RICHMOND, Va. – The Elon University women's soccer team extended its unbeaten streak in season openers to 15 on Thursday with a 1-1 tie at VCU.

Isa Murdock found the back of the net in the 34th minute for Elon's first goal this season, converting on the team's first shot on target of the night. The Rams leveled the score late in the second half, but Katie Bisgrove stood tall in goal down the stretch for the Phoenix, finishing the night with eight saves, including six after halftime.  
 
With the result, the Phoenix is now 6-0-2 in season openers under head coach Neil Payne and 11-0-4 on opening day over the last 15 seasons.  

How It Happened 

• Neither team registered a shot until the Rams sent a slow roller toward Bisgrove in the 14th minute that the sophomore goalkeeper comfortably handled. VCU fired three more shots off target before Ava Hellner delivered Elon's first shot attempt of the campaign in the 27th minute.
• In the 34th minute, Murdock received the ball near midfield from Gabby Hoschek and worked her way into VCU territory. The redshirt junior turned upfield and evaded a defender before firing a low shot from just outside the box that beat the VCU goalkeeper and found the bottom left corner of the net for Elon's first tally of the season.
• The Phoenix came close to doubling its lead minutes later, as Hoschek finished off a cross sent from inside the box courtesy of Jess Beck. However, the play was ruled offsides.
• Elon staved off a valiant push from VCU in the closing minutes of the first half to take a 1-0 advantage into halftime.   
• VCU generated several quality scoring chances early in the second half, none better than a long-range effort in the 56th minute that forced Bisgrove to make a leaping save with one hand. Bisgrove made four saves in the first 15 minutes of the second half to keep the Rams off the scoresheet.  
• Bisgrove made another impressive stop in the 72nd minute to maintain Elon's clean sheet, again jumping to prevent a VCU shot finding the net.  
• VCU's relentless second-half pressure finally resulted in an equalizer, as a shot in from Vivian Vendt in the 77th minute curled its way past Bisgrove and into the top left corner for a goal.  
• Elon responded with pressure on VCU's end of the field, generating three corner kick opportunities in the final 13 minutes. However, neither team found a winning goal, with the game ending in a 1-1 tie.  

  
Notes and Numbers 

• Bisgrove's eight saves matched her career high, which she set at Towson last season. The Preseason All-CAA selection stopped six of VCU's seven shots on goal in the second half.
• Murdock's first-half goal was the ninth of her career. It was Elon's lone shot on goal in the first half and one of only two for the team on the night.
• VCU outshot Elon 18-4 and finished with a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal.
• The Rams took nine corner kicks compared to just four for Elon.
• Six Elon players went the full 90 minutes - Hellner, Hoschek, Grace Gelhaus, Jessica Hill, Jordan Green and Alexis Pierce. 
• Three players made their Elon debut, highlighted by Talia Feigin, who started and played 36 minutes for the Phoenix. Freshman Abby Brinker saw 32 minutes of action, while Gia Milano played 21 minutes.   

  
Up Next 
Elon returns to Rudd Field for its home opener Sunday against VMI. The contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.  
  
Stay Posted 
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