| Elon (1-7, 0-0 CAA) vs. No. 16 Virginia Tech (8-3, 2-0 ACC) |
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ELON, N.C. – Closing its challenging 2018 non-conference slate Saturday, March 24, Elon University women's lacrosse will welcome 16th-ranked Virginia Tech to Rudd Field for a 1 p.m. matchup against the Hokies.
THE SERIES
Elon and Virginia Tech have each won once in the series to date with the Phoenix winning last time out on March 1, 2017. In Blacksburg, Va., Elon took a 13-12 overtime victory with Sloane Kessler scoring the game-winner just 70 seconds into the extra session. In the contest,
Stephanie Asher led Elono with five goals and an assist to go with two ground balls and a draw control. Virginia Tech took the first meeting back on Feb. 23, 2014, in Elon's third-ever game in program history.
LAST TIME OUT
The Phoenix picked up its first victory of the season by coming out strong and never looking back in a 14-6 win at Coastal Carolina on Sunday, March 18.
Stephanie Asher got the day started with a goal 11 seconds in and the rest of the team followed suit in helping the Phoenix build a 6-0 advantage in the first nine minutes on the way to the eight-goal win. Asher set a new program record with 10 draw controls in the contest, which surpassed Elle Hvozdovic's eight against Liberty during the 2014 season.
PACING THE NATION
With 163 career goals,
Stephanie Asher ranks eighth-best among active players nationally. The senior from Glenelg, Md., has tallied 23 times this year, including five in the season opener against Duke, five on March 1 against High Point, four against Stanford on March 4 and four last time out against Coastal Carolina on March 18. She stands just two behind Stanford's Kelsey Murray for the seventh-most goals nationally and seven behind Katie O'Donnell of Penn State.
SUMMER'S COMING...
Sophomore midfielder
Summer Larese is tied for second on the team with eight goals this season. The Charlottesville, Va., native appeared in just five games last season and scored once. Ths year, Larese has played in all eight games and has come on strong in scoring seven of her eight goals in Elon's last five games.
TEWAARATON WATCH LIST
For the second year in a row,
Stephanie Asher has been named to the Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List. Announced Thursday night, March 1, Asher is one of 50 players to initially be named to the list for the prestigious award. On the night of the announcement, Asher tallied a game-high five goals against High Point.
CONTROLLING THE DRAW
On Sunday, March 18,
Stephanie Asher set a new program record with 10 draw controls against Coastal Carolina. With the number, the senior surpassed Elle Hvozdovic's previous record of eight, which was set Feb. 21, 2014, against Liberty. In the game, Asher had 10 draw controls to Coastal Carolina's eight as a team. With 36 now this season, it stands as the second-most in a season in program history and is only 16 behind Hvozdovic's record of 52 during the 2014 campaign.
PRESEASON HONORS
Stephanie Asher became the first player in program history to earn Preseason All-America accolades when she was named an Inside Lacrosse honorable mention in early February. The recognition came on the heels of Asher and
Alexis Zadjura being named Preseason All-CAA honorees. Asher has now been a Preseason All-CAA honoree three years in a row and Zadjura was an honorable mention in 2017 before making First Team in 2018.
ELON ON LSN
Elon will have two of its CAA games feature on LAX Sports Network's CAA Game of the Week initiative. First, the Phoenix will visit Hofstra on Friday, April 6, on LSN before coming home to take on Towson on Friday, April 13, on the network. Additionally, the CAA Championship semifinals and finals are set to air on LSN. The 2018 season marks the second year the CAA has partnered with LSN to expand the reach of CAA lacrosse.
2017 TIDBITS
-Three CAA teams, including Elon, went to the NCAA Tournament. It marks the most in one tourney since 2001 when James Madison, Loyola (Md.) and William & Mary all went dancing.
-Two programs - Elon and Colorado - were added prior to the start of the 2014 season. Both teams went to the NCAA Tournament in 2017 in their fourth year of competition. Elon lost to Virginia in the first round and Colorado fell 13-7 to UMass, also in the first round.
-A year ago, Elon posted a program-record 13 wins. It also made its first trip to the CAA title game after beating second-seeded Towson on a
Stephanie Asher goal in overtime. Asher set the new program record for goals scored (58) and points (69).
UP NEXT
Following a lengthy break away from competition, Elon will return to action Friday, April 6, for its CAA opener at Hofstra. Opening draw against the Pride is set for 5 p.m. in Hempstead, N.Y.
--ELON--
