Box Score

ELON, N.C. – Simi Dhaliwal’s second goal of the season in the 98th minute of overtime lifted the Elon University women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over the Appalachian State Mountaineers on Thursday night at Rudd Field.

After coming off the bench for the first time mid-way through overtime, Dhaliwal received a picture-perfect pass on a run by freshman Chelsey Stark. Following an outstanding save near the top of the box by ASU keeper Caroline Clarke to block Dhaliwal’s first strike, the ball trickled its way again to Dhaliwal, who blasted the game-winner in the back of the net for the walk-off shot.

Elon improves to 10-6-1 overall and 5-4 in Southern Conference play, while the Mountaineers drop to 5-7-4 (2-4-3 SoCon) with the loss.

“It was another one of those games where we controlled the possession for the majority of the game,” said Elon head women’s soccer coach Chris Neal. “We took 12 shots and limited them to one and we controlled the corner. But what that tells us is that we need to get better at the quality of service in our area and make better decisions.”

Elon registered 10 corner kicks in the win and held ASU to none.

Despite the scoreless first 45 minutes, the Phoenix dominated possession of the match, claiming five corner kicks and holding the Mountaineers to no corners and one shot.

Elon had its best opportunity to score the match’s first goal in the 72nd minute, but Lindsey Nusdeo's header off an Olivia Mackey corner fell into the hands of a diving Caroline Clarke to keep it scoreless. Elon had a similar opportunity in the 86th minute off a Scarlett Fakhar header, but Clarke again made the save.

But Dhaliwal’s one-timer in the 98th broke any chance of the contest ending in a tie, as Elon improved its standing in the SoCon with two matches remaining in league play.

Elon is back in action on Sunday, Oct. 24, when the Phoenix takes on Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C. at 2 p.m.