Towson Dominates Bucknell in Women's Soccer Matchup

TOWSON, Md. – Towson needed only a quarter of an hour to seize control, and it never really let go.

Three first-half goals – two of them from substitute forward Jayla Caldwell – powered the Tigers to a 3-1 win over Bucknell in a non-league women’s soccer matchup on Sunday at Tiger Field, sending the Bison to their fourth consecutive loss and a 3-5 record on the season.

Towson blitzes the opening half

The breakthrough came just over 14 minutes in. Meron Koro reacted quickest after Bucknell goalkeeper Sarah McFarland’s initial save, pouncing on the rebound and rolling the ball into an empty net for a 1-0 Towson lead.

Koro nearly doubled the advantage a few minutes later, a warning Bucknell failed to heed. The real damage arrived off the bench.

Caldwell entered and changed the tone of the half. She struck twice in a five-minute span, both times from corner kicks, to turn a narrow lead into a commanding 3-0 cushion by the break.

Her first was straightforward: a clean, decisive header from the set piece. The second was more opportunistic. A Bucknell clearance dropped right to her feet on the edge of the area, and she calmly lifted a lob over McFarland and into the far-side netting.

Bucknell did carve out one clear look before halftime. At the 20-minute mark, Gaby Parker sliced between two defenders and found space in the box, but Towson keeper Keagan Williams surged off her line, cut the angle, and smothered the shot.

By halftime, Towson had the scoreboard and the momentum. Bucknell had a mountain to climb.

Bison response falls short

The second half told a different story. Bucknell came out sharper, more aggressive, and began to dictate stretches of play, outshooting Towson 10-9 after the interval.

Pressure started to build. Bella Connell drove into the right side of the penalty area on a promising run, only to run out of room before she could test Williams. The Bison finally made their surge count in the 58th minute.

Off a set piece, Clare Nemsick delivered the kind of service every forward craves. Louisa Thomsen met it with a firm header that clanged off the inside of the left post and bounced just over the line. Thomsen had her first goal of the season; Nemsick her second assist. At 3-1, Bucknell had a lifeline.

They pushed for more, but Towson’s early cushion held. The Tigers continued to threaten on the break and from distance, keeping the Bison from committing too many numbers forward without risk.

Towson finished with a 21-16 edge in shots and an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks. McFarland made four saves in the first half before giving way to Reese Dolan, who stopped two shots and kept a clean sheet over the final 45 minutes. At the other end, Williams recorded five saves for Towson, including that key first-half stop on Parker that helped preserve the early lead.

What’s next for Bucknell

Bucknell’s non-conference slate closes with a trip to Villanova on Thursday at 4 p.m., a chance to halt the skid before Patriot League play begins. After that, Lehigh comes to Lewisburg on Sept. 19 for the league opener.

Four straight losses, a demanding road test, and conference play looming. Bucknell’s response over the next week will say plenty about where this season is headed.