HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Towson University women's soccer team put up a strong challenge to the top ranked team out of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), but fell to No. 14 Hofstra 2-0 on Long Island.
 
Towson (5-3-2, 0-1 CAA) kept within a goal of Hofstra (9-1, 1-0 CAA) nearly the entire game and had significant chances, but Pride goals in the 5^th and 84^th minutes got the home team the win in the CAA opener.
 
Key Stats:

• The first half was nearly even on shots with Towson's eight and Hofstra's 10, with the Pride outshooting the Tigers 21-13 in the game.
• Nia Christopher had over half of Towson's shots, tallying seven with two on goal.  Phoebe Canoles finished with two shots.
• In goal, Riley Melendez (5-3-2) had eight saves and two goals allowed in the defeat, having four saves in each half.
• For Hofstra, Miri Taylor scored each goal for the Pride unassisted.  Goalkeeper Skyler Kuzmich (9-1) notched the shutout with five saves.

Postgame Quotes:

• Towson head coach Katherine Vettori: "Our box defending and defending on set pieces were excellent today.  Unfortunate to have a penalty in the first half, and the second half goal is a fixable mistake.  Riley Melendez had a fantastic game, plus offensively we created chances and played hard until the end.  I am proud of the effort against a nationally ranked team as strong as Hofstra."

How It Happened:

• Towson got the first attempt in the game as Nia Christopher got a look in the third minute, but the attempt was wide.  The other way. A Hofstra corner was sent away, but a second chance effort resulted in a penalty kick attempt.  Miri Taylor converted in the left post as Hofstra led 1-0 in the fifth minute.
• The Tigers tried to counter with pressure on the offensive end in the following minutes, with shots from Phoebe Canoles and Christopher going wide.  Hofstra again countered, getting a couple of corners kicks, with Towson defending each.
• Minute 17 saw the Tigers draw a corner off a deflected shot from Christopher.  The corner found the head of Maja Hansson for the chance, but Skyler Kuzmich made the save.
• Christopher had some space ahead of the back line off a through ball in the 22^nd minute, but Kuzmich made the save on the long range attempt.
• Hofstra pushed in for a couple of minutes as it kept the ball in the offensive third for a couple of minutes.  Riley Melendez saved three shots in a span of four minutes to hold the deficit at one.
• Jenna Blank got an opportunity in the waning minutes of the first half on a corner kick, heading the ball just left of cage.  Hofstra led 1-0 at half.
• In half two, first chance came for Towson on a look in the 49^th minute from Alexandra Rush in the center, with the shot being saved.
• Holding off a few Hofstra corner kicks, Towson drew a free kick in the 61^st minute.  Rush curled the cross to Christopher in the box for the header, with Hofstra making the save.
• The play went back and forth in the midfield as neither side could pick up a strong offensive chance for several minutes.  The pace picked up in the 69^th minute off a saved shot by Melendez as Towson got down the field in the next couple of minutes.  Jasmine Hamid took aim in the center, but was stopped by Kuzmich.
• Hofstra had a barrage of shots in a span of two minutes from 77-79, with Melendez saving three.  Another chance went past Melendez, but Towson cleared out the ball before it came to the post.
• Taylor added a late goal for Hofstra after she took away a Towson pass.  Hofstra took the victory 2-0.

Next Game:

• Towson returns home for the first time in nearly a month as the Tigers take on William & Mary on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.

- TowsonTigers.com –