TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team closed out the 2021 home season in style, scoring twice in the second half to earn a 2-1 victory over Drexel.
 
After a scoreless first half, Jenna Blank scored her first goal of the season in the 53^rd minute for Towson (8-6-3, 3-4-1 CAA).  Following Drexel (5-7-3, 1-4-2 CAA) converting a penalty kick, Nia Christopher scored in the 71^st minute as Towson held for the win.
 
Key Stats:

• Drexel outshot Towson in the game 15-9, with the second half being much more even with the Dragons leading 7-6.
• Jenna Blank earned her first goal of the season, assisted by Nia Christopher, while Christopher earned goal #13 on the year with an assist from Jasmine Hamid.
• Christopher led all players in shots with four, putting a pair on goal, while Hamid had two shots.
• The win went to Riley Melendez (8-6-3), who had five saves and one goal allowed.
• For Drexel, Gwyn Godin converted the penalty kick for her first goal of the year.  Goalkeeper Myuki Schoyen (5-7-3) got the loss with two saves and two goals allowed.

Postgame Quote:

• Head Coach Katherine Vettori: "I'm very proud of the hard work we put in today, especially defensively, Riley [Melendez] and the back line kept everything tight back there.  That first goal from Jenna [Blank] to Nia [Christopher] to Jenna was beautiful, and a great ball from Jasmine [Hamid] to Nia to get us back ahead."

How It Happened:

• Drexel was the early aggressor, putting three shots on goal in the opening 3:10, as Riley Melendez saved all three.  Towson held off further Drexel attacks for the following 12 minutes.
• Jasmine Hamid lined up for a rocket shot in the 14^th minute, missing wide left.  A Drexel counterattack resulted in a corner kick, sending a shot right.
• Towson held off another Drexel push in the 24^th minute, blocking two shots and clearing away a corner kick.
• The Tigers had some late momentum with shots by Hamid and Sydney Cradle, but the two sides went into the half tied at zero.
• Towson picked up the pace in the second half, quickly paying dividends.  Following a counter off a corner kick, Jenna Blank ran down with Nia Christopher, passing to each other.  Blank shot from right to left and scored inside the left post to make it 1-0 Towson in the 53^rd minute.
• Following some back-and-forth play, a handball in the box set up a penalty kick for Drexel.  Gwyn Godin converted top left to tie the score 1-1 in the 62^nd minute.
• The 65^th minute saw Towson get space on the offensive end as Christopher got free past the defensive line.  Miyuki Schoyen made a 1-on-1 save, then a second chance attempt by Alexandra Rush was saved as well.
• Not long after a Drexel yellow card, Hamid put a through ball to Christopher in the 71^st minute.  Christopher placed the ball inside the left post for the goal, making it 2-1 Towson.
• Towson held against any further Drexel pushes, including on a couple of late corners in the 84^th and 86^th minute, to win 2-1.

Inside the Numbers

• Towson earns its first eight-win season since 2013, when the Tigers were 8-10-1.  Towson is on-pace for its first winning season since 2007.
• The team's victory over Drexel snaps a seven-game winless streak against the Dragons dating back to 2013.
• Nia Christopher has 13 goals this season, putting her alone for third all-time in Towson single season history.  She also has 14 career goals, tying her for 10^th all-time in Towson history with Tracy Zettle, who had 14 goals from 1992-95.  It is also Christopher's sixth game-winning goal, tying her for fifth all-time in Towson history.
• Riley Melendez earned her 10^th career victory today.

Next Game:
Towson returns to Tiger Field for the final regular season home contest as the Tigers take on Drexel on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
 
- TowsonTigers.com –