ELON, N.C. — For the second time in as many matches, the Elon University women's soccer team (1-1-1) will face an ACC opponent as the Phoenix welcomes No. 17 NC State to Rudd Field on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

COVERAGE 

• Live stats and video will be provided.

SERIES HISTORY VS. NC STATE

• Elon is 0-15 all-time against NC State.
• The Wolfpack outlasted the Phoenix, 1-0, in last year's meeting in Raleigh, N.C. McKenna Dalfonso made five saves while facing a career-high 22 shots.
• Thursday's match will be the seventh between the two teams at Elon. The last came on Sept. 4, 2017, when NC State won 5-0.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Phoenix is coming off its first loss of the season on Sunday, a 5-1 defeat against Virginia Tech at Rudd Field.
• Rachel Buckle scored her first career goal, becoming the second Elon freshman — along with Isa Murdock — to notch a goal this season.
• Beky Myers picked up her first assist of the season on Buckle's goal. In doing so, she equaled her point total from the entire 2021 season and now has nine career points (two goals, five assists).

 ON THE ATTACK

• The Phoenix was tied for 57th nationally in goals per game (2.33) and 75th in total goals (seven) through Tuesday's games.
• Elon's seven goals are its most through three games since opening the 2017 campaign with seven.
• Six players (Rachel Buckle, Abby Fusca, Bethany Harford, Kennedy Jones, Molly Mahoney and Isa Murdock) have scored. The team's other goal came via an own goal by Howard.
• 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

• McKenna Dalfonso registered her 13th career shutout in Elon's season-opening win over American, moving her into sole possession for the seventh most in program history.
• Dalfonso's 1.12 career goals against average is the fifth best in Phoenix history (min. 25 games).
• Dalfonso has logged 2,745 career minutes, the 10th most by an Elon goalkeeper since the statistic started being tracked in 1988.

 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 NC STATE

• NC State is 3-0-1 with wins over Rhode Island, VCU and Campbell and a draw against Georgetown.
• The Wolfpack is ranked No. 17 in this week's Top Drawer Soccer Poll. It also received 16 votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
• NC State tied for seventh in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The Wolfpack went 9-9-2 last season, finishing 10th in the ACC.
• Forward Jameese Joseph represented NC State on the preseason All-ACC team after earning second-team All-ACC honors last season. Through four matches, she leads the Wolfpack in goals (three), points (seven) and shots (17).
• NC State ranks in the top 50 nationally in total assists (11, 22nd), assists per game (2.75, 27th), total points (29, 38th), total goals (nine, 45th) and points per game (7.25, 46th).

UP NEXT

• Elon will conclude its season-opening five-match homestand against UNC Asheville at 7 p.m. Sunday at Rudd Field.