The Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team dropped its season-opener, 2-0, at local rival Towson University on a warm, humid Saturday afternoon at the Towson Center Soccer Complex.

The Tigers struck first in the 13^th minute of play, when Courtney McKee found Sofia Reed streaking through the right side to beat sophomore keeper Didi Haracic with a low shot into the left side of the net.

The Greyhounds created several scoring opportunities in the first 45 minutes, but could not find a way to break through the Towson defense. The team's best chance came early in the half, when junior Lauren Norcia played a ball through to junior Nichole Schiro, who beat Towson keeper Jocelyn Papciak, but was denied by a Tiger defender who slid across the goal and cleared the ball away.

Schiro had another opportunity midway through the half off a corner kick, but her header was caught by Papciak. Schiro had two of the four shots on net for the Greyhounds while Papciak made three stops in goal for the Tigers.

The Greyhounds continued to pressure early in the second half and almost equalized the Tigers when Schiro found freshman Gabrielle Tana who pushed a shot just wide of the net. Tana, Schiro and sophomore Chantal Celestin all had strong offensive performances for the Greyhounds

Towson added an insurance goal in the 62^nd minute when Alex Evitts started a counter-attack with a long run down the right side before finding Cheyenne Skidmore who took a shot that was deflected by a sliding Loyola defender, but went over the head of Haracic and into the net

Loyola hosts No. 6 Maryland on Monday, Aug. 22 at Ridley Athletic Complex for the team's home opener. The game will mark the first of Loyola's Youth Nights in which kids wearing any team or school jersey get in free with a full paid adult admission.

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