The Game: Towson (0-0) @ UMBC (0-0)
Place: UMBC Stadium
Time/Date: Feb. 28, 11 a.m.
Broadcast: AmericaEast.tv
 
BALTIMORE – 490 days since the last time the Tigers took the field, Towson University women's soccer is back.  The Tigers begin the 2021 spring season at local rival UMBC on February 28 at 11 a.m.
 
The game will be broadcast live on AmericaEast.tv from UMBC Stadium.  Live stats will be available through the UMBC website at umbcretrievers.com.  Fans will not be allowed to attend the game on the UMBC campus.
 
This is Towson's first game since the 2019 season.  The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the traditional fall season for 2020 and set up the 2021 spring season this year.  The Tigers last played on Oct. 27, 2019, a 2-1 victory at Charleston.
 
Towson's 2021 spring campaign will have eight regular season games, beginning with three non-conference contests.  This game is the season opener for both teams. 
 
Towson was 4-13-1 in 1-7 in the Colonial Athletic Association in the 2019 fall year while UMBC was 2-13-2 overall and 1-7 in the America East Conference.
 
In the all-time series, Towson leads 10-7 vs. UMBC, including winning the last two and being undefeated in the last nine.  Last time out, Towson defeated UMBC 1-0 on Sept. 5, 2019 at home off a 12th-minute goal by Justine Stoner.  UMBC's last win in the series came on Sept. 29, 1998, a 2-1 overtime win in Towson.
 
MILLER NAMED 2019 ALL-CAA
In 2019, Jacey Miller earned All-CAA Third Team at defender, one of just four freshmen in the league to earn all-conference honors.  The Auburn, Pa. native also was selected to the CAA All-Rookie Team.
 
Miller started all 18 games in 2019 at defender, playing over 1600 minutes.  She added a goal and assist on the offensive end.
 
LAST TIME: TOWSON COMES BACK TO BEAT CHARLESTON
Down one at the half, Towson used two second half goals to defeat Charleston 2-1 in the season finale in South Carolina.  Jenna Blank's game-winner in the 81st minute sealed the game.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Lexi Littlefield: 3 shots, 2 SOG, 1 G (46th minute)
Towson goalkeeper:
--Delaney Mitchell (W): 90 minutes, 4 saves, 1 GA
 
TIGER FIELD UPGRADED
Tiger FIeld, the home of Towson women's soccer, got some major upgrades during phase two of the Lower Fields Complex construction.  The field now has a new grandstand, press box and lighting system, plus has new concessions and restrooms.
 
The new lights will allow for women's soccer night games in the future, including the home opener vs. George Washington on March 11th.  Tiger Field is also home to Towson women's lacrosse.
 
BLANK HAS NO BLANK SLATE
Towson returns its leading scorer from the 2019 season, Jenna Blank, who earned five goals and two assists last season.  She has seven career goals in 31 games, including 24 starts at forward.
 
The junior has three career game-winning goals with the Black & Golf.  One more ties her for 12th all-time in Towson history.
 
Välkommen Till Towson Universitet
Towson sports two players from Sweden: sophomore Demi Pierre, from Gävle, played four games last season, including both goals in a victory over Mount St. Mary's, before missing most of the season due to injury, and Maja Hansson, from Sandviken, a freshman 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.
 
REPPING THE HOME STATE...
Towson keeps close roots to home with six players from the state of Maryland.  This includes two players from the home city of Baltimore: junior Riley Rumbley from Mercy H.S. and sophomore Phoebe Canoles from Perry Hall H.S., plus a third from Baltimore County, Danielle Maggio from Hereford H.S.  The other three from Maryland are Camryn Anderson from Columbia, Madison Carr from Perryville and Caroline Macdonald from Bethesda.
 
...AND ACROSS THE USA
Including Maryland, Towson's roster has representatives for nine different states, including three different time zones.  States represented include California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. 
 
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 (STATS FROM 2019):
UMBC, under second-year head coach Vanessa Mann, was predicted to finish 10th in the America East this year.  Senior midfielder Christina Corbi was the leading goal-scorer in 2019, putting five shots into the net.  Classmate Jade Wilkins was the primary goalkeeper, saving 74.8% of shots and having a 2.25 goals allowed average.