The Matchup: Towson (8-6-3, 3-4-1 CAA) at UNCW (10-3-1, 6-2 CAA)
Place: UNCW Soccer Stadium – Wilmington, N.C.
Date/Time: Sunday, October 31, 12 p.m.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Live Stats: uncwsports.com
 
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Towson University women's soccer team will look to conclude the CAA regular season in a big way, heading to North Carolina to take on UNCW, the league's first-place team, on Sunday, Oct. 31 at noon.
 
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.
 
Towson is still in contention for a spot in the CAA Tournament and can get in with a win vs. UNCW plus a Northeastern loss and an Elon non-win.  All 10 CAA teams will play on Oct. 31 at noon on the final day of the league regular season.
 
Towson snapped a three-game winless streak on Oct. 24 with a 2-1 home victory over Drexel to be 8-6-3 overall and 3-4-1 in the CAA, being in sixth place with 10 points.  UNCW had a three-game winning streak end on Oct. 28 with a 3-2 overtime road defeat to Charleston, still holding first place in the league at 6-2 in the CAA, for 18 points, and 10-3-1 overall.
 
This will be the 20th all-time meeting between Towson and UNCW.  The Seahawks have won the last two meetings, including 1-0 on Oct. 6, 2019 in Towson the last time they met.  Towson's last win in the series came at home on Oct. 15, 2017, a 1-0 victory off a 20th minute Maddie Bove goal.
 
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 eighth in all of Division I with 13 goals this season, also second in the CAA.  13 goals currently stand 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
After a scoreless first half, Towson netted two goals in the final period to win its final home game of the year 2-1 vs. Drexel.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Nia Christopher: 1 G (71'), 1 A, 4 shots
Towson goalkeeper:
--Riley Melendez (W): 5 saves, 1 GA
 
BLANK HAS NO BLANK SLATE
Jenna Blank may be going for some records during the 2021 campaign.  She has nine career goals in 55 games, including 33 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:
UNCW ranks second in the CAA in each most goals scored and fewest goals allowed.  Ranking third in the league in total points, fifth year forward Audrey Harding has earned eight goals and seven assists in 12 games played.  In goal is freshman Kaylie Bierman, who has a 0.88 goals allowed average and 83.1% save rate.