WASHINGTON – The Towson University women's soccer team engaged in a grueling match at Howard to begin the 2022 season, breaking through in the 83^rd minute on a Phoebe Canoles goal to win 1-0 in our nation's capital.
 
Towson (1-0) held off Howard's (0-1) early attacks and pressured hard in the closing minutes of each half.  The Tigers saw a deflected pass to Canoles lead to the shutout victory.
 
Key Stats:

• Towson outshot Howard 14-10 in the game, including 8-4 in the second half.  The Tigers put eight shots on goal to Howard's six.
• Riley Melendez (1-0) earned the shutout in goal, saving six shots in cage in 90 minutes.
• Including her goal, Phoebe Canoles put four of her five shots on cage while Jasmine Hamid had five shots as well, putting two on goal.
• For Howard, four players had two shots each, including Zoe Moore having both on goal.  Kennedy Jones (0-1) got the defeat in goal with a goal allowed and seven saves.

How It Happened:

• Both teams looked to get their early footing in the first half, with Howard having the early looks.  The Bison got off two long range shots in the first eight minutes, with Riley Melendez making the save on each.
• In minute 13, Jasmine Hamid got the ball off a touch 18 meters out.  She fired a blazing shot, missing high.
• After some back-and-forth in the midfield, Phoebe Canoles pushed against the Howard back line, pressuring and getting hard shots off.  Attempts in the 19^th and 27^th minutes were each saved.
• Holding off a Howard two-shot push in the 28^th minute, Towson's reserves led the charge in the final five minutes of the first half.  A laser from Canoles missed high, then Khori Banks got loose but was stifled by a charging Kennedy Jones in goal.  Towson and Howard went into halftime deadlocked at zero.
• Towson had the first look of the second half in the 49^th minute as a feed to Chiara Menegatti led to a straight away shot to the right post, with the Howard keeper diving for the save.
• Melendez held off a Howard push on a corner kick, stopping a line drive shot by Kyra Bolden in the 55^th minute.  10 minutes later, another quick attack by Howard saw a cross to the middle of the box.  Adrienne Vaughn kicked off the ground ball off the first touch, with Melendez making the save.
• Towson got the train moving in the 71^st minute, going for long range shots.  Canoles blazed a shot to the center, saved by Howard, then shortly thereafter, Jasmine Hamid had a chance on a breakaway, also being saved by Jones.
• After keeping up the pressure, Towson broke through in the 83^rd minute as Canoles got the ball away from a Howard defender.  Toward the right side of the box, Canoles aimed and connected inside the left post for the goal, giving Towson a 1-0 lead.
• Hamid and Christopher nearly added insurance goals, but Hamid's attempt in the 84^th minute went wide while Christopher was tackled on the run before a shot got off.  Towson still held and took the 1-0 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Towson wins its season opener for the second straight season.  The Tigers are unbeaten in season openers the past three seasons, all shutouts.
• Riley Melendez earns her ninth solo shutout of her collegiate career.
• This was the second game-winning goal in Phoebe Canoles's collegiate career.
• Towson is 5-0 all-time vs. Howard.

Next Game:
Towson has its home opener on Sunday, Aug. 21 vs. La Salle at 7 p.m.  Admittance is free for all attendees.
 
- TowsonTigers.com –