Box Score

ELON, N.C. – The Furman Paladins put two goals in the back of the net on set pieces, including a deflection on a corner in the 64th minute, to just edge the Elon women’s soccer team, 2-1, on Friday night, Oct. 14, at Rudd Field.
 
Elon drops to 4-7-4 (2-3-2) with the loss, while Furman improves to 9-6-1 (4-2-1) with the win.
 
“There were several moments in the game tonight that could have gone our way but just did not,” said Elon head women’s soccer coach Chris Neal. “Furman is a dangerous team on set pieces and forced us to play from behind late. Going forward, we can’t be down about tonight. We played well enough to win the game.”
 
Chelsey Stark netted Elon’s lone score against the Paladins, as the sophomore deflected an Olivia Mackey free kick into the back of the net in the 31st minute of the match for her first goal of the season.
 
Elon outshot Furman 14-10 in the setback, but the Paladins claimed a 9-7 advantage in corners.
 
Kate Murphy and Shannon Cosgrove split time between the posts for the Phoenix, as Murphy played the first 45 minutes and tallied one save. Cosgrove closed out the final 45 minutes of the match for Elon, totaling one save.
 
The Paladins got on the scoreboard in the third minute after a header by Hannah Stanifer off a well-placed corner kick landed in the back of the net to make it a 1-0 match.
 
But the Phoenix tied it in the 31st minute after a Mackey free kick from about 20 yards away on the right side landed in the box in front of Stark. Stark managed to deflect the ball off her shoulder and into the back of the net to make it a 1-1 game.
 
Elon out shot Furman 7-6 in the opening frame, but the Paladins held a 6-2 advantage in corners.
 
The Paladins took a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute after Alyssa Althoff managed to deflect a Laura White corner kick into the net near the left post to put the Phoenix behind.
 
Elon controlled possession for most of the match, but Furman goalie Jessica Smith made several great stops to stave off the Elon offense. Smith registered six saves in 90 minutes between the posts.
 
Elon returns to Rudd Field on Sunday afternoon when it hosts Wofford at 2 p.m.