Richmond, Va. – The Elon University lacrosse team rallied for its largest comeback in program history, overcoming a five-goal deficit to defeat VCU on the road Saturday, 12-11. Elon concluded its three-game road swing to open the 2024 season with a 2-1 record, while VCU falls to 0-2 on the year.
 
Earning her first career start, redshirt freshman Ana Lee Vandiver finished with six goals and an assist for Elon. They are the first points of her young career and the six goals were just one shy of the program record.
 
Freshman Maddie Engelkraut made her collegiate debut and recorded four first-half assists. The four assists came up one short of the program record.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elon trailed 6-1 after the first quarter, a score that remained until Ana Lee Vandiver scored with 13:43 remaining in the second. The five-goal deficit is the largest overcome in the program's 11-year history.
• In a game of runs, Elon trailed 6-1 after one quarter, took a 7-6 lead into the half and then trailed 9-7 in the third. The Phoenix scored five straight over the course of the rest of the third and into the fourth to get the 12-11 victory.
• Ana Lee Vandiver scored her first career goal just 2:12 into the first quarter to tie the score at 1-1. But VCU posted five straight goals for a 6-1 advantage after one quarter.
• Elon shut out VCU in the second period and scored six in a row for a 7-6 halftime lead. Vandiver had three of the goals, while Cierra Hopson scored twice and Anna Hackett once. Maddie Engelkraut assisted on four of the six goals. Jessie Penner also had an assist during the quarter.
• VCU rebounded to start the third quarter with three straight goals to go ahead 9-7. But Sammy Fisher and Vandiver each scored in the final four minutes of the third to tie the game at 9-9.
• Bridget Kelly opened the fourth quarter scoring on a pass from Vandiver to put Elon ahead 10-9. Kailey McKenna followed with a goal with 6:13 left on an assist from Hopson.
• Vandiver scored her sixth goal of the game with 3:55 left to put Elon ahead 12-9. VCU made one last charge, scoring 68 seconds later. The Rams then closed to within one with 33 seconds left, but VCU was unable to get a shot the rest of the way and Elon held on.

 
STATS AND NOTES

• For the second straight game, Elon entered the fourth quarter tied at 9-9. Wednesday at Queens, the Royals were able to score the first three goals of the final period to take control, but Elon flipped the script Saturday.
• For the second consecutive year, Elon and VCU played a one-goal game. Last year, VCU won 9-8 in overtime on Rudd Field in Elon.
• Elon improved to 3-1 all-time against VCU with the win.
• VCU goalkeeper Ahnika Eberl was the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week last week after posting a .524 save percentage against Virginia Tech. But she was only able to record a .400 save percentage against Elon, allowing 12 goals on 20 shots on goal.
• Elon won in the draw circle for the third straight game to open the 2024 season. The Phoenix held a narrow 14-13 advantage and has a .642 team draw percentage this year. That paces ahead of the program record .620 team draw percentage from the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
• Elon's 38 goals through the first three games are the most for the program since scoring 42 in three games in 2019.
• MJ Santa Barbara entered the game ranked No. 1 in the CAA and No. 2 in the country in draw controls per game at 11.5. She had another strong game with eight against VCU.
• Caitlin Walsh made nine saves in goal, playing all 60 minutes.
• Elon outshot VCU 30-22 but each team had 20 shots on goal.
• The Phoenix held the edge in ground balls 17-13 and in caused turnovers, 11-8.
• Elon has now tied or led in the fourth quarter of every game this year.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon plays its home opener Wednesday at Furman at 5:00 p.m. Furman is 0-1 heading into a Sunday home game with Kennesaw State.
• The Phoenix will then be home against Coastal Carolina Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for Rock n' Roll at Rudd.