The Game: Towson Tigers (8-2-3, 1-1-2 CAA) at College of Charleston Cougars (8-4-1, 2-1-1 CAA)
When: Thursday, Oct. 6 – 7 p.m.
Where: Ralph Lundy Field at Patriots Point – Charleston, S.C.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Series: Series tied 2-2-4                            
 
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team will begin their final road stretch of the regular season at Charleston on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.
 
Towson is coming off a tough 1-1 draw at Delaware on Sunday afternoon. Sydney Cradle scored her first career goal in the first half with a strike from 35 yards out to give Towson the lead at the break. However the Blue Hens found the equalizer just minutes into the second half, as both teams fought rainy conditions to a draw.
 
The Tigers and Cougars will be meeting for the ninth time in the all-time series with the series tied 2-2 with four draws. The two battled to a 2-2 draw in Towson last October.
 
Towson will have their final road contest of the year at UNCW on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.
 
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 23 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 DELAWARE
Towson battled rain and a tough Delaware side to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Sydney Cradle: 1 G, 1 SOG
Towson goalkeeper:
--Riley Melendez: 5 SV, 1 GA

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 155 saves stand 9th all-time in Towson history plus she has a career 0.93 goals allowed average, which currently is second all-time in program history.
 
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:
Charleston comes into the contest at 8-4-1, 2-1-1 CAA on the year and are in a tie for third place in the CAA standings. The Cougars are unbeaten in their last three contests including a 2-2 draw against William & Mary on Sunday. Grace Powell leads the Cougars with eight goals and two assists for 18 points. Mary Alexander (4 G, 3 A) and Faith Slimmer (3 G, 5 A) are also in double digit points, each with 11. Savannah Barron has seen most of the action in net with nine starts and 12 appearances. She has allowed 10 goals (1.18 GAA), making 29 saves (.744 save percentage).