ELON, N.C. – Off a career-high six points from Maeve Cowley, the Elon women's lacrosse team snapped a two-game losing skid with a dominating 14-3 victory over visiting Holy Cross today, March 12, at Rudd Field.
 
The Phoenix (5-2) outshot the Crusaders, 30-15, notching 25 shots on goal, and finished 17-of-19 in clear attempts. Elon held the advantage at the draw, 11-8, and in ground balls, 19-10.
 
Cowley posted a career and game-high four goals and two assists for the maroon and gold, while Stephanie Asher notched five goals on the day for the duo to combine for 11 of the team's 16 total points. Both Sloane Kessler and Kelli Stack added two scores for the Phoenix followed by one goal by Shelby Scanlin.
 
Rookie Shannon Horan tallied a game-high four draws and also claimed two ground balls. Alexis Zadjura matched her career-high with five ground balls and caused three turnovers to lead all players in both categories. Rachel Ramirez posted her fifth win between the posts after seven saves off 10 shots on goal by Holy Cross and also picked up three ground balls.
 
The Crusaders (0-7) saw two scores from Kaitlin Concilio and the other by Tess McKay. Stephanie Ford also tallied a point with an assist on the day. Julia Maloney was credited with the loss after 11 saves in the game and a team-high three ground balls.
 
Highlights
Both defenses looked strong early, keeping the game scoreless until Asher got the Phoenix on the board at the 17:31 mark with her 16th goal of the season. After a win at the draw by Bridget Lamb, Asher netted another goal less than a minute later to put Elon up 2-0.
 

Stephanie Asher puts Elon up top early with this goal! https://t.co/tOCcmJTjJT

— Elon Women's Lax (@ElonWLax) March 12, 2016

After a score by Cowley made it three straight for the maroon and gold, the Crusaders answered to make it a 3-1 game with 14:17 on the clock. A caused turnover and ground ball by Zadjura allowed for a successful clear for Elon that led to Cowley's second score of the day with under 10 minutes to play. Cowley tallied another point, getting the ball to Stack for her first goal of the season and a 5-1 Phoenix advantage. Kessler netted a free-position goal with 6:52 to go in the half to make it a 6-1 lead at the break.
 

Elon leads 6-1 here at Rudd field, thanks in part to this nice goal by Sloane Kessler. https://t.co/ewQrjsf3gP

— Elon Women's Lax (@ElonWLax) March 12, 2016

Holy Cross came out of the break with a goal by Concilio at the 27:31 mark before an answer by Cowley less than 90 seconds later to make it an 8-2 game.
 
A win at the draw by Horan led to an Asher free-position goal with 25:09 on the clock, beginning three straight scores by Asher in less than three minutes, giving the Phoenix a 10-2 lead with 22:46 to play.

Elon continues a strong lead over Holy Cross thanks to another Stephanie Asher goal. https://t.co/xLyozoa0FF

— Elon Women's Lax (@ElonWLax) March 12, 2016

 
Cowley netted her fourth score off a free-position shot before a HC goal with 9:29 remaining. After another goal by Kessler, Stack picked up a ground ball off a missed Elon shot and quickly found the back of the net for her second score of the day and season with less than three minutes left on the clock. Nicole Sinacori claimed the ensuing draw, allowing Scanlin to notch a goal off an assist by Cowley with 1:28 remaining for the 14-3 final.
 
Next Up
Elon closes out a three-game homestand when it takes on its second ranked opponent of the season in No. 4 North Carolina on Tuesday, March 15. The opening draw is set for 7 p.m. at Rudd Field.