Elon, N.C. – Despite hat tricks from three different players, the Elon lacrosse team fell behind in the middle two quarters and were unable to overcome the deficit in a 16-11 loss to East Carolina Sunday at rainy Rudd Field. ECU improves to 7-1 with the win and Elon falls to 3-5.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elon jumped out quickly, scoring three of the game's first four goals. Cierra Hopson, Kaley Ehnow and Camryn Levin each got on the scoreboard early for the Phoenix.
• ECU, though, rebounded and tied the score at 4-4. The Pirates then took the lead for the first time by scoring with less than a second remaining in the first quarter.
• Ehnow's second goal came with 10:50 remaining in the first half and tied the score at 5-5. But ECU would go on a 7-0 run spanning the second and third quarters to pull away.
• Hopson's second goal finally ended the East Carolina onslaught but the Pirates scored two more in the third and the first goal of the fourth for a 15-6 lead.
• Anna Hackett scored the first of her three fourth-period goals to make it 15-7 but ECU responded for another nine-goal lead.
• Elon, though, took over on the draw control and scored four times in less than three minutes. Levin and Ehnow scored the first two and Hackett posted back-to-back tallies just 48 seconds apart to make it 16-11.
• From there, ECU was able to steady the ship and the Pirates ran out the clock with long possessions.

 
NOTES AND STATS

• Anna Hackett, Kaley Ehnow and Camryn Levin scored three apiece, while Cierra Hopson added two for all of Elon's 11 goals. Ehnow added an assist for a team-best four points on the day.
• Just a freshman, Hackett recorded her third consecutive hat trick and her fifth in eight career games. She has 19 goals on the season, tied with Hopson for the team lead.
• Ehnow recorded the first three-goal game of her career. She had scored twice in three consecutive games prior to Sunday.
• Levin earned her third hat trick of the season, a welcome addition to the Elon offense after going scoreless in Elon's last two contests. She scored four goals each in wins at George Mason and at Coastal Carolina.
• Hopson, just a sophomore, now has 42 career goals, tied with Kelsey Dupere (2015-18) for 10th-most in program history. Her 57 career points are tied with Dupere and Molly Garrigan (2014-15) for ninth in program history.
• Elon outshot ECU 30-22, including 10-3 in the fourth quarter.
• The Phoenix had a 19-10 edge in draw controls. The +9 advantage in draw controls was the most for the team since holding an 18-7 edge over Radford on March 10, 2021.
• ECU was 16-of-17 on clear attempts and Elon was 7-of-8.
• Jessie Penner led the team with seven draw controls as well as two ground balls.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon takes the short trip to High Point (1-4) Wednesday to face the Panthers at 5 p.m.
• The Phoenix will remain on the road to open CAA play Saturday at Monmouth at 11 a.m.