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photo: Japhet Chukwuma

Towson Women’s Soccer Battles Maryland on Thursday Night

When: Thursday, September 5, 2024
Where: Tiger Field | Towson, Md.
Time: Thursday- 7:00 p.m.
Team Records: Maryland (2-2-2) vs. Towson (2-2-2)
Stream: FloFC
Series: Maryland Leads 7-0-2

TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's soccer continues non-conference play against the Maryland Terrapins on Thursday night at Tiger Field. Both teams come into the match with a 2-2-2 record.

The Tigers are coming off a 1-1 draw against Florida to pick up their first result against an SEC opponent in program history. The teams went back and forth in the first half, but couldn't find the back of the net. The Gators scored to open the second half to take the lead, then Florida had its goalie sent off in the 63rd minute. The Tigers would find their equalizer in the dying seconds when Maja Hansson scored her second career goal.

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 4.83 saves per game, which ranks second in the CAA. The senior goalkeeper is third in the CAA in save percentage with an 80.6% 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 264 saves.

She is also looking to pass former teammate Jacey Miller in most games played with 84, trailing by only 12. Demi Pierre is now tied for fourth all-time in most appearances in program history with 76.

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 voted 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.

THINGS YOU LOVE TO SEE
Midfielder Malin Bernt Schöps was named CAA Co-Rookie of the Week on Monday afternoon. Bernt Schöps totaled five points this week to give Towson its first CAA Rookie of the Week since spring 2021, when Demi Pierre earned the honor. The midfielder started the week by scoring her first two collegiate goals in Towson's 9-0 victory against Delaware State. She then tallied her first assist of the season to set up Maja Hansson's game tying goal versus Florida in the final seconds to help Towson secure its first result against a SEC opponent.

SCOUTING MARYLAND
The Terrapins bring in a 2-2-2 record into Thursday's match. Kesley Smith leads Maryland with two goals and four points on the season while Emily Lenhard leads the team in assists with two. The Terrapins opened the season with a 2-0 win over Lehigh, then drew 2-2 with Stony Brook. Maryland dropped its next match to American 2-0, then tied James Madison 1-1. The Terrapins defeated Navy 1-0 and most recently fell to George Mason 3-2 in their last match.

NEXT UP
The Tigers travel up to Philadelphia to take on Penn on Sunday, September 8th at 2 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.