The Matchup: Towson (1-1-2, 0-0 CAA) @ Drexel (1-2, 0-0 CAA)
Place: Vidas Field – Philadelphia, Pa.
Game: March 21, 12 p.m.
Broadcast: FloSports.tv/NBC Sports Philadelphia+ ($)
Live Stats: drexeldragons.com
 
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson women's soccer team is ready to start league play on the road, taking on Drexel on Sunday, March 21 at noon in Philadelphia.
 
The game will be broadcast online on FloSports.tv and NBC Sports Pennsylvania +, with each requiring a subscription to watch.  Live stats will be available on drexeldragons.com.
 
This spring season, the CAA is split into north and south divisions, with teams in each division competing against each other.  The top two teams in each division will compete in the CAA Tournament at Towson from April 15-17, 2021.
 
This is the CAA opener for both teams.  Towson won its first-ever game against James Madison 2-0 on Sunday, a non-conference contest due to the division rules this spring season, to enter CAA play at 1-1-2 overall.  Drexel will play its first CAA game on Sunday at 1-2 overall, coming off a 1-0 loss to La Salle back on Feb. 28.
 
Longtime league rivals, Towson and Drexel are tied in the all-time series at 10-10-3.  Drexel is unbeaten in the last six games, including a 2-0 victory in Philadelphia on Oct. 10, 2019.  Towson's last win in the series came on Sept. 29, 2013, a 2-0 home win.
 
The remainder of Towson's games in the regular season will be conference contests.
 
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 PUSHES TO DRAW AT ST. JOE'S
Dominating possession nearly from start to finish, Towson scored two second half goals en route to a 2-0 non-league victory over James Madison, the first program victory over the Dukes.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Demi Pierre: 2 assists, 1 SOG
Towson goalkeeper:
--Riley Melendez (W, SHO): 0 GA, 2 saves
 
FEAR THE FRESHMEN
Towson's freshmen have been stellar to start the 2021 spring campaign.  Goalie Riley Melendez sports a 0.68 goals allowed average.  Nia Christopher is the team's leader in shots with 10, putting eight on goal, Khori Banks and Alexandra Rush have a goal each and Demi Pierre has two assists.
 
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.
 
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 eight career goals in 34 games, including 26 starts at forward.
 
The junior has three career game-winning goals with the Black & Gold.  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, including both goals in a victory over Mount St. Mary's, before missing most of the year 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.
 
PIERRE EARNS CAA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
After Towson 2-0 defeat of James Madison, Towson redshirt freshman Demi Pierre was chosen the CAA Rookie of the Week.  Pierre assisted both goals, to Danielle Maggio and Jenna Blank, in the victory.  Towson has four weekly honors this year, including another Rookie of the Week for Alexandra Rush and two Defensive Player of the Week honors for Riley Melendez.
 
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 is tied for the least amount of games played this season among North Division teams.  The team's two goals have been scored by senior defender Maggie Daeche and redshirt freshman midfielder Anna Salvucci.  In goal is sophomore Miyuki Schoyen, a Salisbury, Maryland native, with a 1.16 goals allowed average and 72.7% save rate.