RALEIGH – The Elon women's soccer team heads to Dail Soccer Field for a match against the NC State Wolfpack on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. for its second match of the season.
Follow the Phoenix Updates on the Phoenix's match against the NC State Wolfpack will be provided on Twitter at the handle @elonscores or the program's handle, @ElonWSoccer.
Series HistoryElon and NC State have met 12 times in the series history and the Wolfpack hold a firm 12-0 edge. This will be the first matchup between the Phoenix and the Wolfpack since 2012 as NC State defeated Elon 3-0 on Sept. 2 in Raleigh.
About ElonThe Phoenix (1-0) started the season with a 1-0 overtime victory over the Davidson Wildcats on Sunday thanks to a 93rd minute goal from
Kendall Ballotti off
Amanda Lasater's corner kick. Elon is now undefeated in its last five season-openers and has won the last three dating back to a 2-0 win over Coastal Carolina in 2013.
The match was Elon's first of the 2015 season. The scheduled opening match against Charleston Southern on Friday, Aug. 21, was cancelled at halftime due to lightning. The maroon and gold were leading 1-0 at the half, but the result didn't count.
Entering his eighth season at the helm and second in the Colonial Athletic Association, head coach
Chris Neal and Elon returns 22 players and seven starters from a team that experienced their first season in the CAA last season. Neal also added 10 new freshmen to the fold in his 2015 recruiting class. The Phoenix finished 5-12 overall last season.
A total of 13 returning players have at least 10 games of action of CAA soccer from last season. 2014 CAA All-Freshman Team member, sophomore forward
Grace Bennett, returns after leading the team in scoring a year ago. Fellow sophomore and forward
Sydney Schilling will be back with Bennett as she finished second in goals last season.
The Phoenix will have strong leadership as they have seven seniors for the upcoming season. Senior defender
Mel Insley will look to lead the back line next season after starting 14 games last season.
Scouting the WolfpackThe NC State Wolfpack (0-2) head into their third season under the direction of Tim Santoro and look to improve on a 2-15-2 overall record in 2014. The Wolfpack opened the 2015 season at the Torero Classic in San Diego, Calif. against some stiff competition.
NC State opened the season with a 2-1 loss to University of San Diego, who is receiving votes in the NSCAA Coaches Poll, followed by a tough 1-0 loss to No. 10-ranked Pepperdine. Jackie Stengel is the lone goal scorer thus far for the Wolfpack.
Up Next Elon closes out the second weekend of the season with a road trip to Chattanooga on Sunday, Aug. 30. That match will kick off at 1 p.m. The Phoenix will be back at Rudd Field for its home opener on Friday, Sept. 4, against North Florida at 7 p.m. -- ELON --
