The Game: Towson Tigers (10-1-2, 6-0-2 CAA) vs. UNCW Seahawks (4-6-2, 3-2-2 CAA)
When: Sunday, October 8 – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Tiger Field– Towson, Md.
Broadcast: Live stream on FloFC, live stats at TowsonTigers.com
Series: UNCW leads 16-3-1

TOWSON, Md. – Towson women's soccer will continue the home stretch of the regular season at home against UNCW on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers improved their unbeaten streak to eight games after a hard fought 0-0 draw at Monmouth on Thursday. Riley Melendez picked up her third straight shutout, stopping the only shot on goal she faced.  

The game will stream on FloFC and live stats will be available at TowsonTigers.com. Admission to all home games at Tiger Field are free to fans. The first 75 fans on Sunday will receive a free t-shirt as part of the team's Pink Game for cancer awareness.

This will be the 21^st matchup between the Seahawks and Tigers with UNCW leading the all-time series 16-3-1. Last season the two battled to a 0-0 draw in Wilmington.   

HISTORIC 2022 SEASON:
The Tigers are looking to build off a solid 2022 campaign that saw Towson pick up their first CAA Tournament win in program history, falling to eventual conference champion Hofstra in the semifinals.

Towson boasted the top defense in the CAA last year allowing just 0.55 goals against with 11 shutouts.
Towson also boasted their most wins since 2011 and the second most in program history.

HISTORIC 2022 2023 SEASON:
The Tigers continue to have a record-breaking campaign in 2023. Three different Tigers have won weekly CAA awards with Jasmine Hamid and Nia Christopher each earning offensive player of the week honors twice and Riley Melendez being named defensive player of the week once. Hamid and Christopher have also earned national recognition as well.

Christopher has cemented her legacy at Towson this season setting three different program records in goals scored, points and game-winning goals. As a team, the Tigers currently have their most points in a conference season with 20 and set the program mark for assists in a season.

BRICK WALL DEFENSE:
Melendez was a key part of a stalwart defense for the Tigers that allowed just 11 goals all season and seven in conference play. The senior from Virginia was named CAA Goalkeeper of the Year for her efforts that also landed her on the All-CAA First Team.

The Tigers will return all four starting defenders in seniors Sydney Cradle and Maja Hansson, graduate student Jacey Miller and sophomore Reese Borden. Hansson was named All-CAA Second Team in 2022 with Cradle and Borden recording goals from the backline.

RECORD WATCH:
Several Tigers are working their way up the record books with the chance to become the program leader in several career categories. Nia Christopher became the program leader in game-winning goals with 11 after her game winner against La Salle and the all-time goal scorer with 31 goals against Campbell. She broke the points record the very next game against Drexel and is now the only Tiger to record 80 points in a career.

Christopher is also fourth in shots with 185. The Bermuda native is behind current teammate Phoebe Canoles in all-time shots, with Canoles recording 192 shots. Jacey Miller has played in 77 career games and is just two games away from setting the program mark.  

Goalkeeper Riley Melendez is second in career shutouts with 25 and is chasing hall of famer Tina Steck in first with 28. Melendez is also top ten in saves (8^th, 203).

NEWCOMERS:
Towson will have newcomers suit up in the black and gold for the 2023 season, including West Virginia and Maryland transfer Julie Lynch. Lynch played in 16 games with 13 starts last season finishing second on the team in assists (3) and scored one goal from the midfield.

Paelyn Bayer, Maddy Hall, Sophie Thibeault, Payton Todd, Brooke Rienecker and Teagan Gardner will be making their collegiate debuts for the Tigers. Hall, Thibeault and Todd have local ties having played in the Baltimore metro area.

CIERRA'S ON THE CASE!:
Junior Cierra DiSabato had the opportunity to complete an internship with the New Jersey State Police Crime Scene Unit this past summer where she got real world experience. Some of her duties included observing a forensic anthropologist on bone cleanings and reconstruction, as well as joining detectives digging up bones from a cold case in the 90s and visiting a morgue.

COASTAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION OUTLOOK:
The Tigers were one of six schools to pick up a first-place vote. In addition, seniors Nia Christopher and Riley Melendez earned Preseason All-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) honors, as voted on by the coaches.

Monmouth was voted to win the league by the league's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team. The Hawks picked up six first-place votes and 124 total points, just edging out Northeastern with one first-place vote and 123 points.

Reigning CAA champion Hofstra picked up three first-place votes in third place, just ahead of the Tigers. Drexel, Elon and CAA newcomer Campbell were picked five through seven with the Dragons and Camels earning a first-place vote. William & Mary, UNCW, Stony Brook, Charleston, Delaware and Hampton rounded out the 13-team field.

Christopher and Melendez each picked up preseason All-CAA honors. Both Christopher and Melendez were named All-CAA First Team last season with Melendez being named CAA Goalkeeper of the Year. Classmate Jasmine Hamid was named Honorable Mention All-CAA after finishing third on the team in goals in 2022.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:
UNCW comes to Towson in the final CAA Tournament spot at 4-6-2, 3-2-2 CAA on the year in sixth place in the standings after a 1-0 win against Stony Brook on Thursday. The Seahawks wasted little time scoring just 23 seconds into the contest and holding off the Seawolves for the win. UNCW is 4-3 at home compared to 0-3-2 on the road this season. Kayla Burroughs leads the Seahawks on offense with three goals and three assists for nine points. Viktoria Hankova and Issy Bryant have also scored multiple goals with three and two respectively. Hanna Wise has played the majority of the time in net allowing 15 goals (1.28 GAA) with 39 saves (.722 save percentage).

UP NEXT:
The Tigers will kick-off their final road swing of the season starting with a game at Northeastern on Sunday, Oct. 15. Kick-off against the Huskies is slated for 12 p.m. on FloFC.