ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women's soccer team wraps up a five-match road swing this weekend in Wilmington, N.C., with the UNCW Hilton Garden Inn Mayfaire Invitational. The Phoenix opens action Friday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m. against Coastal Carolina before taking on Francis Marion on Sunday, Sept. 14, at noon.
 
ELON VS. COASTAL CAROLINA: Friday marks the 12th all-time meeting between Elon and Coastal Carolina. Elon leads the series, 7-3-1. Last year, Elon opened the regular season with a 2-0 win over the Chanticleers on the road in Conway, S.C. Alissa Pantuosco and Nicole Dennion both scored for the Phoenix in the victory.
 
ELON VS. FRANCIS MARION: Sunday marks the fifth all-time meeting between Elon and Francis Marion. Elon leads the series, 2-1-1. Last season, the Phoenix claimed a 6-1 win at Francis Marion on Oct. 6. Marissa Russo (two goals), Catherine Brinkman, Jennifer McGorty, Nicole Dennion and Bethany Houpt all scored for Elon in the victory over the Patriots.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: Following this weekend's games, Elon makes its much-anticipated return to Rudd Field on Friday, Sept. 19, against Gardner-Webb.
 
LOOKING BACK: Elon played just one match last week after its Sept. 7 game at East Carolina was canceled due to severe weather in the region. The Phoenix dropped a 3-0 decision at High Point on Sept. 5 in its last game.
 
HOME SWEET HOME: Elon's home match against Gardner-Webb on Sept. 19 will mark the team's first at Rudd Field since Aug. 29 – a span on 21 days. Elon's longest stretch without a home game during a season came in 2001 when the Phoenix went 33 days in between home matches.
 
FIRST CAA EVENT: The Elon women's soccer team played the university's first athletic contest as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association on Friday, Aug. 22. The Phoenix came away with a 2-0 win over Jacksonville State behind goals from Grace Bennett (10') and Mel Insley (66'). Elon's first game against a CAA team is Sept. 26 versus Hofstra.
 
HEAD COACH CHRIS NEAL: Elon head coach Chris Neal is in his seventh season with the Phoenix. The 2012 Southern Conference Coach of the Year, Neal enters Friday's match with a 61-36-21 career record.