The Matchup: Towson (3-1-2, 0-0-0 CAA) vs. George Washington (0-4-2, 0-0-0 A10)
Place: Tiger Field – Towson, Md.
Date/Time: Thursday, September 9, 7 p.m.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Live Stats: towsontigers.com
 
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team's last home game in the month of September will be a rematch from the spring as the Tigers host George Washington on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.
 
All Towson women's soccer games at Tiger Field are free to attend.  Due to Towson University parking rules, fans in attendance who do not have a campus parking pass will need to use the ParkMobile app to park in Unitas Stadium overflow lots before 8 p.m.  Download the app on your mobile device and use the code 31092St any time to be able to park in all Unitas Stadium overflow lots after 6 p.m. for this game (Note: the parking code will be different each game).
 
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.
 
Towson will be playing its last non-conference home game in this contest.  The next three games, including the final two non-league contests, are on the road.  Towson's next home game after Thursday will be on October 3rd against William & Mary.
 
Colonial Athletic Association member Towson is unbeaten in its last three games, including a 3-2 golden goal victory on Sunday at Mount St. Mary's to enter Thursday at 3-1-2.  George Washington, out of the Atlantic 10, has fallen in its last three games, last a 2-0 loss to American on Sunday, to stand at 0-4-2.
 
All-time, these two teams will meet for the 10th time on Thursday.  GW, which leads the series 6-2-1, is unbeaten in the last three meetings, winning the previous game 2-1 in Towson on March 11, 2021.  Towson's last win in the series came on Sept. 18, 2016, a 2-0 victory at home.
 
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 IS NICE
Nia Christopher, member of the Bermuda National Team, is currently the leader in goals in the CAA with six, averaging one per game.  She earned Towson's first hat trick since Sept. 2019 with three goals, including a golden goal, at Mount St. Mary's on Sept. 5.
 
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 EARNS GOLDEN GOAL AT MSM
After each team scored in each half, a golden goal in the 100th minute by Nia Christopher sent Towson to a 3-2 victory at Mount St. Mary's.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Nia Christopher: 3 G (20', 70', 100'), 9 shots
Towson goalkeeper:
--Riley Melendez (W): 2 GA, 3 saves
 
BLANK HAS NO BLANK SLATE
Jenna Blank may be going for some records during the 2021 campaign.  She has eight career goals in 43 games, including 30 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 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:
George Washington, predicted to finish fourth in the A10 in the preseason coaches poll, has scored five combined goals in its first six games, including two from senior midfielder Sammy Neyman, who also leads the team with 15 shots.  Redshirt junior Tamaki Machi has played every minute in goal, having a 2.55 goals allowed average and 69.2% save rate.