ELON, N.C. – Behind a six-goal, five-draw control day from Kaley Thompson and a late spark on defense, Elon University women's lacrosse earned a 13-11 victory Friday night, April 5, in the CAA opener against Drexel at Rudd Field.
 
THE RUNDOWN
The Phoenix (3-8, 1-0 CAA) got off to a hot start, scoring the game's first five goals in the opening 9:05 with Thompson scoring three times during the run. Though Drexel (5-6, 0-1 CAA) ended the early run, the Phoenix added two more in the following minutes to take a 7-1 lead with 18:19 to go in the first half.
 
Down the stretch in the opening frame, Drexel closed on a 5-2 run and added three more goals in the opening 14 minutes of the second half to knot the game at 9-9. Quinn Daly ended Drexel's stretch with 15:46 to play and the two sides went back and forth trading goals until the game was tied 11-11 with 12:03 to go.
 
In the final 5:20, Cate Mackel scored her sixth goal of the year on a feed from Meri Curtin to give Elon the lead for good. With 1:41 to play, Cami Lynch gave the Phoenix a two-goal cushion with her 12th strike of the year to put the victory away. While the offense tallied twice to put the game away, Elon's defense did its part in holding Drexel off the board throughout the final 12:03 with Paulina DiFatta making three saves.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
Thompson's six goals mark the most by an Elon player in a game thus far this season for the Phoenix. She also collected half of Elon's 10 draw controls on the day. No other Elon athlete scored more than two goals with Lynch and McGlynn tallying twice. Lynch also added an assist for three points. Curtin and DiFatta led the Phoenix with three ground balls and Gillian Curran forced four caused turnovers.

Drexel was paced by Cassidy Delaney's three goals with Colleen Grady and Caroline Cummings scoring twice. Karson Harris had a big day, picking up four ground balls with two caused turnovers and eight draw controls.
 
UP NEXT
Elon will return to action Sunday, April 7, with its second CAA game of the year against Hofstra. Opening draw on Phoenix All-Access is set for 1 p.m.