The Game: Towson (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Howard (0-0, 0-0 NEC)
When: Thursday, Aug. 18^th – 7 p.m.
Where: Greene Stadium – Washington, D.C.
Broadcast: None
Series: Towson leads 4-0
 
WASHINGTON – The Towson University women's soccer team begins the 2022 season, heading to our nation's capital of Washington, D.C. to play Howard on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.
 
Live stats will be available for the game on hubison.com.
 
Towson is coming off its first winning season since 2007, going 8-7-3 overall and 3-5-1 in the CAA last year.  Howard competes as an associate member of the Northeast Conference (NEC), finishing 6-5-3 overall and 5-3-2 in its league in 2021.
 
This is the first time where Towson and Howard meet on the pitch since Sept. 17, 2006, when the Tigers won 8-0 at home.  Towson has won all four meetings against the Bison all-time.
 
This is the first of two games for Towson against NEC opponents, including a game vs. St. Francis on Sept. 4.  Howard's next game against Elon will be against a CAA opponent.
 
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 14 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 Aademic Honor Roll.
 
LAST TIME: TOWSON FALLS AT UNCW IN OT
In the final game of 2021, Towson gave a challenge to the league's first place team, but fell in overtime at UNCW 1-0.
Top Towson offensive player:
--Nia Christopher: 2 shots, 2 SOG
Towson goalkeeper:
--Riley Melendez (L): 4 saves, 1 GA
 
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 is 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.  Her 110 saves stands 10th all-time in Towson history plus she has a career 1.09 goals allowed average, which currently is fifth 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:
Howard was predicted to finish fourth in the 2022 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll.  Sophomore forward Melea Early earned All-NEC Second Team as a freshman with eight goals and two assists last year.  Graduate student Alayah Hightower was the starter in goal last year, saving 81.9% of shots and having a 1.09 goals allowed average.