The Game: Towson (4-1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. Bucknell (3-2, 0-0 Patriot League)
When: Thursday, Sept. 8 – 7 p.m.
Where: Tiger Field – Towson, Md.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Series: Bucknell leads 7-4-1
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team will look to make it a perfect four-game homestand, hosting Bucknell on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. under the lights of Tiger Field.
All games at Tiger Field are free to attend for the public. In addition, the game will be streamed on FloSports. Visit https://flosports.link/3PiZj24 to view the full Colonial Athletic Association schedule and sign up today.
CAA representative Towson is riding a three-game winning streak, taking down Saint Francis 3-0 on Sunday night to stand at 4-1-1 overall. From the Patriot League, Bucknell fell at Youngstown State 1-0 on Sunday to be 3-2 overall.
Towson and Bucknell will meet for the 13th time and for the fourth time in five seasons. The two teams fought to a 1-1 draw on Aug. 22 last season in Lewisburg, the first stalemate in the series. Bucknell leads the all-time series 7-4-1.
Towson has four non-conference games left before the beginning of CAA play, all in the state of Maryland. The Tigers next head to Annapolis to take on Navy on Sunday at 6 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 16 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 TIME: TOWSON DOMINATES ST. FRANCIS
Towson outshot Saint Francis 17-6 and dominated the Red Flash from start to finish in a 3-0 home victory.
Top Towson offensive player:
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Jasmine Hamid: 2 G (9', 58'), 5 shots
Towson goalkeeper:
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Riley Melendez (W): SHO, 3 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 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 132 saves stand 10th all-time in Towson history plus she has a career 1.01 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:
Early in the season, Bucknell is the highest scoring team in the Patriot League at 1.6 goals a contest. Senior forward Rylee Donaldson is the leading scorer with three goals on 14 shots. The Bison have played two goalies each of the last two games with the team combining for a 0.80 goals allowed average.
