Towson Women’s Soccer Shuts Out Charleston 2-0 in Rain-Soaked Victory, Takes First Place in CAA North
By Brian Hradsky
Maryland Sports Blog | October 14, 2026
TOWSON, Md. — The Towson University women’s soccer team battled heavy rain and difficult field conditions Sunday afternoon to defeat the College of Charleston Cougars 2-0 at Tiger Field. Kale’a Perry and Emma Levin scored for the Tigers, while Sophie Thibeault assisted on both goals to lead Towson to an important Coastal Athletic Association victory. The Tigers dominated the offensive statistics, outshooting Charleston 21-4 while recording their latest shutout of the season. With the victory, Towson improved to 7-5-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, moving into first place in the CAA North Division.
Perry Gives Towson Early Advantage
Towson entered Sunday’s matchup looking to rebound from a disappointing defeat against conference rival Stony Brook on Thursday. Despite persistent rainfall associated with Tropical Depression Isaias, the Tigers immediately established an aggressive offensive approach against Charleston. Towson controlled possession throughout much of the opening half and prevented the Cougars from generating consistent attacking opportunities. That early pressure paid off in the 13th minute when Perry scored her fifth goal of the season to give Towson a 1-0 advantage.
The scoring sequence began when Thibeault redirected the ball toward Meron Koro, who quickly recognized Perry making a run into open space. Koro delivered a well-timed pass that allowed Perry to break through Charleston’s defensive coverage and create a one-on-one opportunity against the goalkeeper. Perry calmly finished the chance at the 12:41 mark, giving the Tigers an important early lead in difficult playing conditions. The goal provided Towson with momentum and forced Charleston to chase the game for the remainder of the afternoon.
Towson continued applying pressure after taking the lead, using its midfield possession and defensive organization to limit Charleston’s opportunities. The Tigers finished the opening half with five shots compared with just one for the Cougars, while also holding a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks. Charleston goalkeeper Ainsley Chunn prevented Towson from extending its lead before halftime, recording a save in the 40th minute. The Tigers carried their 1-0 advantage into the break with control of the match but still needing another goal to create separation.
Levin Doubles the Lead in Second Half
The Tigers emerged from halftime determined to increase their offensive pressure and put the match out of reach. Towson generated scoring opportunities almost immediately, forcing Chunn into multiple saves during the opening minutes of the second half. Charleston attempted to respond with a more physical approach, but a sliding tackle resulted in a yellow card for Sienna Petro in the 48th minute. The Tigers continued controlling the tempo despite the worsening weather and the Cougars’ efforts to disrupt their attack.
Towson finally broke through again in the 63rd minute when Levin scored her third goal of the season to extend the lead to 2-0. Thibeault received a throw-in near the attacking end and worked past a Charleston defender before recovering a ball that nearly crossed the end line. She delivered a pass back toward the middle of the penalty area, where Levin connected with a powerful finish from just inside the 18-yard box. The goal at 62:10 gave Towson a commanding advantage and rewarded the Tigers for their relentless second-half attacking effort.
Levin’s goal highlighted an impressive offensive performance that saw Towson generate 16 shots during the final 45 minutes. The Tigers repeatedly challenged Charleston’s defense and forced Chunn to make six second-half saves to prevent a larger margin of defeat. Towson’s ability to maintain possession and create opportunities despite the wet playing surface demonstrated the team’s offensive discipline. The Cougars struggled to match that intensity and never seriously threatened to overturn the two-goal deficit.
Gardner and Defense Preserve Shutout
While Towson’s offense generated most of the attention, the Tigers’ defensive performance was equally important in securing the victory. Goalkeeper Teagan Gardner played all 90 minutes and was credited with three saves, helping Towson record another clean sheet. The defensive unit limited Charleston to just four shots throughout the afternoon, preventing the Cougars from establishing any sustained offensive rhythm. Towson’s organized back line consistently disrupted Charleston’s attempts to move the ball into dangerous attacking positions.
Sydney Lindeman, Jayla Caldwell and Emely Rubio each played the entire match, providing stability and experience throughout the defensive and midfield formations. Caldwell also contributed offensively, recording five shots as Towson continued pressing forward. Charleston managed only one shot during the opening half before generating three additional attempts after halftime. The Tigers’ defensive discipline ensured that neither the difficult weather nor Charleston’s physical play compromised their advantage.
