ELON, N.C. — Abby Fusca scored in the seventh minute and the Elon women's soccer team never looked back en route to a dominant 2-0 win over Hampton on Thursday at Rudd Field.
 
With the victory, the Phoenix improved to 8-5-2 overall and 4-3 in CAA play, tied for fourth in the league with 12 points. The Pirates fell to 2-12 overall and 0-7 against conference foes.
 
"I'm pleased with the chances we created," said head coach Neil Payne. "We need to be more clinical in front of the goal, but the most important thing is we earned three points. What was particularly pleasing was we got to rotate the squad and kept some players fresh in certain areas, and that's obviously beneficial for us going into Sunday against William & Mary."
 
THE RUNDOWN
 

• Playing its first home match in almost three weeks, Elon wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as Fusca tracked down a long pass near the right side of the penalty box and then beat the goalkeeper one-on-one to give the Phoenix a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.
• Elon proceeded to outshoot Hampton 10-0 over the rest of the first half but couldn't find the back of the net. Perhaps the Phoenix's most threatening chance came in the 38th minute, when Molly Mahoney sent a dangerous cross into a crowded a box. No Elon player, however, connected with it.
• The Phoenix eventually struck for its second goal in the 59th minute. Beky Myers ripped a shot from the top of the box that bounced off a Hampton defender, and Ashlee Brehio pounced on the loose ball in front of the goal and slotted it into the lower left corner for the 2-0 lead.
• Elon looked like it might tack on a third goal several times the rest of the way, but it couldn't capitalize on any of its chances — including a saved penalty kick by Fusca in the 61st minute.

 
NOTES
 

• Elon's 32 shots were its most since tallying 33 against Gardner-Webb on Sept. 9, 2021.
• Hampton's three shots were the fewest by a Phoenix opponent since Gardner-Webb posted three in that same match last season.
• Fusca added to her career-best goal total with her fourth score of the season. She's up to 10 points on the year, also a career high.
• Brehio's goal marked her team-best sixth of the season, the most by an Elon freshman since Jessica Carrieri scored nine in 2019.
• Myers' assist was her team-best fifth of the season and her second in as many matches. She entered this year with four assists over her first three seasons combined.
• McKenna Dalfonso posted her sixth shutout of the season and the 18th of her career, moving her into a tie with Kris Porter (1986-87) for the second most in school history. Heather Kline holds the record of 20, set from 1988-91.
• Isa Murdock led the Phoenix with a career-high six shots. Kerri Coffman's five shots were also a career high and matched her season total entering Thursday.

 
THE BIG PICTURE
 
With the win, Elon enters its final two regular-season matches tied with Towson for fourth in the CAA with 12 points. The Phoenix also stands just two points behind Drexel, Monmouth and Northeastern for first in the league.
 
"We knew from the beginning of the season that this would be one of the tightest title races, and the current standings are proof of that," Payne said. "We're currently sitting two points off first place, and we're in good company. We just came off a really difficult four-game road series over the last two weeks, so we're happy we're at home this Sunday. We've got everything to play for, so we're looking forward to it."

UP NEXT

• Elon will host William & Mary in its final regular-season home game Sunday at Rudd Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.