Perry Scores, but Towson Falls to Hofstra 2-1 in CAA Opener
Towson women’s soccer opened Coastal Athletic Association play with a 2-1 road loss to Hofstra on Sunday afternoon at Captains Field in Hempstead, New York. Kale’a Perry scored the Tigers’ lone goal, but a Hofstra penalty kick late in the first half ultimately provided the difference. All three goals came before halftime as Towson fell to 3-4-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
The final score did not tell the entire story of the match. Towson outshot Hofstra 17-7 overall and dominated the second half with a 12-1 advantage in shots. The Tigers also played the final 10 minutes with a player advantage after Hofstra’s Jessica Martin received her second yellow card, but Towson could not produce the tying goal.
Hofstra Strikes Early
Towson found itself playing from behind almost immediately after Hofstra opened the scoring just 3:43 into the match. The Pride generated the opportunity from an early corner kick, eventually getting the ball to Emma Johnson for her third goal of the season. Marika Svensson received the assist as Hofstra grabbed a 1-0 advantage before the Tigers had an opportunity to settle into the conference opener.
Towson did not allow the early deficit to dictate the remainder of the first half. The Tigers began generating pressure of their own and found the equalizer less than 12 minutes later. Perry provided the finish on an impressive sequence that started deep inside Towson territory.
Jaelyn White moved the ball toward midfield before Sophie Thibeault redirected it around a pair of Hofstra defenders. Perry used her speed to break behind the Pride defense and immediately recognized that Hofstra goalkeeper Ava O’Malley had come well off her line. Perry calmly chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net in the 16th minute, tying the match at 1-1.
The goal was Perry’s third of the season and continued an impressive trend for the Towson forward. Perry has now scored in Towson’s conference opener in consecutive seasons. White and Thibeault were each credited with assists on the play, giving both players their second assists of the season.
Penalty Kick Puts Towson Behind
The Tigers remained even with Hofstra for most of the remainder of the first half, but another costly sequence changed the match in the 35th minute. Hofstra was awarded a penalty kick, giving Amy Meadows an opportunity to restore the Pride’s advantage. Meadows converted by sending her attempt opposite the direction of Towson goalkeeper Keagan Williams to give Hofstra a 2-1 lead.
Towson head coach Katherine Vettori pointed to her team’s first-half decision-making as a significant factor in the loss. She noted that Towson could not afford to surrender penalties and praised Perry for recognizing the goalkeeper’s positioning on the Tigers’ goal. Vettori was much more pleased with Towson’s effort after halftime, when the Tigers controlled possession and created the overwhelming majority of the scoring opportunities.
Towson entered halftime trailing 2-1 despite remaining within striking distance. Hofstra held a 6-5 advantage in first-half shots, but the Tigers completely flipped the match statistically after the break. The problem for Towson was turning that pressure into another goal.
Tigers Control the Second Half
Towson came out aggressively in the second half and spent much of the final 45 minutes attacking Hofstra’s defense. The Tigers outshot the Pride 12-1 after halftime and forced Hofstra into defending its one-goal advantage for extended stretches. Five of Towson’s second-half shots were on target, but the Tigers could not get another attempt past the Hofstra goalkeeper.
Perry remained at the center of Towson’s offensive attack throughout the afternoon. She finished with a game-high seven shots, including five on goal, meaning she accounted for five of Towson’s six total shots on target. Emely Rubio added four shots, while Emma Levin and Paelyn Bayer recorded two apiece.
Towson finished the afternoon with a 17-7 advantage in total shots and a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. The Tigers entered the match as one of the more active shooting teams on their schedule and are averaging 17 shots per game through their first nine contests. Towson has attempted 153 shots compared with only 87 for its opponents this season, but the Tigers and their opponents have each scored 11 goals.
Those numbers illustrate one of the biggest areas Towson will need to improve as conference play continues. The Tigers have consistently generated opportunities and territorial pressure, but turning those chances into goals will be important in close CAA matches. Sunday’s loss was a clear example, with Towson holding a 10-shot advantage without getting the result.
