NEWARK, Del. — Locked in a scoreless draw at halftime, the Elon women's soccer team conceded three second-half goals en route to a 3-0 loss to Delaware on Thursday. The defeat dropped the Phoenix's record to 6-3-2 overall and 2-1-0 in CAA play. The Blue Hens improved to 2-7-3 overall and 1-2-0 in the CAA.
 
THE RUNDOWN

• Delaware controlled possession for most of the first half, with its most threatening scoring opportunity coming in the 15th minute. Julianna Bell pounced on a loose ball near midfield and sent a long pass into the box that redirected off an Elon defender and straight to the Blue Hens' Raychel Speicher, but she drove her header wide right.
• As the first half progressed, the Phoenix gradually started producing more chances. Isa Murdock made a terrific effort in the 41st minute to beat a pair of Delaware defenders down the sideline and fire a cross into the box. The ball eventually found Ashlee Brehio, whose shot sailed just high. Murdock got another good look on goal in the 44th minute, but her shot also went high.
• Coming out of halftime tied at 0, Molly Mahoney looked like she might get Elon on the board when she sent a sharp cross into the box within the first 20 seconds, but the Blue Hens' goalkeeper, Odaliana Gomez, punched the ball away before Murdock could reach it.
• Finally, in the 55th minute, Delaware broke the scoreless draw, as Katie Hackley found the back of the net after the Phoenix defense struggled to possess a loose ball along the back line.
• Delaware quickly tacked on two more goals, with Sara D'Appolonia scoring on a penalty kick in the 64th minute and Hackley picking up her second tally 78 seconds later.
• Elon recorded eight shots in the final 25 minutes — including one by Brehio in the 86th minute that bounced off the right goalpost — but couldn't find the back of the net.

NOTES

• The loss snapped the Phoenix's six-game unbeaten streak, its longest since an eight-game stretch from Aug. 30-Sept. 25, 2015.
• Delaware scored more goals (three) than Elon allowed during its six-game unbeaten streak (two).
• The Phoenix was shut out for the first time since a 2-0 loss at James Madison on Oct. 28, 2021.
• Elon and Delaware each tallied 14 shots, but the Blue Hens held a 7-5 edge in shots on goal.
• McKenna Dalfonso's four saves were a season high.
• The match marked the Phoenix's first of the season outside of North Carolina.

UP NEXT

• Elon will continue its season-long four-match road swing Sunday, when it visits Drexel. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.