The Game: Towson Tigers (11-2-4, 4-1-3 CAA) vs. Elon Phoenix (9-5-2, 5-3 CAA)
Where: Tiger Field – Towson, Md.
When: Sunday, Oct. 23 – 1 p.m.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Series: Towson leads 4-3
 
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team will look to end the regular season on a high note as they take on Elon on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. at Tiger Field.
 
Towson has already clinched a spot in the CAA Tournament with their 6-0 win against Hampton last Sunday. The Tigers outshot the Lady Pirates 34-0 in the contest.
 
The Tigers are currently tied with the Phoenix for third place in the standings and can clinch the two seed and host the quarterfinals and semifinals with a win and a Northeastern or Monmouth win on Sunday.
 
Towson leads the all-time series 4-3 and are 3-1 all-time in games played in Towson. Last year the Tigers defeated the Phoenix 1-0 on a Jasmine Hamid penalty kick in the second half.
 
The Tigers will compete in the CAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 later this week. The quarterfinals will begin on Thursday, Oct. 27 with the time and opponent to be determined after the games on Sunday.
 
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 26 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 OVERWHELMS HAMPTON
Towson did not allow a shot in a 6-0 win against Hampton.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Phoebe Canoles: 2 G, 1 A
Towson goalkeeper:
--Riley Melendez: 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 166 saves stand 9th all-time in Towson history plus she has a career 0.87 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:
Elon comes to Towson at 9-5-2, 5-3 CAA on the year having won their last three games. Most recently the Phoenix took care of William & Mary 1-0 on Sunday. Elon got a goal in the 61^st minute, outshooting the Tribe 10-2 in the second half. Elon is 6-2-2 at home compared to 3-3 on the road in 2022. Ashlee Brehio leads the Phoenix with six goals and 12 points. Abby Fusca is second on the team with four goals and two assists for 10 points. In goal, McKenna Dalfonso has played most of the minutes allowing 19 goals (1.28 GAA) making 31 saves (.620 save percentage) with seven shutouts.