HARRISONBURG, Va. – Third-seeded Elon University put together a three-goal run in the final 10:45, but the comeback fell short with a 9-7 loss to second-seeded Towson on Friday night, May 4, at Sentara Park at James Madison University.
 
Elon's fifth season of competition ends with a 4-11 overall record and a 3-2 mark in CAA action during the regular season. Towson improved to 15-3 and advanced to the CAA Finals to take on top-seeded James Madison.
 
THE RUNDOWN
After a scoreless first six minutes, Towson got on the board first with Kaitlyn Montalbano tallying, but she was answered less than two minutes later with Quinn Daly's first of two goals on the night. After splitting the first two goals, though, the Tigers got a pair of tallies from Natalie Sulmonte and Emily Gillingham to go on a 4-0 run and lead 5-1 with 1:45 left in the first half. Looking for some momentum going into the locker room, though, Grace Simpson ripped a free-position shot past the Towson goalie to cut the lead to three at 5-2.
 
In the second half, Daly put her second goal of the night on the board with a free-position shot to make it a two-goal game. After Sulmonte's third goal of the day, Maeve Cowley then put home a free-position attempt to make it 6-4 with 20:12 to play. Elon's momentum was stopped, though, with the Tigers going on a 3-0 run with all three tallies coming in a span of 2:56 that forced Elon to burn its final two timeouts.
 
Trying to press the issue, the Phoenix got hot in the final 11 minutes with Kelsey Dupere, Stephanie Asher and Abby Godfrey each scoring in a span of 2:45 to make it a two-goal game with eight minutes to play. Down the stretch, Towson goalie Kiley Keating came up with a big stop on Melissa Birdsell and the Towson defense ended the Phoenix run to seal the win.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
Daly scored twice to lead Elon's offensive output. Simpson also finished the night with two points with a goal and an assist, putting both points on the board on Elon's two goals in the first half. Asher grabbed six of Elon's eight draw controls on the night while Leah Zadjura pulled in four ground balls to lead the team. Both Zadjura and Alexis Zadjura caused three turnovers to collect six of the team's seven.
 
Sulmonte's four goals paced all players while Carly Tellekamp and Gillingham both added two. Tellekamp also had an assist for three points. Olivia Conti had a team-best two caused turnovers and Sami Chenoweth had four draw controls. Four different players picked up a team-best three ground balls.
 
NOTES
-Elon and Towson have now played three games decided by a total of five goals in the CAA Semifinals each of the last three seasons. Towson has won 8-6 and 9-7 in 2016 and 2018 while Elon won 10-9 in 2017.
-Asher finishes her career with 179 goals and 211 points. Both are program records.
-Asher's 76 draw controls this season stands as the most in a campaign in program history.
-First Team All-CAA goalie Kiley Keating made 14 saves in the contest, proving to be a big difference in the contest.
-Tori Cipollone made eight saves, helping Elon stick tight with the Tigers all day.
-Both teams went 4-for-7 from the eight-meter.

CAA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM 
Stephanie Asher, Elon
Leah Zadjura, Elon
Haley Warden, James Madison
Kristen Gaudian, James Madison
Elena Romesburg, James Madison
Caroline Sdanowich, James Madison
Olivia Conti, Towson
Rachel Mills, Towson
Natalie Sulmonte, Towson
Becky Gohsler, Delaware
Chantae Simms, Delaware

CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Performer: Haley Warden, James Madison