Elon, N.C.- The Elon Phoenix (1-0) return to the pitch after a ten-day absence to host the Queens University of Charlotte Royals (2-1) Sunday night. The two will meet for the first time since 1997 when the two collide at 7 pm on Rudd Field.
 
The Phoenix looks to make it two wins from two games Sunday night following a 1-0 win over George Mason last Thursday. Lydia Totten secured the game's only goal to give the Phoenix the win.
 
How to Follow

• Sunday's game with Queens will be streamed on FloFC, and you can watch the game by CLICKING HERE.
• Live stats will be available for the matchup with the Royals and will be available by CLICKING HERE.
• Live updates will be available on both X and Instagram during the match @ElonWSoccer.

 
The All-Time Series

• Elon leads the all-time series against the Royals, 3-1.
• The Phoenix and Queens met four times during the 1990's while they both were in Division II.
• The last matchup was in 1997 with Elon prevailing 3-2.  

 
 
Last Time Out

• Elon defeated George Mason, 1-0, following a first half goal from Lydia Totten and a shutout from the Elon defense.
• The Phoenix started off strong with the first attack resulting in the first shot, coming off the foot of Isa Murdock, just two minutes into the match.
• Elon continued to pile on the pressure in the first 15 minutes, firing off four shots over a five-minute span in the first half. A shot from Gabby Hoschek drew a save out of the Patriots for the first shot on goal.
• The Phoenix offense continued to dictate the pace and possession with several chances coming from corner kicks.
• Katie Bisgrove was tested for the first time in the 15^th minute following a turnover from the Phoenix. Bisgrove made a quick reaction save to keep the match tied.
• Lydia Totten put the Phoenix on the board first with a left-footed shot coming off a low-driven cross from Jordan Green.
• Elon continued to boss the possession with another opportunity off a corner kick from the head of Olivia McManes.
• George Mason came out with an increased energy in the second half, earning an opportunity from a free kick. The cross would find the gloves of Katie Bisgrove to keep Elon's 1-0 intact.
• Teams traded possession for a majority of the second half, with both teams creating minimal chances. Elon was able to create a few clear-cut chances in the final 15 minutes following set piece opportunities.
• Rachel Buckle nearly doubled the Phoenix lead from 35 yards out as her free kick nicked the hand of the George Mason keeper which kept the score at 1-0.
• Elon's defense was able to nail down the victory with a number of clearances and grabs by Bisgrove in net to preserve Elon's home opening win.

 
 
Preseason All-Conference

• Sophomore forward Grace Gelhaus and graduate defender Katie Lowe were both selected to the Preseason All-CAA team honorable mention, released by the conference last Wednesday.
• Gelhaus is awarded the honor following two post-season honors last season with Katie Lowe receiving her third preseason All-CAA nod.  Dalfonso was one of three goalkeepers named to the preseason list and Jones joins her sister Carson as the only Phoenix sisters to both receive all-conference selections.
• Grace Gelhaus is coming off one of the best freshman seasons in recent Elon history. Gelhaus was selected to the All-Rookie team as well as All-CAA Third Team by the coaches last season. Gelhaus tied for the team lead in points (12)  and led the Phoenix in assists (4). She finished second among CAA freshmen last season in points and tied for the conference lead in assists among first-years.
• Katie Lowe returns to the preseason All-CAA list for the third time in five years. The graduate student was selected during the 2021 season following an All-CAA Rookie Team selection and Elon's first CAA Tournament title in 2020. Lowe enters her fifth year having made 59 starts in 61 career games and serving as an integral part of Elon's backline.

 
About the Phoenix

• The Phoenix returns its top 10 point producers from a season ago including all four double-digit point players: Grace Gelhaus, Lydia Totten, Ashlee Brehio, and Gabby Hoschek.
• The Phoenix returns six players who made at least ten starts a season ago including three key midfielders: Rachel Buckle, Kennedy Jones and Hoschek.  
• Forward Isa Murdock makes her return to the lineup following a redshirted season in 2023. During her first campaign, the Colorado native finished with three goals and two assists.
• Elon's active leading goal scorer Ashlee Brehio following her four-goal season a year ago returns as well. Brehio who was selected to TopDrawer Top 100 Freshman List for her efforts as a first year.
• Elon was projected to finish 11th in the CAA preseason poll.
• In three of the past five seasons, the Phoenix have exceeded preseason predictions. Not only winning the CAA title in 2020-21, but in 2019 when the Phoenix were predicted to finish ninth and reached the CAA Tournament semifinals.
• Phoenix head coach Neil Payne enters his seventh season with Elon. Payne enters the season eight wins away from 50 in his head coaching career with the Phoenix.

 
Scouting Queens

• Queens was projected as the 9^th seed in the A-Sun Presason poll released earlier this month.
• Last season, the Royals finished with a 4-7-8 record while picking up nine points in A-Sun play.
• Lucie Platt returns as the team's top goal scorer from a season ago and led the team in points with six.
• Queens enters the matchup with a 2-1 record following back-to-back wins against South Carolina State and Western Carolina.
• Shannon Neely Noel enters her third season coaching the Royals.

 
Youth Movement

• Coach Payne and coach Sean Sandoval brought in another strong recruiting class featuring seven players from around the US and Canada. The class features two goalkeepers, a pair of defenders, two midfielders and a forward.
• 7 of the 28 members are first years while 16 of the members of the squad are still underclassman.
• Two of the sophomores happen to be twins, Maya and Jenna Abousaab. The Abousaab twins are one of just 22 pairs of twins in NCAA Division I women's soccer.
• The class of 2027 features two local Raleigh products in Iliana Pardo and Gabby Hoschek. Pardo hailing from Leesville Road High School has represented the Puerto Rican U-20 women's national team. Hoschek started every match for her USL W-League team, Wake FC, tallying four goals and two assists last summer.

 
Payne Adds to Staff

• Elon University women's soccer head coach Neil Payne announced two new additions to its coaching staff earlier this week. Clifton Bush and Jenifer Thomas will both join the staff of the women's soccer program for their upcoming season. 
• Clifton Bush joins the staff after serving as an assistant coach at Bellarmine University in Louisville. Bush has coached both at the collegiate and professional level following a four-year stint in the NWSL. Bush comes to Elon with North Carolina roots, having been the head coach at UNC Asheville from 2019-21. Bush was also an assistant with the Bulldogs for two seasons, working primarily with the goalkeepers.
•  Thomas joins the staff following a stint as youth coach at Real Colorado. She has been at the club since 2010, working with the ECNL and Athletico/Olympico teams. In 2017, she helped lead the U15 Real Colorado Olympico team to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. Thomas strengthens the Colorado connection, joining head coach Neil Payne and Sean Sandoval who both spent time at the club.

 
Colorado Connection

• For over a decade, Head Coach Neil Payne was the technical director for Real Colorado SC and has kept strong ties with the club. Payne has created a recruiting pipeline for the Phoenix and this year's roster is ripe with Colorado talent.
• A pair of players come directly from the Real Colorado system with two forwards representing the club. Both senior Lydia Totten and redshirt-sophomore Isa Murdock both come from the club.  
• Another Colorado native is redshirt-freshman Ava Werner, who spent her time with the Colorado Rush on the Girl's Academy circuit. Werner hails from Boulder, Colo.
• Most recently, the Phoenix announced an addition to the coaching staff in Jen Thomas. A former standout at Texas Tech and the University of Kansas, Thomas spent time as a youth coach with Real Colorado. She joins Sean Sandoval as the second assistant coach to showcase youth ties with the club.