LEWISBURG, Pa. – Battling a driving rain on Sunday afternoon, the Towson University women's soccer team nearly pulled out a win at Bucknell but got a 1-1 draw to stayed undefeated after two games.
 
After a back-and-forth stalemate in the first half, Towson (1-0-1) took the lead on a converted penalty kick by Phoebe Canoles. Bucknell (1-0-1) scored on its final chance in regulation with 38.2 seconds left to force overtime.  Towson peppered the goal with four chances in extra time, but left Lewisburg with a draw.
 
Key Stats:

• Though Bucknell outshot Towson 23-14, the shots on goal were much closer, with the Bison having a 10-8 advantage.
• Phoebe Canoles scored on a penalty kick in the 52^nd minute, sharing the team lead of four shots along with Nia Christopher.  Demi Pierre had two shots from off the bench.
• Riley Melendez (1-0-1) got the draw in cage, saving seven shots, including two in overtime, with one goal allowed.
• For Bucknell, Claire Mensi scored the equalizing goal in the 90^th minute, assisted by Kenar Gelman.  Goalkeeper Jenna Hall (1-0-1) had the draw with a goal allowed and nine saves.

Postgame Quote:

• Towson head coach Katherine Vettori: "I wish we could have gotten a win, but I'm proud of my team with all of the conditions today; they fought to the very end.  Defensively, we were very organized, but got hit on a crazy set piece at the end of regulation."

How It Happened:

• Bucknell served as the early aggressor in the game, picking up four corner kicks in the opening eight-and-a-half minutes of play.  Towson's defense held on the attempts, with the most dangerous coming o on a Rylee Donaldson ground ball shot, with Riley Melendez making the save.
• Towson picked up play as each side played physically in the rain in Lewisburg.  Phoebe Canoles got loose and looked for a ground ball shot to the middle, being saved by Jenna Hall.  Minutes later, another hard shot by Canoles was blocked in the 14^th minute.
• Both sides traded time inbetween the boxes as neither side could get a strong offensive possession.  Towson's best chance thus far in the game came in minute 31 as Jenna Blank, Nia Christopher and Canoles pushed on a fast break.  Canoles nearly got free, but Hall fell on the ball to end the threat.
• Bucknell countered and got a hard grounder on Melendez, with the keeper making the save.
• In the 40^th minute, Nia Christopher took a chance straight away from 20 yards out, sending the ball above the crossbar.  A final chance of the half came for Bucknell in the 43^rd minute as Kalli Wethern took a header off a corner kick, with Melendez blocking with her torso.  The two teams took a 0-0 score into halftime.
• Towson held off an early Bucknell attack of a few shots all going wide.  In the 51^st minute, Blank was taken down in the box to draw the penalty kick.  Canoles converted the PK right side to give Towson a 1-0 lead.
• Play intensified as both teams went quickly despite the constant rain.  A Bucknell chance ended with an offsides call, then Blank got free in the midfield and sprinted down for a chance at the corner, being saved.  Demi Pierre got a similar look a minute later from 25 yards out, again being saved as Towson led 1-0 with 16 minutes left.
• A couple of Bucknell long range attempts were saved by Melendez in the 77^th and 78^th minutes as Towson tried to close out.  Towson got down to offense and forced down the clock.
• Bucknell's last chance in the final minute saw Claire Mensi attempt a long range arc shot, which got past Melendez under the crossbar to tie the game with 38.2 seconds remaining, forcing the contest into overtime.
• Just past the opening minute of overtime, Camryn Anderson made a perfect feed between two defenders to Christopher, but a diving Hall blocked the ball on the shot attempt.
• Again Towson nearly took the win midway through the first OT off a Canoles free kick into the box.  Chiara Menegatti got a kick towards the corner post, but a diving Hall again made the save.  The two sides would go into a second overtime.
• Christopher kept leading the attack in overtime, drilling a ball from 20 yards out a minute into the final period, but the keeper making the stop.  Bucknell countered and sent its own long range shot towards cage, with Melendez making the save in the middle of the box.
• After holding off a Bucknell corner, Towson countered and broke away with Khori Banks and Christopher.  Christopher attempt towards the right post was saved.  Towson held off a final Bucknell break as the game ended in a draw 1-1.

Inside the Numbers:

• Towson stays undefeated in its first two games of the season for the first time since 2017.
• Phoebe Canoles has scored the first goal for Towson in each of the first two games.  She also converted her first-ever penalty kick as a Tiger.
• Several Tigers made their Towson debut today: Danielle Campbell, Cierra DiSabato, Ryann Leohner and Chiara Menegatti. 

Next Game:

• Towson returns to Tiger Field to begin a three-game homestand on Thursday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. against Navy.

- TowsonTigers.com –