ELON, N.C. — Isa Murdock scored off a set piece in the 53rd minute and the Elon women's soccer team rode a dominant defensive performance to a 1-0 victory over Monmouth on Sunday at Rudd Field.
 
With the win, the Phoenix improved to 6-2-2 overall and 2-0 in CAA play for the first time since joining the conference. The Hawks dropped just their second match of the season, falling to 8-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.
 
"I'm very happy with the weekend, coming away with six points against two very good teams in Monmouth and Northeastern that will finish in the top four or five in the conference," said head coach Neil Payne. "I'm particularly proud of the group because they're learning how to manage games, we're tactically flexible and they're implementing the game plan. Because they're buying into that, we're picking up good points against good opponents."

THE RUNDOWN

• Making her first start of the year, Lydia Totten wasted little time tallying Elon's first shot, firing a laser from about 36 yards out just 12 seconds into the game. The ball sailed over the crossbar, and the Phoenix ultimately didn't attempt another shot until Murdock's in the 53rd minute.
• Monmouth's only two first-half shots came in quick succession, as Julia Evernham and Maddison Perna each got one off in a 10-second span about midway through the half. Both shots, however, were blocked by Elon defenders.
• The Phoenix finally broke through for the match's lone goal in the 53rd minute. After Jessica Carrieri drew a foul to set up a free kick, Emilia Cappellett sent a beautiful ball into the box that found Murdock. The freshman got her head on the ball, and it took one bounce before hitting the right post and rolling into the net.
• Monmouth turned up the offensive pressure from there, and over the next 37 minutes, it came close to scoring on multiple occasions. Perhaps no chance was more threatening than when the Hawks drew a free kick along the left side of the box in the 63rd minute, but as she did several times in the second half, McKenna Dalfonso did a terrific job snagging a dangerous cross near the goal.
• Another decent look for Monmouth came in the 82nd minute, when A'Liah Moore tried to beat Beky Myers along the end line. The senior defender made a sensational sliding tackle, though, and the ball bounced off Moore, resulting in a goal kick.

NOTES

• Elon is 2-0 in CAA play for the first time since joining the conference before the 2014 season. The start is the Phoenix's best in any sort of league play since winning its first three SoCon matches in 2009.
• Elon has opened CAA play with back-to-back shutouts. It's the first time the Phoenix has opened any sort of conference play with consecutive clean sheets since 2000, when Elon was a member of the Big South.
• The shutout marked the 17th of Dalfonso's career, moving her into a tie with Tracy Shuford (1990-93) for the fourth most in school history.
• The Phoenix's six-match unbeaten streak is its longest since an eight-game stretch from Aug. 30-Sept. 25, 2015.
• With Murdock's goal, the freshman trio of her, Ashlee Brehio and Rachel Buckle have combined for 16 (six goals and four assists) of 32 points during the team's six-match unbeaten streak. They totaled four points (two goals) in Elon's first four matches.
• Murdock's goal, her third of the season, moved her into a tie with Brehio and Abby Fusca for the team lead in points (eight).
• Cappellett's assist was her second of the season and career. The other, which came in the Phoenix's 2-1 win against UNCG on Sept. 16, also came on a set piece that produced a game-winner.
• Elon's two shots were its fewest since registering one against South Carolina on March 25, 2021. The Phoenix was also held without a corner kick.
• Monmouth's only other loss this season came against then-No. 10 Penn State on Aug. 28.
• The match marked the first between Elon and Monmouth, which joined the CAA in July.

UP NEXT

• Elon will begin a four-match road swing Thursday when it visits Delaware. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.