TOWSON, Md. – William & Mary women's soccer rallied from an early goal deficit, but the homestanding Towson Tigers found the game-winner with 10 minutes remaining in picking up a 2-1 win over Thursday night.
 
Trailing by a goal at the half, the Tribe (6-6-4, 2-2-3 CAA) found the equalizer five minutes into the second half thanks to graduate student Cricket Basa's first goal for the Green and Gold.

The graduate forward started the play with a cross from the left flank through the penalty area. Senior Kayleigh Shackford got on the end of it and lay it back to Addie Puskar just outside the 18-yard box. Her low-lining cross to the back side of the six found Basa who one-timed a shot into the back of the net, pulling W&M even at one. It marked Shackford team-leading sixth assist and was the second of Puskar's career.
 
Towson (10-2-4, 3-1-3 CAA) retook the lead with 10 minutes to play. Preseason CAA Player of the Year Nia Christopher scored into the right side of the net from six yards out. On the play, Christopher headed a cross from the right flank toward the middle of the penalty area. A Towson attacker and goalkeeper Zoe Doughty collided, deflecting the ball free for Christopher to put away.
 
W&M just missed finding the equalizer off a corner kick in the 88th minute. Senior Sophie Geslao's shot from inside the six-yard box hit off the woodwork and was cleared away by the Towson defense.

For the game, Towson outshot the Tribe, 13-8, putting six attempts on frame compared to four for W&M.
 
The home team broke through first on a free kick from Reese Borden in the 11th minute.
 
The Tribe had two great chances in the midway through the opening half. In the 18th minute, freshman Ivey Crain broke free into the right side of the penalty area, centering a pass to junior Kenna Zier. Towson goalkeper Riley Melendez made the save on Zier's chance inside the six.
 
In the 24th minute off a free kick, the ball was knocked down to Jillian O'Toole eight yards from goal, but her shot was blocked high of the frame.  
 
Doughty made a pair of big 1v1 saves in the ladder stages of the first half to keep the deficit at one. She finished with four saves on the night.
 
Quotable
"Credit to our team for turning the game around after struggling to find our rhythm in the first half. We had a ton of momentum in the second half and threw numbers forward, but gave up an unfortunate goal. It was a tough battle under tough conditions." – Head coach Julie Shackford

Scoring Summary
11' | Towson – Reese Borden (unassisted)
50' | W&M – Cricket Basa (Kayleigh Shackford/Addie Puskar)
80' | Towson – Nia Christopher

Starters
W&M - #19 Doughty (GK), #7 Puskar, #9 Sellers, #10 Shackford, #11 Basa, #14 O'Toole, #18 Zier, #21 D'Alessandro, #22 Delacruz, #23 Crain, #26 Longjohn
Towson - #1 Melendez (GK), #2 Borden, #5 Canoles, #7 Christopher, #11 Hansson, #13 Campbell, #15 Rush, #17 Pierre, #26 Miller, #27 Groseibl, #36 Cradle
 
Up Next
The Tribe travels to Elon on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The match will be broadcast on FloFC.