Elon, N.C. – Elon lacrosse sophomore goalie Chloe Herghelegiu made a career-high 13 saves but VCU scored late in regulation and then added the golden goal in overtime to defeat the Phoenix 9-8 Saturday. VCU improved to 2-1 with the win and Elon dropped to 1-2.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elon and VCU went back and forth throughout the day but freshman Anna Hackett got Elon on the board first with a goal just a minute into the game.
• VCU answered with three straight but Elon's Mikaela Buoscio scored her first of the year to cut the deficit to one at 3-2 after one.
• VCU built a 5-2 lead in the second but Elon rallied back. Camryn Levin's goal with 3:05 remaining in the half made it 5-3 and Hackett posted her second goal with 1:23 to go to get the Phoenix within one at the break.
• Elon scored the first three goals of the third, two from Hackett and one from Kaley Ehnow for a 7-5 advantage.
• VCU tied the game at 7-7 with two straight goals but Elon's leading scorer Cierra Hopson recorded her eighth goal of the year with 8:59 to play.
• The Phoenix held the 8-7 lead until VCU's Morgan Reed tied the game with 3:02 to play.
• In overtime, VCU won the opening draw and scored 80 seconds later to get the 9-8 win.

 
STATS AND NOTES

• Freshman Anna Hackett scored a career-best four goals. It was her second hat trick in as many games and gives her eight goals on the year, tied for the team high.
• Chloe Herghelegiu and VCU's Meghna Dawar put on a show in goal. Herghelegiu had 13 saves and a 59.1 save percentage. Dawar saved half of the 16 shots on goal she faced.
• Cierra Hopson had a goal and an assist for two points.
• Herghelegiu and true freshman Jessie Penner led Elon with three ground balls.
• Along with her four goals, Hackett had a team-best three caused turnovers. Brooke Scheuermann added two.
• Elon was 3-of-7 on free position shots with Hackett going 2-for-2.
• Elon held a 19-17 advantage in shots through three periods but VCU outshot Elon 14-1 in the fourth and 1-0 in overtime for a 32-20 edge.
• Similarly, VCU held an 8-1 advantage in shots on goal in the fourth for a 22-16 edge in the game.
• Elon committed 10 turnovers, four fewer than VCU.
• Both teams were nearly perfect on clear attempts. Elon was 21-of-22 and VCU was 15-of-15.
• Elon held a 16-12 advantage in ground balls but VCU won in the circle with a 16-5 edge in draw controls.
• Elon has held a lead in the fourth quarter in all three of its games this year.

 
FROM THE COACH
"It's tough losing two one-goal games already. As a coaching staff, we need to be sure that we are fully prepared to play. Anna Hackett is gaining more confidence with every practice and every game. It was good to see her have a breakout game today." – Head Coach Josh Hexter
 
UP NEXT

• After three consecutive home games to start the year, Elon heads on the road for three straight.
• The Phoenix will play at George Mason Thursday at 5:00 p.m. before playing at Coastal Carolina on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 12:00 p.m. and at Virginia on Sunday, March 5 at 12:00 p.m.
• Elon's next home game will be Wednesday, March 8 against Virginia Tech at 5:00 p.m.