Blue Hen senior forward Ali Miller’s second-half goal propelled the University of Delaware women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Towson University in Colonial Athletic Association action Friday night at Delaware Mini Stadium.

With the victory in the CAA opener for both schools, Delaware (4-4, 1-0) reached a .500 record for the first time this year while the defeat extended Towson’s (0-8-1, 0-1) losing streak to five games on the season.

“CAA play ramps up the intensity ten-fold compared to non-conference,” Delaware head coach Scott Grzenda remarked about the CAA opener. “We came out a little slow in the first half, despite their record they are a quality team.”

Despite having several offensive chances through the first half, Delaware’s second-half adjustments . At the 66:45 mark of game, a well place ball by senior Melissa Pennington allowed Miller to slice through the Towson defense. Using her speed, Miller went one-on-one against Towson’s goalkeeper, Erin Quinn, and smashed the ball into the back of the net for the eventual game-winning goal.

“Mel did an awesome job check backing out the ball and she knew I would be running,” Miller stated about her teammate’s assist on the play. ”It was one-on-one with the keeper and I knew I had to finish it.”
Both squads had quality offensive chances in the first half that where squashed by exceptional goalkeeper play from Delaware’s Jess Levy and Towson’s Quinn. Levy registered six saves in the game including two key diving stops in the first half that preserved a 0-0 tie through 45 minutes. Quinn made several leaping saves, in defeat she tallied eight saves in defeat.

Miller led the Blue Hens with the lone goal in addition to four shots on goal while Towson’s Cheyenne Skidmore paced the Tigers with three shots on goal.

The Blue Hens will remain home for the rest of the weekend and play another CAA match against the George Mason University Patriots on Sunday, September 23 at 1 p.m. at Delaware Mini Stadium.