold the Towson record with 15 goals during the 2013 campaign.
 
FORMERLY FANTASTIC FRESHMEN FOUR
In spring 2021, Towson placed four freshmen on the All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie Teams, the most all-conference players in a single season in program history.  Demi Pierre (M) and Riley Melendez (GK) earned All-CAA Second Team while Nia Christopher (F) and Phoebe Canoles (D) were All-CAA Third Team.
 
LAST TIME: TOWSON FALLS AT DELAWARE
Khori Banks's 28th minute goal for an early Towson lead was not enough as the Tigers fell at Delaware 2-1 on Thursday night.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Khori Banks: 1 G (28'), 2 shots
Towson goalkeeper:
--Riley Melendez (L): 2 GA
 
BLANK HAS NO BLANK SLATE
Jenna Blank may be going for some records during the 2021 campaign.  She has eight career goals in 54 games, including 32 starts at forward.
 
The senior has three career game-winning goals with the Black & Gold.  One more will make her tied for 13th all-time in Towson history.
 
Välkommen till Towson universitet
Towson sports two starters from Sweden: redshirt sophomore Demi Pierre, from Gävle, All-CAA Second Team midfielder in the spring, and Maja Hansson, from Sandviken, a sophomore who played for the U18 Swedish National Team.
 
In addition, Nia Christopher is also from outside the U.S., being a member of the Senior National Team of Bermuda.
 
TOWSON DUO NAMED CAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
With Towson's 3-0 victory over W&M on Oct. 3, two Tigers were honored with CAA weekly awards: Nia Christopher was the CAA Offensive Player of the Week with two goals while Riley Melendez was the CAA Defensive Player of the Week with seven saves in a shutout win.  It is the first time since Mar. 8, 2021 where Towson has earned two CAA weekly awards in the same period.
 
CHRISTOPHER EARNS CSN WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
With a combined four goals in two games, including a hat trick with a golden goal at Mount St. Mary's, Nia Christopher was recognized as the College Soccer News Women's Player of the Week on Sept. 9 along with her CAA Offensive Player of the Week honor.  Her performance led to two Towson victories, including a home win vs. Temple.
 
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1996 AMERICA EAST TITLE TEAM
2021 marks the 25th year since the Towson women's soccer team won its first league title as a program, winning the America East that season.  The Tigers needed back-to-back four-overtime games to win the tournament, capped by a 142nd minute goal by Christi Landi to defeat Delaware 2-1 and take the league title.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:
Drexel stands third in the CAA with 14.79 shots attempted per game.  Sophomore Delaney Lappin is the top offensive threat with four goals and two assists off 38 shots.  In goal is junior Miyuki Schoyen, who in 14 starts has a 77.3% save rate and 1.20 goals allowed average.