The Game: Towson (1-0, 0-0 CAA) vs. La Salle (1-0, 0-0 A10)
When: Sunday, Aug. 21
st – 5 P.M.
(TIME CHANGE)
Where: Tiger Field – Towson, Md.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Series: La Salle leads 4-0
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team is ready for the 2022 home opener, hosting La Salle on Sunday, August 21 at 5 p.m. at Tiger Field.
All games at Tiger Field are free to attend for the public. In addition, the game will streamed on FloSports. Visit https://flosports.link/3PiZj24 to view the full Colonial Athletic Association schedule and sign up today.
Each team is coming off a season-opening victory on Thursday. Towson defeated Howard 1-0 in Washington, D.C. while La Salle won at Seton Hall 1-0. In 2021, Towson finished 8-7-3 overall while La Salle was 6-9-2 overall.
This is the first meeting between Towson and La Salle since Sept. 1, 2002, when the Explorers won 4-0. La Salle has won all four meetings.
Towson is set to play three Atlantic 10 opponents this season, including its next two games against La Salle and George Washington. Last season, Towson was 2-0 against A10 teams, including victories against GW and St. Joseph's. This is La Salle's lone game against a Colonial Athletic Association opponent this year.
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 DEFEATS HOWARD 1-0
In a back-and-forth opening game, Towson went ahead on an 83rd minute goal by
Phoebe Canoles to win at Howard 1-0.
Top Towson offensive player:
--
Phoebe Canoles: 1 G (83'), 5 shots, 4 SOG
Towson goalkeeper:
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Riley Melendez (W): SHO, 6 saves
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 116 saves stand 10th all-time in Towson history plus she has a career 1.05 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:
La Salle is predicted to finish sixth in the Atlantic 10 preseason coaches poll. Sophomore forward Haley Gschrey scored the team's lone goal in the victory vs. Seton Hall, her third career goal for the Explorers. Sophomore Michaela Auguadro had a shutout in goal, saving three shots.
