ELON, N.C. – The Elon women's soccer team opens up Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play this weekend with a pair of home matches at Rudd Field. Friday, Sept. 25 the Phoenix host Northeastern in their conference opener at 7 p.m., followed by Hofstra on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.
Follow the PhoenixUpdates on the Phoenix's matches against the Huskies and the Pride will be provided on Twitter at the handle @elonscores or the program's handle, @ElonWSoccer. Also a live video broadcast for both matches will be provided on Phoenix All-Access.
Series HistoryElon and the reigning 2014 CAA Champions will be meeting for the second in the history of the matchup. The maroon and gold have not scored yet against the Huskies, as they lost to Northeastern 4-0 on Sept. 28, 2014 at Rudd Field. The Phoenix mustered seven shots against the Huskies' goal last season, with three going on frame.
Sunday will be the second all-time meeting between the Pride and Phoenix. Hofstra defeated Elon 4-1 in last season's CAA opener at Rudd Field on Sept. 26, 2014.
Alissa Pantuosco scored Elon's lone goal in the match off an assist from
Grace Bennett.
About the PhoenixThe Phoenix (7-1-1) is off to its best start for the Division I era. Elon is also currently on a seven-match unbeaten streak, and have not lost since a 2-0 defeat on Aug. 27 at NC State.
Nine players on the roster have scored all of Elon's 17 goals this season. CAA Player of the Week
Samantha Burch has a team-high four goals this season, scoring three of those this past weekend in wins over Gardner-Webb and Charlotte.
Tori Baliatico has three goals for the Phoenix, and
Mel Insley,
Kelly Siewers and
Kendall Ballotti each have two goals apiece. Three others have a goal to their name. Elon has a combined five shutouts this season.
Taylor Mohr is 5-0-1 this season and has three shutouts for the Phoenix.
Elon started the season 4-1 overall and won five of their first six matches for the first time since 2010. The Phoenix recorded four consecutive shutout victories for the first time in the program's Division I era from Aug. 30 to Sept. 11. The total shutout minutes Elon had going was 421 since Aug. 27 before UNCG scored on Sunday night.
Scouting NortheasternThe Huskies (7-3-0) is coming off their 2014 CAA Championship last season. Northeastern has received votes in the NSCAA Coaches Poll four times this season. This week will be only the second week this season they have net received any votes. Kayla Cappuzzo has a team-high five goals this season. Northeastern posted 17 shutouts in 23 games last season and ran the table in postseason play to capture its second-straight CAA Championship.
Scouting HofstraThe Pride (6-3-0) picked up a win last weekend against Fordham on Sept. 20 to head into conference play. Hofstra faces William & Mary in its CAA opener on Friday before facing the Phoenix on Sunday. The Pride have been a threat to score all season as they lead the league with 22 goals in 2015. Leah Galton is currently second in the CAA in goals with six this year. The Pride faced two top-25 opponents (#6 Penn State, and #25 Rutgers), only losing to them by one goal each.
Up NextElon continues conference play on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. as they host William & Mary at Rudd Field. That will be the lone match next weekend. The team will then hit the road on Monday, Oct. 5, to take on Francis Marion at 7 p.m.
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