Elon Phoenix (2-4-3, 0-1-0 CAA) vs. Col. of Charleston (6-5-0, 1-1-0 CAA)

Date | Time	Thursday, Sept. 27 | 7:00 p.m.
Location	Rudd Field (Elon, N.C.)
Weather	Click Here
Series Record	CofC, 9-7-2
Coverage	Live Video | Live Stats

Notes and Social Media Coverage

Match Notes	Click Here
Twitter	@ElonWSoccer | @elonphoenix
Facebook | Instagram	Elon Women's Soccer | @elonwsoccer

 

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ELON, N.C. – Elon University women's soccer hosts the College of Charleston Cougars in CAA action on Thursday night, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. on Rudd Field. The match is also a special Vs. Cancer event as the women's soccer program teams up with the Vs. Cancer foundation in the fight against childhood cancer.

FOLLOW THE PHOENIX
Updates on the Phoenix's match against the Blue Hens will be provided on Twitter at the program's handle, @ElonWSoccer. You can watch the action on online through Phoenix All-Access, or follow the match with live stats by clicking here.

VS. CANCER MATCH 
- The Phoenix women's soccer team will join with the Vs. Cancer Foundation to help bring awareness to pediatric cancer and raise funds to support the cause during its match against College of Charleston on Thursday night.
- During the game, the Elon women's soccer players will be wearing special Vs. Cancer t-shirts during their warm-ups. There will also be a table set up for fans to make a donation to the Vs. Cancer Foundation, and there will be free giveaways handed out to the first 40 fans who make a donation during the match.
- In partnership with Vs. Cancer, the Phoenix have selected the pediatric oncology unit at UNC Lineberger to receive half of the proceeds they raise, while the other half will be used to fund ground-breaking brain tumor research efforts through the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

LAST TIME OUT
- Elon suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss to Delaware in its conference opener on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Rudd Field. Dani Kabat scored the game-winner for the Blue Hens in the 94th minute. The Phoenix had its chances, outshotting the Blue Hens 12-8 in the match.

SERIES HISTORY
- The Phoenix and Cougars have met 18 times and Thursday will be the 19th all-time meeting between the two squads. In the last meeting, Elon prevailed with a 2-1 overtime victory at Patriots Point. College of Charleston has the slight 9-7-2 edge in the all-time series.

ESTRADA, HARKES, PARADOSKI EARN CAA WEEKLY HONORS
- Sophomore goalkeeper Valentina Estrada was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 3, after posting two shutouts against High Point and Richmond in Elon's 1-0-1 week. She also earned Honorable Mention honors on TopDrawerSoccer.com's Team of the Week, announced on Sept. 4.
- Freshman midfielder Lily Harkes collected her first weekly honor with the CAA Rookie of the Week award on Monday, Aug. 27. She scored her first-career goal in Elon's 1-1 draw against Western Carolina on Aug. 23.
- Junior forward Taylor Paradoski was named CAA Women's Soccer Player of the Week on Monday, Aug. 20, after scoring three goals in Elon's opening week. She tallied her first-career hat trick in Elon's 5-4 overtime thriller at Liberty on Aug. 16. It's Paradoski's first-career CAA Player of the Week honor.

THE NEIL PAYNE ERA BEGINS
- Neil Payne begins his career as the head coach of the Elon University women's soccer program after spending the last three seasons as the associate head coach at Texas Tech. He earned his first-career victory to open the season on Aug. 16, with an overtime win at Liberty.
- Prior to working with the Red Raiders, Payne spent 13 years as the Technical Director for Real Colorado and two years with Raleigh Express of the USL-A leage. The former Coastal Carolina standout also spent four seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, where the Chanticleers claimed back-to-back Big South regular season titles in his final two years.

WIN NUMBER 300
- The Elon University women's soccer won its 300th match as a program with Sunday's 2-0 victory over Richmond on Sept. 2. In its 32nd season as a program, the Phoenix started competing as a varsity program in 1986.

ABOUT ELON
- Payne inherits a Phoenix program that went 9-6-4 in 2017 and returns five of 11 starters from last year. Overall, 20 letterwinners from a season ago are back for Elon. The maroon and gold has also infused a group of 10 freshmen into the fold heading into the new season.
- The Phoenix is led by a four-member senior class of Tori Baliatico, Lauren McKeever, Jenny Riemer and Nyah Spearman. Elon also returns a 2017 All-CAA Rookie Team member in redshirt sophomore Hannah Doherty.
- Elon was picked to finish eighth in the 2018 CAA Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.

SCOUTING CHARLESTON
- The Cougars are 6-5 overall and 1-1 in conference action heading into Thursday. CofC dropped its most recent contest 2-1 against Drexel on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Patriots Point. The team opened conference play with a 2-1 victory against William & Mary.
- Laura Ortega leads the team with four goals and three assists for a team-best 11 points. College of Charleston was picked to finish 6th in the 2018 CAA Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix returns to Rudd Field on Sunday, Sept. 30, to host the Towson Tigers on Senior Day at 1 p.m.. Prior to the match, the Elon women's soccer program will recognize its four-member senior class of Tori Baliatico, Lauren McKeever, Jenny Riemer and Nyah Spearman.