Box Score

BOONE, N.C. – The Elon women’s soccer team came away with a key Southern Conference road win on a crisp night in the mountains of Boone, N.C., on Thursday, Oct. 20, blanking the Appalachian State Mountaineers, 1-0.
 
Sophomore Kendall Stanley netted the game’s only goal in the 75th minute of the match, her fourth of the season. Sophomore Simi Dhaliwal hit Stanley with a great pass on the left side, allowing Stanley to break loose past an ASU defender into the box for the game-winner.
 
Elon improves to 6-7-4 overall and 4-3-3 in league play with the win, while ASU falls to 5-10-2 (1-6-2).
 
“We executed well in the first half, and the first 45 minutes ended too quickly for us in a way tonight,” said Elon head women’s soccer coach Chris Neal. “Appalachian State put us under pressure early in the second half as we expected them to. They are a very well-organized and hard-working team.
 
I am extremely proud of our team for grinding out a win on the road tonight, which is always difficult to do in this conference. Kendall Stanley played like a true professional tonight after entering the game late and coming up big for us.”
 
Elon and Appalachian State went into the locker room at intermission scoreless. The Phoenix outshot the Mountaineers, 5-3, and held a 2-0 edge in corners.
 
Rookie goalie Kate Murphy came up with two key saves for Elon in the 66th minute after the Mountaineers struck with back-to-back shots on goal. But the Sterling, Va., native held her ground between the posts to keep the match scoreless. Murphy totaled a career-best nine saves in the win, besting her previous high of seven against VCU in Elon’s season opener.
 
The Mountaineers outshot the Phoenix 13-7 in the match, putting a total of nine shots on goal compared to Elon’s five. Elon finished with a 3-2 advantage in corners in the victory.
 
The Elon defense of senior Andrea Keller, junior #Claire O’Keeffe and sophomores Kimmie Krauss and Jennifer McGorty# helped keep the Mountaineers at bay all night in the win, helping the Phoenix to its sixth shutout of the year.
 
Elon returns to Rudd Field for the final time this season on Sunday, Oct. 23, when the Phoenix hosts Western Carolina at 3 p.m. for Senior Day. The contest will mark the final home match for Keller and Noell McCain. Elon closes out the regular season on Oct. 26 with a road contest at UNCG.