ELON, N.C. — Looking to end its season-long four-match road swing on a high note, the Elon women's soccer team visits Charleston on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The Phoenix enters the match at 6-5-2 overall and 2-3 in CAA play. The Cougars are 8-5-1 overall and 2-2-1 against conference opponents.
COVERAGE
SERIES HISTORY VS. CHARLESTON
- Elon is 10-10-2 all-time against the Cougars with wins in each of the last three meetings.
- The Phoenix won last year's meeting, 2-1, at Rudd Field. Sarah Bevington scored the game's first goal on a penalty kick in the 45th minute and Makenzie DePriest-Kessler struck for the game-winner in the 88th.
LAST TIME OUT
- UNCW's Kayla Burroughs scored less than five minutes into the match and the Seahawks never let up, upending Elon 4-0 on Thursday at UNCW Soccer Stadium.
- The Seahawks outshot the Phoenix 15-7 but only held a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal.
- Burroughs' five points (two goals and one assist) were tied for the most by an Elon opponent this season. Howard's Melea Earley also had five on Aug. 21.
- After scoring at least one goal in each of its first 10 matches, the Phoenix has been shut out in two of its last three.
ON THE ATTACK
- Elon's 21 goals are its most through 13 matches since opening the 2019 season with 31. That stretch included an eight-goal effort against Hampton.
- The Phoenix scored 21 goals all last season.
- Eight players (Ashlee Brehio, Rachel Buckle, Jessica Carrieri, Abby Fusca, Bethany Harford, Kennedy Jones, Molly Mahoney and Isa Murdock) have scored, with Brehio leading the way with five goals. The Phoenix has also benefitted from two own goals.
- Brehio's five goals are the most by an Elon freshman through 13 matches since Carrieri scored six to begin the 2019 season. Carrieri went on to finish the year with nine goals, earning her a spot on the All-CAA third team and the all-rookie team.
- The freshman trio of Brehio, Buckle and Murdock has played a key role in Elon's success, combining for 19 (seven goals and five assists) of the Phoenix's 37 points over the last nine matches. They tallied four points (two goals) in Elon's first four matches.
- The Phoenix entered the year looking to replace 66.7 percent (14-of-21) of its goals from last season, including its top scorer in Carson Jones (six goals).
DOMINANT DALFONSO
- With five shutouts this season, McKenna Dalfonso is up to 17 for her career, tied with Tracy Shuford (1990-93) for the fourth most in school history. Heather Kline holds the record of 20, set from 1988-91.
- Dalfonso's five shutouts this season are tied for the 46th most in the country.
- Dalfonso's 1.17 career goals against average is the sixth best in Elon history (min. 25 games).
- Dalfonso has logged 3,555 career minutes, the sixth most by a Phoenix goalkeeper since the statistic started being tracked in 1988. She's also sixth among goalkeepers in games started (statistic kept since 1992) and ninth in games played at 39.
- Katrin Hauksdottir drew the start in goal for Elon's Senior Day match against Longwood on Sept. 11. It marked the first time a goalkeeper not named Dalfonso started for the Phoenix since she arrived on campus before the spring 2021 season, a span of 33 matches.
CONSISTENT KENNEDY
- Midfielder Kennedy Jones has played 1,136 of 1,170 possible minutes (97.1%) this season. She's averaged 87.4 per match and gone the full 90 in eight of the last 10.
- This comes after she played 688 minutes over 16 matches (43 per game) as a true freshman last season.
- Said head coach Neil Payne: "As a staff, we've been really impressed with Kennedy because we've asked her to adjust her game over the last year or so, and she's bought into that. You can see the positive changes within her game that are allowing her to play to such a high standard. We've been very impressed with how she's adapted."
PRESEASON CAA POLL & ALL-CAA TEAM
- Elon was picked to finish sixth in the 2022 CAA Preseason Poll. UNCW was selected as the conference's preseason favorite, collecting seven of 12 first-place votes.
- Midfielder Abby Fusca and defender Katie Lowe earned preseason honorable mention All-CAA honors.
- Fusca started all 16 matches she appeared in last season and finished fifth on the team in total points and tied for the team lead in assists with three. The Vienna, Va., native was second on the squad in shots on goal and manned 1,469 minutes on the pitch – third most among Elon returners.
- Lowe tied Fusca in the team lead in assists with three and started all 17 games on the backline for the Phoenix last fall. The Charlotte, N.C., native played 1,546 minutes last year, the most among returning position players. Lowe also received preseason honorable mention All-CAA recognition last season.
SCOUTING CHARLESTON
- Charleston is 8-5-1 overall and 2-2-1 in CAA play, tied for seventh in the league.
- The Cougars were picked to finish 11th in the CAA Preseason Poll.
- Charleston went 3-12-3 overall and 2-6-1 in CAA play last season, finishing last in the conference.
- The Cougars rank in the top 60 nationally in shots per game (18.86, 18th), total goals (29, 28th), total points (79, 39th), shots on goal per game (7.71, 41st) and goals per game (2.07, 56th).
- Charleston is led by senior forward Grace Powell, who is tied for second in the CAA in goals (eight) and third in points (18). She's totaled 43 shots, including 22 on goal.
UP NEXT
- Elon will return to Rudd Field for its final two regular-season home matches, beginning Thursday against Hampton. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
-- ELON --
