When: Sunday, September 1, 2024
Where: Tiger Field | Towson, Md.
Time: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
Team Records: Florida (2-0-2) vs. Towson (2-2-1)
Stream: FloFC
Series: First Meeting
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team welcomes the Florida Gators to Tiger Field on Sunday for the first meeting in program history.
 
Towson defeated Delaware State 9-0 on Thursday night to improve to 2-2-1. The Tigers got off to a fast start by scoring two quick goals to take an early lead en route to a 4-0 halftime advantage. Sophie Thibeault scored three consecutive goals in the second half before Sydney Feiler and Kendall Liermann each added late goal to pick up a 9-0 win.
 
HISTORIC 2023 SEASON:
The Tigers are looking to build off an excellent 2023 campaign that saw Towson pick up its first CAA Championship in program history, defeating Monmouth 2-1, which included a last-minute penalty save by Riley Melendez. Towson earned the one seed in the conference tournament and won just its third and fourth ever CAA Tournament games since joining the league in 2002. Towson boasted the top defense in the CAA last year allowing just 0.70 goals against with 11 shutouts.
 
Towson also boasted its most wins in a single season, picking up 15 as they went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Tigers went undefeated at home with a 9-0-1 record. Towson took home four of the six major CAA awards including Attacking Player of the Year (Nia Christopher), Midfielder of the Year (Jasmine Hamid), Goalkeeper of the Year (Riley Melendez) and Coach of the Year (Katherine Vettori).
 
NON-CONFERENCE PREVIEW:
The Tigers play new and familiar foes this year. Towson kicks off the season against Virginia in Charlottesville then heads down the road to play UMBC. The Black & Gold host St. John's in their home opener then welcome George Washington, before heading to Dover, Delaware to play Delaware State. Towson welcomes Florida then plays host to Maryland for the first time since 2004. The Tigers travel to Philadelphia to take on Penn before concluding non-conference play with a home match against Saint Joseph's.
 
BRICK WALL DEFENSE:
Riley Melendez was a key part of a stalwart defense for the Tigers that allowed just 14 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 for the second straight year.
 
The Tigers return two starting defenders from last season including All-CAA Third Team Maja Hansson. Towson also welcomes back junior defender Reese Borden who was tied for third on the team in assists last season with five, a career high.
 
Melendez has continued where she left off last season, making 5.60 saves per game, which ranks second in the CAA. The senior goalkeeper is third in the CAA in save percentage with an 82.4% mark.
 
RECORD WATCH:
Goalkeeper Riley Melendez is now the program leader in career shutouts with 30, surpassing Hall of Famer Tina Steck who had 28. Melendez is also top ten in saves in program history ranking sixth all-time with 263 saves.
 
She is also looking to pass former teammate Jacey Miller in most games played with 84, trailing by only 13. Demi Pierre is only one game away from being tied eighth all-time in most appearances in program history.
 
NEW FACES:
The Tigers welcome 12 new players this season, including seven transfers. Taylor Tolson (Coastal Carolina), Kale'a Perry (Lipscomb), Courtney Butlion (La Salle), Sydney Feiler (VCU), Hana Soliman (George Mason), Melissa Groseibl (Canisius) and Brooke Birrell (Maryland) join the Tigers. Anna Casler, Malin Bernt Schöps, Emma Levin, Jordan Baartman and Sofia Rosenblatt join the squad as first years.
 
COASTAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION OUTLOOK:
The Towson University women's soccer team was picked to finish in third place after receiving four first-place votes in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Poll. The Tigers were picked to finish in third place and received 123 points with four first-place votes while Monmouth was voted to finish in first and Hofstra in second.
 
Riley Melendez, Demi Pierre and Maja Hansson were all named to the 2024 Preseason All-CAA Women's Soccer Team. Graduate student midfielder Rebecca Groseibl was named All-CAA Honorable Mention.
 
SCOUTING FLORIDA
The Gators bring in a 2-0-2 record to Tiger Field. Florida started the year with a 2-0 win over Western Carolina. The Gators drew both North Florida and UCF in back-to-back matches. Florida most recently defeated Georgia State. Vera Bloom leads the Gators with two goals and four points while Njeri Butts leads the team in assists with two.
 
NEXT UP
The Tigers welcome Maryland to Tiger Field on Thursday, September 5th at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on FloFC.