The Game: Towson Tigers (9-2-4, 2-1-3 CAA) vs. William & Mary Tribe (6-5-4, 2-1-3 CAA)
When: Thursday, Oct. 13 – 7 p.m.
Where: Tiger Field – Towson, Md.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Series: William & Mary leads 13-3-2
 
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team will conclude the regular season with three home games, starting with a showdown with William & Mary on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
 
The Tigers are coming off a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon at UNCW. Nia Christopher had a couple of good chances but could not convert as the Tiger defense and Riley Melendez shutdown the Seahawks on Sunday.
 
Towson and William & Mary will be meeting for the 19^th time with the Tribe leading the all-time series 13-3-2. Towson won the previous matchup last October, 3-0 scoring all three goals in the final 12:01 of the game to take the victory.
 
The Tigers will continue their home stand on Sunday, Oct. 16 when they host Hampton at 1 p.m. The match will also serve as senior day where Towson will honor seniors Demi Pierre, Phoebe Canoles, and Jacey Miller pregame.
 
CHRISTOPHER - CAA PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nia Christopher was honored as the CAA Preseason Player of the Year, voted on by the league's head coaches.  Christopher was second in the CAA last season with 13 goals, including five game-winners.
 
CANOLES - PRESEASON ALL-CAA TEAM
Team captain Phoebe Canoles earned a spot on the Preseason All-CAA Team.  The 2021 All-CAA Third Team midfielder started all 18 games last year, scoring three goals and four assists.
 
In addition, team captain Jacey Miller was CAA Preseason Honorable Mention, playing all 1,637 minutes on the back line in 2021.
 
CHRISTOPHER GOING FOR TU GOALS RECORD
Nia Christopher stands with 24 career goals in her Towson career, including 13 as a sophomore in 2021.  The Bermuda National Team forward is going for the record currently held by Emily Banes, who scored 30 goals from 2008-13.
 
Välkommen till Towson universitet
Towson sports two starters from Sweden: redshirt junior Demi Pierre, from Gävle, All-CAA Second Team midfielder in spring 2021, and Maja Hansson, from Sandviken, a junior 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.  She competed with Bermuda in the CONCACAF qualifiers, netting a hat trick against the Cayman Islands.
 
2021-22 USC COLLEGE TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD
For the fourth straight year, Towson was honored with the USC College Team Academic Award for having a team GPA of 3.0 or better.  Towson had a 3.31 GPA during the 2021-22, placing 16 on the CAA Academic Honor Roll.
 
LAST MATCH: TOWSON DRAWS WITH UNCW
Towson had to battle for a 0-0 draw at UNCW on Sunday afternoon.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Nia Christopher: 2 SH, 2 SOG
Towson goalkeeper:
--Riley Melendez: 2 SV, SHO

RECORD-BREAKING DAY
The Tigers had a record setting day against Delaware State in their 7-0 win. The team tied the program record for most non-conference win with six. The Tigers also set the program record for longest win streak at five games.
 
Nia Christopher set the program record for most goals in a single game with five, while also moving into sixth place on the all-time scoring list.

tOP SCORERS ARE BACK
Fresh off its first winning season since 2007, Towson returns is top five goal scorers from last year: Nia Christopher (13), Khori Banks (4), Jasmine Hamid (3), Phoebe Canoles (3) and Demi Pierre (2).  Christopher's 13 goals are third all-time in program single season history.
 
In addition, Hamid (6), Canoles (4) and Pierre (3) were the top three Tigers in assists last year.  Hamid's six assists tied for seventh in Towson single season history.
 
RILEY READY
Riley Melendez is a two-time All-CAA goalkeeper in as many seasons with the program.  She played all but 20 minutes in the cage in 2021.  Her 163 saves stand 9th all-time in Towson history plus she has a career 0.89 goals allowed average, which currently is second all-time in program history.
 
Melendez earned CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors on October 10 after posting a pair of shutouts against Charleston and UNCW. Melendez made four saves against the Cougars and two against the Seahawks for her eighth and ninth shutouts of the year.
 
FIVE SPOT IN THREE STATES
Towson has five players each from three different states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the home state of Maryland.
 
Two Maryland natives reside in Baltimore County: sophomore Chiara Menegatti went to Towson High while Phoebe Canoles attended Perry Hall High.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:
William & Mary comes into the match at 6-5-4, 2-1-3 CAA and are in a three-way tie for fifth place in the conference with Towson and Elon. Last time out, the Tribe tied Monmouth 2-2 on Sunday. W&M took a 2-0 lead, but the Hawks found a pair of second half goals to earn the draw. Ivey Crain leads the Tribe with eight goals and 21 points. Elaina Longjohn is also in double digits in points with 12 on four goals and four assists. Zoe Doughty has seen the most action in goal, playing and starting in 14 games. Doughty has given up 17 goals (1.26 GAA) with 51 saves (.750 save percentage).