CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Towson University soccer team took on the RV/23 Virginia Cavaliers to start the 2024 season. The Tigers (0-1-0) fell to the Cavaliers (1-0-0) 2-0 at Klöckner Stadium on Thursday night.
Towson fell behind midway through the first half, but the Tigers continued to battle until a late penalty kick goal gave the Cavaliers a 2-0 victory.
Key Stats vs Virginia:
How It Happened vs Virginia:
- The game started with both teams applying pressure in the first ten minutes.
- Riley Melendez made an early save to keep the score at zero.
- Kale'a Perry nearly gave Towson an early lead. She got through the defense and had her shot go off the top of the woodwork.
- Virginia continued to apply pressure, but Melendez made two saves to keep the Cavaliers off the scoreboard.
- Virginia would find the back of the net in the 34th minute to take a 1-0 lead.
- The Tigers would head into halftime trailing the Cavaliers by one.
- Brooke Birrell made a goal line clearance to keep the scoreline the same early in the second half.
- Melendez came up big again as she denied the Virginia attackers four times in the span of four minutes to keep the deficit to one.
- Rebecca Groseibl had her shot go wide right in the 67th minute.
- Krista Louro made an over-the-head goal line clearance to deny the Cavaliers in the 70th minute.
- Virginia doubled its lead on a penalty kick in the 85th minute.
- The Tigers fought to the end as Towson fell 2-0 in its season opener.
Inside the Numbers vs Virginia:
- Towson finished with three shots, including one on target.
- Riley Melendez finished with eight saves for the second time in a season opener.
Up Next:
The Tigers head down the road to Catonsville, Maryland to play UMBC on Sunday, August 18 at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
