ELON, N.C. — Freshman Isa Murdock scored her first career goal and senior Abby Fusca tallied her first score of the season as the Elon University women's soccer played to a 3-3 draw with Howard on Sunday at Rudd Field. The Phoenix is now 1-0-1 on the young season.
 
THE RUNDOWN

• For the second time in as many matches, Elon scored first, this time on an own goal in the 18th minute. Fusca initiated the attack with a great run down the sideline before feeding the ball ahead to Jessica Carrieri — whose threatening cross was deflected into the goal by a Howard defender.
• The Phoenix tacked on its second goal in the 32nd minute, when Murdock burned a defender down the sideline and then buried a shot into the top left corner for her first career goal.
• Both teams combined for just three shots in the first 17 minutes of the second half, but in the 63rd minute, Fusca struck for her first goal of the season from about 20 yards out.
• As quickly as the Phoenix pulled ahead 3-0, Howard fought back, as Melea Earley scored her team's first goal in the 65th minute.
• Having finally gained some momentum, the Bison wasted little time adding two more goals, tying the score at 3 in the 78th minute.
• Elon threatened with five shots in the final nine minutes, but the Phoenix couldn't find the back of the net.

NOTES

• Elon's six goals are its most through two games since opening the 2017 campaign with six.
• Murdock became the first Phoenix freshman to score a goal within the first two games of a season since Bethany Harford scored in her first career game on Aug. 22, 2019, against Canisius.
• Freshman Rachel Buckle and sophomore Anna Hamner each played for the first time in their Elon careers.
• Katie Lowe and Lydia Totten also made their season debuts.
• Elon's freshmen accounted for 11 of the team's 19 shots, as Ashlee Brehio and Murdock led the way with four and Buckle attempted three.

UP NEXT
Elon's season-opening five-game homestand will continue against Virginia Tech next Sunday, August 28. The match is set for 7 p.m. at Rudd Field.