ELON, N.C. – After battling through a 90-minute weather delay, the Elon University women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to the Drexel Dragons on Friday night, Oct. 10, at Rudd Field.
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The Phoenix (4-9, 0-5 CAA) played stellar defense and created a plethora of opportunities throughout the night, but could not manage to get a ball behind the Drexel (6-5-2, 3-0-1 CAA) defense. Elon ended the night with a 12-2 advantage in corner kicks, but could not get on the end of one inside the box.
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"I've said this a lot lately and I mean it – I'm incredibly proud of our team's effort tonight," said Elon head coach
Chris Neal. "We created a variety of dangerous chances and players deserve the reward of a goal at some point. We have another chance on Sunday to do just that if we come out and play at a high level."
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Drexel's Megan Hammaker scored the match's lone goal in the 68th minute on a well-struck 20-yard ball from the right side of the pitch and into the back of the net behind a leaping
Sydney Branson. Branson played all 90 minutes between the posts and finished the evening with a career-best eight saves.
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The Phoenix possessed the ball in Drexel territory for a good portion of the first half, tallying a total of nine corner kicks. But the maroon and gold could not cash in on its set pieces, as the two schools went into the locker room scoreless.
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Elon nearly took a one-goal lead in the 48th minute on a
Kim Gardner shot from near the right post, but Drexel goalie Kelsie Fye was there for the save.
Alissa Pantuosco nearly put in the rebound, but could not get a clean strike off.
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That was the lone save of the night for Frye, who played all 90 minutes for the Dragons, who ended the night with a 9-1 lead in shots on target.
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Elon plays its final regular season home match on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. against Delaware. Prior to the game, the team will celebrate Senior Day and the careers of seniors
Kate Murphy,
Marissa Russo,
Raychel Diver,
Caroline O'Dee,
Bethany Houpt and
Kim Gardner.
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-- ELON --
