The Game: Towson Tigers (6-1-1, 2-0-1 CAA) at Campbell Camels (2-3-3, 0-1-2 CAA)
When: Sunday, September 17 – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Eakes Athletics Complex – Buies Creek, N.C.
Broadcast: Live stream on FloFC, live stats at GoCamels.com
Series: Campbell leads 2-1-0

TOWSON, Md. – Towson women's soccer looks to remain unbeaten in conference play when they travel to CAA newcomer Campbell on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers are coming off a hard fought 2-1 comeback win against Elon on Thursday. Phoebe Canoles and Jasmine Hamid scored nearly four minutes apart in the second half.      

The game will stream on FloFC and live stats will be available at GoCamels.com.

This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the Tigers and the Camels with Campbell leading the series 2-1-0. This will be the first meeting since 2011 where the Tigers took home a 2-1 win in Buies Creek.

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.

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 is currently tied for the program lead in career goals with 30. She became the program leader in game-winning goals with 11 after her game winner against La Salle.

Christopher also has 73 career points, good for second place all-time and is fifth in shots with 167. The Bermuda native is behind current teammate Phoebe Canoles in all-time shots, with Canoles recording 179 shots.

Goalkeeper Riley Melendez is second in career shutouts with 22 and is chasing hall of famer Tina Steck in first with 28. Melendez is also top ten in saves (8^th, 190).

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:
Campbell is coming off a 3-3 draw against Northeastern on Thursday night. The Camels had a 3-1 halftime lead before the Huskies battled back for the draw. Campbell is 2-1-1 at home this season and 0-2-2 on the road. Five different Camels have scored this season with Alyssa Tucker leading the way with two goals and an assist for five points. Kaleigh Backlund and Sage Dougherty have also scored twice. JLo Varada has seen the most minutes in net allowing nine goals (1.50 GAA) with 19 saves (.679 save percentage).

UP NEXT:
The Tigers will have the week off before returning home to take on Drexel on Sunday, Sept. 24. Kick-off with the Dragons is set for 1 p.m. The game will also serve as Senior Day with senior day ceremonies taking place pregame.