The Matchup: Towson (5-2-2, 0-0-0 CAA) @ No. 14 Hofstra (8-1-0, 0-0-0 CAA)
Place: Hofstra Soccer Stadium – Hempstead, N.Y.
Date/Time: Sunday, September 26, 1 p.m.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Live Stats: hofstrapride.com
 
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Towson University women's soccer team will begin CAA play in a big way, taking on No. 14 Hofstra on Long Island on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.
 
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.
 
Hofstra is currently ranked at No. 14 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, its highest ranking in program history.  In the preseason league polls, Towson was predicted to finish tied for eighth while Hofstra was predicted to get first.
 
Each team is playing in its CAA opener as all league teams will play their first conference game on Sunday.  Towson defeated Delaware State 6-0 last Sunday to complete non-league play to stand at 5-2-2 overall.  Hofstra has won its last five games, the last a 2-0 win over then #22 Princeton on Sunday, for an 8-1 overall record. 
 
With Towson and Hofstra playing at least once each season since the series' first game in 1995, the Pride lead all-time 24-3-1, taking the last nine games.  Last spring on Apr. 10 on Long Island, Hofstra won 7-2 to secure the CAA North Division title.  Towson's last win in the series came on Oct. 7, 2011 at home with a 3-2 victory.
 
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 Sept. 19, is tied for second in all of Division I with nine goals this season.  Nine goals currently stand tied for fifth 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 DEFEATS DSU 6-0
Towson scored three goals in each half to earn a 6-0 victory at Delaware State, the best offensive performance in a game since 2006.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Nia Christopher: 2 G (11', 58'), 8 shots, 7 SOG
Primary Towson goalkeeper:
--Riley Melendez (W): 0 GA in 70:11, 1 save
 
BLANK HAS NO BLANK SLATE
Jenna Blank may be going for some records during the 2021 campaign.  She has eight career goals in 44 games, including 30 starts at forward.
 
The junior has three career game-winning goals with the Black & Gold.  One more will make her tied for 12th 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.
 
REPPING THE HOME STATE...
Towson keeps close roots to home with seven players from the state of Maryland, including three players from the home city: Towson local Chiara Menegatti plus Baltimore natives senior Riley Rumbley from Mercy H.S. and redshirt sophomore Phoebe Canoles from Perry Hall H.S., as well as another from Baltimore County, Danielle Maggio from Hereford H.S.  The other three from Maryland are Camryn Anderson (Columbia), Danielle Campbell (Ellicott City) and Caroline Macdonald (Bethesda).
 
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:
Hofstra has shut out its last three opponents, led by junior goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich with a 0.46 goals allowed average and 83.3% save rate.  Senior forward Miri Taylor, the CAA Preseason Attacker of the Year, is the CAA points leader with 22 off eight goals and six assists while fifth year player Lucy Shepherd stands with five goals and seven assists.