The Game: Towson Tigers (9-1-1, 5-0-1 CAA) at Hampton Pirates (0-12, 0-6 CAA)
When: Sunday, October 1 – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Powhatan Field – Norfolk, Va.
Broadcast: Live stream on FloFC, live stats at HamptonPirates.com
Series: Towson leads 1-0

TOWSON, Md. – Towson women's soccer will open the final month of the season on the road at Hampton on Sunday, Oct. 1. The Tigers are currently on a six-game unbeaten streak having won their last six games to sit along atop the conference standings. Towson is coming off a 3-0 win against Stony Brook on Thursday night. Nia Christopher, Maja Hansson and Phoebe Canoles all scored with Hansson netting her first career goal in the win.

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

This will be just the second ever meeting between the two teams with Towson winning the first matchup 6-0 last season. The Tigers used a strong first half to shut out the Pirates in late October last year.  

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 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 181. The Bermuda native is behind current teammate Phoebe Canoles in all-time shots, with Canoles recording 190 shots.

Goalkeeper Riley Melendez is second in career shutouts with 23 and is chasing hall of famer Tina Steck in first with 28. Melendez is also top ten in saves (8^th, 202).

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:
Hampton comes into the Sunday matinee at 0-12, 0-6 CAA and are coming off a 9-0 loss to Elon on Thursday night. Sanaa Perry leads the Pirates with two goals and four points. Destiny Dixon, Madisyn Strange and Makayla Wade have also scored for Hampton. Alexis Deveaux has played most of the minutes in net for Hampton with a 5.72 GAA and 110 saves for a .621 save percentage.

UP NEXT:
The Tigers will continue their road swing at Monmouth on Thursday, Oct. 5. Kick-off against the Hawks is slated for 6 p.m. on FloFC.