TOWSON, Md. – The 34^th season of Towson University women's soccer is set to open when the Tigers host Mount Saint Mary's Sunday night at Tiger Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and will be streamed on FloCollege.

All games at Tiger Field are free to attend for the public.

While head coach Katherine Vettori will have to replace all-league performers Riley Melendez, Maja Hansson and Demi Pierre, six starters return from the 2024 squad that went undefeated during the month of October – finishing that stretch with four wins and three ties, including three of the top four point producers: Sophie Thibeault (7 goals, 2 assists), Malin Bernt Schöps (4g, 1a) and Kale'a Perry (2g, 3a). Three other starters, midfielder Emma Levin  and defenders Brooke Birrell and Sydney Lineman, also return.

"It is probably the hardest working group we've ever had," said Vettori, who is beginning her eighth season at the helm. "I love this group. It is a positive locker room and they really like each other a lot. They compete in practice, but they are also honest with one another and give feedback without taking it personally."

Towson was picked to finish fourth in the 2025 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) North Division in the preseason coaches' poll. Starting this season, CAA women's soccer has been separated into two divisions, North and South. Each team will play all teams in its division plus four matches against the other division. The top three teams in each division will qualify for the 2025 CAA Championship.

FORWARDS
The Towson attack will feature Thibeault, Perry and Sydney Feiler.

Thibeault had a breakout sophomore season, leading the Tigers with 16 points. She scored a career-high three goals against Delaware State and scored twice in a win versus Elon.

Perry was named Third Team All-CAA in her first season at Towson– finishing tied for the team lead in assists with three. She led the CAA in shots on goal with 33.

"KP had not played for more than a year, so we are very pleased with how she is doing," Vettori said. "This spring, she took the weight room very seriously and she is in the best shape of her life. Athletically she can do things that other people cannot do. She and Sydney Feiler played on the same club team this summer and really developed on-field chemistry. "

Feiler appeared in 16 games a season ago in a reserve role.

Vettori indicated freshman Riley Matthews and Mount Saint Mary's transfer Luisa Navas Gonzalez will see significant playing time.

MIDFIELD
Vettori will have to replace Pierre, who played 89 games in a Towson uniform, and earned Third-Team All-CAA honors the last two seasons. Two starters return on midfield, Bernt Schöps and Levin.

Bernt Schöps became the first Towson Tiger selected to the CAA All-Rookie team since 2021. She finished second on the team in both goals (four) and points (nine). Levin played in all 19 matches last season during her freshman campaign - starting 16 times.

The other two spots will be occupied by redshirt freshman Sofia Rosenblatt and Campbell transfer Emely Rubio, who appeared in 32 matches in two seasons in Buies Creek. Rubio joined the Tigers roster for the spring semester.

"The spring was great for our midfield with so many changes as the four of them worked well together," Vettori said. "Malin brings energy and positivity. She is a high IQ player and a very good communicator on the field."

DEFENSE
Despite the loss of Hansson, a two-time all-league performer who started 80 games, the Tigers have veteran leadership on defense in Birrell and Linderman.

Birrell was one of six Tigers to play and start in all 19 matches a season ago. The Maryland transfer helped the defense average just 0.89 goals per game and also tied for the team lead in assists with three. Lindeman, who tore her ACL three games into her freshman season in 2022, brings 35 games of experience to the lineup.

"BB and Lindy are our captains this year," Vettori added. "They are both playing well and you like to have experience in the back. We have that."

Birrell and Linderman will be joined on the back end by Gracen Houck, who started 34 games at Morehead State the last two seasons. Like Rubio, Houck spent the spring semester at Towson.

Graduate student Emma Kirkpatrick and freshman Jaelyn White will be in the rotation. Kirkpatrick played 49 games in three seasons at Rhode Island. She was sidelined with an injury as a sophomore in 2022.

GOALKEEPERS
Replacing Melendez, the most decorated player in program history, will be redshirt sophomore Teagan Gardner.  Melendez started 85 career games – compiling a 42-21-21 record with a 0.84 goals against average. A two-time CAA Goalkeeper of the Year, she is the all-time leader in career shutouts with 36. In two seasons at Towson, Gardner has been on the field for 11 and a half minutes.

"Teagan is extremely athletic and makes some acrobatic saves," Vettori said. "To tell you what kind of teammate Teagan is. We were trying to redshirt her as a freshman in 2023. We were at William & Mary looking to clinch the regular season championship and leading 3-0 late in the game when one of our players ran into Riley and kneed her in the head. I am looking around to put a field player in the goal, but Teagan said she was ready to go. To have that self-sacrifice in that moment for 11 minutes of action in a 3-0 game says it all."

SCOUTING MOUNT SAINT MARY'S
This will be the 24^th matchup between Towson and Mount Saint Mary's with the Tigers holding a 20-3 advantage in the series. The Mountaineers went 6-9-3 a season ago and were picked to finish 12^th of 13 teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason poll. The Mount opened the 2025 season with a 5-2 loss to Delaware Thursday.