TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer team will welcome former Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) rival Delaware to Tiger Field on Thursday, Aug. 28. This will be the 33^rd meeting between the schools with Delaware holding a 16-11-5 advantage. The last three meetings ended in tie scores. The match will be streamed on FloCollege, beginning at 6 p.m.  Admission to the game at Tiger Field is free.

When: Thursday, August 28
Where: Tiger Field | Towson, Md.
Time: 6 p.m.
Stream: FloCollege
Team Records: Towson (1-1-0) vs. Delaware (4-0-0)
Promotions: Pizza Bolis (while supplies last)
 
Towson opened the season with a 5-0 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Aug. 17  with redshirt sophomore Payton Todd scoring twice and Riley Matthews adding a goal and two assists in a game where nine Tigers had at least one point. Matthews, a freshman from Salisbury, Md., who produced three points in 44 minutes off the bench, was named CAA Rookie of the Week for her efforts.
 
Last Thursday, the Tigers traveled to Gainesville to take on the University of Florida. First half goals by Sydney Feiler and Kale'a Perry helped Towson stay even the Gators after 45 minutes. Florida scored twice during the second half – while Towson was down a player – for a 4-2 victory.
 
2025 OUTLOOK
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 Lindeman, also return.
Towson was picked to finish fourth in the 2025 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) North Division in the preseason coaches' poll – behind Stony Brook, Monmouth and Hofstra and ahead of Northeastern and Drexel. 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.

FRESH FACES
Towson welcomed nine new players this season, five freshman and four transfers: defenders Gracen Houck, (Morehead State) and Emma Kirkpatrick (Rhode Island), forward Luisa Navas Gonzalez (Mount St. Mary's) and midfielder Emely Rubio (Campbell). The four bring 181 games of collegiate experience from their previous institutions. Rubio and Houck spent the 2025 spring semester with Towson.

SCOUTING DELAWARE
Delaware opened the season with four consecutive victories - defeating Mount St. Mary's (5-2), Bucknell (2-1), George Mason (2-0) and Navy (1-0) during the first two weeks. The Blue Hens, who were 6-7-6 a year ago, were picked to finish seventh in the Conference USA preseason poll. Maggie Groh has opened her junior campaign in impressive fashion, notching three goals and three assists, while freshman goalkeeper Sophia Hall has 13 saves with two shutouts.

NEXT UP
The Tigers head to Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 31, to take on St. Joseph's. The Hawks are 0-3 to begin the season, including losses to Hofstra (2-1) and Drexel (2-0). St. Joe's hosts Rider on Thursday night.