Late Red Card Gives Towson Another Opportunity
Towson received another chance to find an equalizer late in the match when Hofstra was reduced to 10 players. Martin received her first yellow card in the 79th minute and was booked again only 92 seconds later. The second caution resulted in a red card and forced Hofstra to finish the match shorthanded.
That left Towson with approximately 10 minutes to attack with a player advantage. Hofstra, however, protected its penalty area and prevented the Tigers from producing the goal they needed. The Pride held on through the closing minutes and secured the 2-1 conference victory.
The match became increasingly physical late, with Hofstra receiving three yellow cards in addition to the red card. Towson was called for 12 fouls compared with 17 for Hofstra. The Tigers remained aggressive until the final whistle but could not capitalize on their late numerical advantage.
Perry Continues Strong Start
Despite the loss, Perry continued to establish herself as Towson’s leading offensive threat. The goal against Hofstra gave her three goals and seven points through nine matches, both team highs. She has attempted a team-leading 29 shots with 14 reaching the target.
Perry has started all nine matches and has become one of the central pieces of Towson’s attack. Her ability to get behind Hofstra’s defense directly created Sunday’s goal, while her awareness allowed her to recognize that the goalkeeper had moved too far away from the net. It was an excellent finish in a match where quality scoring opportunities proved difficult to convert.
Towson has received goals from several different players this season. Jayla Caldwell, Meron Koro and Sofia Rosenblatt have each scored twice, while Perry leads the Tigers with three. The Tigers have scored 11 goals through nine games, averaging 1.22 goals per contest.
Williams and Gardner Split Time Again
Towson continued using both of its goalkeepers against Hofstra. Williams started and played the opening 45 minutes, making two saves while allowing both Hofstra goals. Teagan Gardner took over for the second half and made one save while keeping Hofstra off the scoreboard.
It marked the third consecutive match in which Williams and Gardner split time in goal. Gardner has appeared in eight games this season and owns a 1.26 goals-against average, while Williams has appeared in five and has a 1.13 goals-against average. The two have combined to help Towson record three shutouts through nine matches.
Sydney Lindeman also continued to provide consistency on the back line, playing all 90 minutes for the eighth time this season. Lindeman, Rubio, Thibeault and Sofia Rosenblatt each played the entire match against Hofstra. Six Tigers — Thibeault, White, Perry, Rosenblatt, Brooke Birrell and Lindeman — have started every match this season.
Towson Looks to Respond at William & Mary
The Tigers will have an immediate opportunity to respond as their opening CAA road stretch continues. Towson travels to Williamsburg to face William & Mary on Thursday, Sept. 24, before remaining in Virginia for a Sept. 27 matchup against Hampton. The Tigers enter the William & Mary game at 3-4-2 overall and searching for their first conference points.
William & Mary opened CAA play with a 1-1 draw against Charleston. Towson and William & Mary also played to a 1-1 draw during their 2025 meeting, while the Tigers won 3-0 on their most recent trip to Williamsburg in 2023. Towson is 5-2-1 against William & Mary during Vettori’s tenure.
The challenge for Towson will be translating its ability to create chances into goals. The Tigers have shown they can generate shots at a high rate, and Sunday’s second half demonstrated their ability to take control of a conference match on the road. Finding the finishing touch will be critical as the CAA schedule moves forward.
MSB Take
Towson will look at this match as a missed opportunity. The Tigers were the more aggressive team for much of the afternoon, outshot Hofstra 17-7 and completely controlled the second half with a 12-1 advantage in attempts. Giving up an early goal and then conceding a penalty kick, however, forced Towson to spend most of the match trying to recover.
Perry’s performance was an encouraging sign. Her goal showed excellent awareness, and producing five shots on target demonstrates how consistently she was able to challenge the Hofstra defense. With three goals through nine games, Perry has emerged as Towson’s leading scorer and should remain a major part of the Tigers’ attack as conference play continues.
The biggest issue is finishing. Towson is averaging 17 shots per game but only 1.22 goals, and the Hofstra match showed how costly missed opportunities can become in conference play. The Tigers have another road test against William & Mary and an immediate opportunity to turn the pressure they generated Sunday into CAA points.