Towson head coach Katherine Vettori praised her team’s determination following the victory, emphasizing the importance of responding after Thursday’s defeat. Vettori credited the players for maintaining their focus and attacking aggressively while recognizing Gardner and the defensive unit for preserving the shutout. The performance reflected a strong collective effort from a Towson team competing for positioning near the top of the conference standings. Sunday’s result demonstrated that the Tigers could respond to adversity with a disciplined performance on both sides of the ball.
Thibeault Continues Outstanding Stretch
Thibeault delivered one of the most important individual performances of the afternoon, recording two assists in a match for the first time in her collegiate career. Her involvement in both goals demonstrated her ability to create scoring opportunities through intelligent passing and strong positioning. The midfielder also extended her point-scoring streak to six consecutive matches, becoming an increasingly important contributor to Towson’s offensive success. Her consistency has helped the Tigers remain competitive during a demanding stretch of conference play.
The match also continued an impressive streak of durability for Thibeault, who had played every minute of Towson’s previous 11 contests. Following Sunday’s victory, she had accumulated 1,002 minutes and 51 seconds of uninterrupted playing time, highlighting her importance to the team’s midfield organization. Koro also continued her productive stretch, recording an assist for the second consecutive match on Perry’s opening goal. Together, their contributions helped create the attacking opportunities that separated Towson from Charleston.
Perry and Levin each finished with three shots on goal, accounting for six of Towson’s nine attempts on target. Caldwell and Levin tied for the team lead with five total shots, while Perry added four and Thibeault recorded three. The Tigers’ balanced offensive production prevented Charleston from concentrating its defensive attention on a single attacking player. That versatility should remain valuable as Towson prepares for increasingly important conference matchups.
Towson Dominates Statistical Battle
Towson controlled nearly every major statistical category during Sunday’s victory, finishing with a commanding 21-4 advantage in total shots. The Tigers placed nine attempts on goal compared with four for Charleston, while earning eight corner kicks against the Cougars’ four. Charleston goalkeeper Chunn finished with seven saves, preventing Towson from converting several additional scoring opportunities. The statistical disparity reflected the Tigers’ control of possession and their ability to consistently generate pressure in the attacking third.
Towson also played a disciplined match defensively, committing only three fouls compared with seven for Charleston. The Cougars struggled to establish their offensive rhythm against a Tigers team that consistently won possession and pushed the ball forward. Sunday’s contest marked the third time this season that Towson had at least doubled an opponent’s shots on goal, joining earlier performances against Hampton and Mount St. Mary’s. The result reinforced the team’s ability to dominate opponents when its offensive and defensive units execute together.
Tigers Move Into First Place in CAA North
The victory carried significant implications for Towson’s conference championship aspirations, moving the Tigers into first place in the CAA North Division. Towson improved to 4-2 in conference competition and established a two-point advantage over Northeastern in the divisional standings. The Tigers also extended their unbeaten streak against Charleston to seven matches under Vettori, who took over the program in 2018. Sunday’s victory provided an important response after Thursday’s setback and restored momentum heading into another critical conference matchup.
Towson will return to action Saturday, October 17, when Northeastern visits Tiger Field for a pivotal CAA North Division contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., with first place potentially at stake as the regular season approaches its final stretch. The Huskies enter the matchup as Towson’s closest divisional challenger, making the contest especially important for postseason positioning. A victory would strengthen Towson’s standing and provide another significant result in its pursuit of a conference championship.
MSB Take
Towson delivered exactly the type of performance it needed after Thursday’s disappointing result against Stony Brook. The Tigers did not allow the heavy rain or difficult field conditions to disrupt their game plan, controlling possession and generating scoring opportunities throughout the afternoon. Perry and Levin provided the finishing touches, but Thibeault deserves considerable recognition for creating both goals and continuing her outstanding stretch of play. When Towson’s midfield controls the match and its defense limits opponents to four shots, this team becomes extremely difficult to beat.
The most encouraging aspect of Sunday’s victory was the complete team effort rather than any single individual performance. Towson outshot Charleston by 17 attempts, doubled the Cougars’ corner-kick total and maintained defensive discipline for the entire 90 minutes. The Tigers must now carry that same intensity into Saturday’s matchup against Northeastern, which could have major implications for the CAA North Division race. If Towson continues generating opportunities at this rate while maintaining its defensive consistency, the Tigers have a legitimate opportunity to finish the regular season among the conference’s strongest teams.
