DOVER, Del. – The Towson University women's soccer team earned its highest single-game goal total of the year in a 6-0 shutout victory at Delaware State to close out non-conference play.
 
Towson (5-2-2) scored three goals in each half en route to the win over Delaware State (0-7).  This is Towson's best offensive performance since defeating Howard 8-0 on Sept. 17, 2006.
 
Key Stats:

• Towson outshot Delaware State 25-4 in the game, putting 20 shots (80%) on goal.  10 different Tigers had an attempt at the net, including nine having at least one shot on goal.
• Nia Christopher earned her second multi-goal game of the season, netting two in the 11^th and 58^th minutes off eight total shots.  Khori Banks also had two goals for her first-ever multi-goal contest, scoring in the 38^th and 76^th minutes.  Phoebe Canoles netted a shot in the 23^rd minute while Jasmine Hamid had a score in the 58^th minute.  Six different players earned assists: Canoles, Hamid, Sydney Cradle, Emily Kirkpatrick, Demi Pierre and Riley Rumbley.
• Towson earned the shutout with a pair of goalkeepers: Riley Melendez (5-2-2) had one save in the opening 70:11, with Delaney Mitchell finishing the game scoreless in 19:49.
• For Delaware State, four different players had shots, with Mary O'Conner having the lone attempt on goal.  Goalkeeper Eriona Shabani had the loss in goal despite 13 saves with six goals allowed.

Postgame Quotes:

• Towson head coach Katherine Vettori: "Great offensive performance, I'm happy so many players were involved in the scoring.  It is exciting that Riley Melendez and Delaney Mitchell combined for the shutout.  I'm very pleased with our efficient play, putting 20 of 25 shots on goal."

How It Happened:

• Towson had early chances on DSU as Jasmine Hamid was knocked down in the box for a penalty kick.  Nia Christopher chance in the fifth minute was saved by the keeper, then minutes later, another chance, this long range, from Alexandra Rush was also saved on a dive.
• Off a counter attack from a Riley Melendez save, Jasmine Hamid ran down the center of the field and placed a perfect through ball to Christopher.  Christopher finished the score on a kick from the left inside the right post to make it 1-0 Tigers in the 12^th minute.
• In minute 23, off another run down the field, Emily Kirkpatrick found Phoebe Canoles sprinting down the middle.  Canoles took aim long range and found her mark inside the left post for the 2-0 Towson.
• Riley Rumbley nearly added a goal in the 30^th minute after a couple of corner kicks, sending a nice shot towards the right post, but a DSU defender made the stop at the woodwork.  Minutes later, Towson kept the ball locked in the offensive zone, with Canoles finding Rush in the box, but the shot just went left.
• Towards the end of the half, Demi Pierre's pass towards the center was deflected off a defender to Khori Banks.  Banks lined up, shot and scored inside the left post to make it 3-0 Towson through the 37^th minute.  Towson took the 3-0 lead into halftime.
• Into the second half, Towson pushed again and threatened outside the box in the 53^rd minute.  A pass to Jenna Blank resulted in a save next to the right post, with a second effort header by Maja Hansson going wide.
• The 56^th minute saw Blank try again, making a shot to the left post, and being saved.
• Towson's pressure paid off in the 58^th minute as Sydney Cradle raced down the sideline and found Christopher on the run.  Christopher buried the shot left side long range to make it 4-0 Towson.  Right away, Towson kept on the attack as Jasmine Hamid got the ball and looked long range, scoring on the ground ball shot in the center to score, pushing the Tigers to lead 5-0.
• In the 76^th minute, Rumbley found Banks outside the box for a chance.  Banks scored again on a shot to the left post to make it 6-0.  Towson held the shutout for the six-goal victory.

Inside the Numbers:

• Towson earns its fifth victory, the most in season under head coach Katherine Vettori, in just its first nine games.
• Towson earned its fourth shutout of the season and second in the last three games.
• Nia Christopher now has nine goals on the season, leading the Colonial Athletic Association.
• This is the first time where multiple Tigers have scored goals in a game under Vettori.
• Several Tigers made their collegiate debut today: Janelle Deveney, Kendall Liermann and Krista Louro.

Next Game:

• Conference play begins on Sunday, Sept. 26 on Long Island when Towson challenges No. 23 Hofstra at 1 p.m.

- TowsonTigers.com –