Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Elon women’s soccer team took home the UNCW Hilton Garden Inn Invitational title as the only undefeated team in the tournament after posting an impressive 3-1 victory over the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Sunday afternoon at UNCW Soccer Stadium. The Phoenix (3-1) has won three straight contests. Coastal Carolina dropped to 2-4 on the year.

Senior Brittany Hallberg was named the tournament MVP after netting the golden goal in Elon’s double-overtime victory against Gardner-Webb on Friday night. The all-tournament team included senior Alanna Winsper, sophomores Scarlett Fakhar and Jacyln Wood and freshman Kimmie Krauss.

“It certainly was an absolutely beautiful day for soccer and the girls executed our plan to nearly clinical perfection,” said Elon head coach Chris Neal. “We created 13 opportunities which was fantastic to see since we had gained a lot of possession in our earlier games but were not able to create the type of chances we produced today.”

Elon got on the board midway through the first half. The Phoenix developed play down the right flank where Wood sent a perfect cross to the far post and found the head of freshman Jennifer McGorty. Coastal keeper Jessica Barton came over the challenge the play, but McGorty headed it past her to give Elon the 1-0 advantage at 22:27.

Fifteen minutes later, the Phoenix struck again with a goal from rookie Chelsey Stark. Freshman Olivia Mackey bent a corner kick toward the far post and Stark skied above everyone and banged the header home as Elon took a two-goal lead at 37:42.

The Chanticleers countered in the 40th minute when Anna Tupy dribbled into the box and nailed a shot into the lower left corner of the net to split the lead in half.

At the break, Elon held a 9-2 advantage in shots, having forced Barton to make five saves through 45 minutes.

The Phoenix padded its lead in the 69th minute of action when another rookie duo teamed up for a score. Catherine Brinkman had the ball in the middle of the field and turned and made a blind pass to the left side right into Krauss’s path. Krauss took one touch to the middle and then finished a pretty shot past new Coastal goalie Amy Haggard.

“On Friday we came out and played well but were not able to create many chances on goal,” said Wood. “Today, we knew Coastal was a very good team and we made a few changes. I think this is a big step going forward to see how we can create chances. We have a lot of depth and everyone seems to be blending well. This weekend we showed a lot of who we are going to be this season.”

Elon will look to extend its winning streak when it returns home to challenge UNC Asheville on Thursday, September 9 at 6 p.m. at Rudd Field.