TOWSON, Md.— Battling hard from start to finish, the fifth-seeded William & Mary women's soccer team came up just short against Towson, 1-0, in the CAA semifinals on Sunday.
 
The top-seeded Tigers owned the early momentum, taking four shots in the first 13 minutes. W&M's backline and Morgan Wood were up to the task however, with Wood picking up an early save and Nicole Sellers blocking a shot to keep the game scoreless.
 
The Tribe was able to maintain possession in the attacking half over the next couple minutes before Towson almost struck on the counterattack. A long shot from a Tiger at the top of the box was just out of Wood's reach but pinged off the crossbar.
 
W&M got their first clean look at goal in the 29^th minute. Leah Iglesias forced a Towson turnover in the box before giving Jillian O'Toole a centering pass. O'Toole's shot skipped just wide of the left post and the match remained tied.
 
Both squads battled for possession for the remainder of the half, going to the break tied 0-0. Towson led in shots 9-1, but the W&M defensive unit only allowed one attempt to reach Wood in goal.
 
The stalemate continued to start the second frame, with the physicality ramping up on both sides.
 
No shots were recorded in the half until Towson had a header rattle the woodwork in the 67^th minute and the game remained deadlocked.
 
The Tigers followed up that chance with two more, moments later. The first was snagged by Wood and the second narrowly missed the target.
 
William & Mary had their best chance of regulation in the 78^th minute when Ivey Crain played a ball toward the right side of the box for Marisa McClure, who's shot was barely gotten to by the Tiger keeper.
 
The scoreless tie was eventually broken in the 87^th minute when the Tigers scored. The late comeback attempt by the Tribe fell short, as their season ended with a 1-0 loss.
 
Towson finished the day with a commanding lead in shots 16-2. Wood made five saves for the Tribe.
 
Scoring
87'|TOW- Nia Christopher (Phoebe Canoles)
 
Starters
W&M- #1 Wood (GK), #2 Wilson, #9 Sellers, #10 Shackford, #13 Green-Orset, #14 O'Toole, #15 Widderich, #18 Zier, #22 Delacruz, #23 Crain, #27 Suchora
TOW- #1 Melendez (GK), #2 Borden, #5 Canoles, #7 Christopher, #8 Hamid, #9 Lynch, #11 Hansson, #17 Peirre, #26 Miller, #27 Groseibl, #36 Cradle