HIGH POINT, N.C. – A late goal by sophomore
Jess Beck proved to be the game winner for the Elon University women's soccer team (4-0-1) Sunday night at High Point (0-3-2), as the Phoenix topped the Panthers, 1-0.
Beck converted in the 77th minute on a rebound following a shot from
Isa Murdock. The Phoenix held on from there to earn a fourth straight victory.
In goal,
Katie Bisgrove anchored a fourth consecutive clean sheet for the Phoenix, stopping all seven High Point shots on goal. Elon has gone just over 373 minutes without conceding a goal, a streak that started in the season opener at VCU.
The Phoenix has now won 11 straight games versus non-conference opponents and remains unbeaten through its first five games for the second consecutive season.
How It Happened
- Elon applied pressure on High Point in the opening 20 minutes of the contest, attempting four shots, three of which came from Ashlee Brehio.
- Brehio's best effort in the opening stretch came in the 10th minute on a rising shot that forced High Point goalkeeper Aubrey McKessy to make a leaping one-handed save.
- The Phoenix fired three more shots in the first half but did not find the target with any, as the teams entered the locker room tied, 0-0.
- The second half saw the Panthers create early chances, with Bisgrove stopping three attempts in the first 15 minutes.
- Elon finally broke the scoreless tie in the 77th minute. Gabby Hoschek fed Murdock in the midfield, who dribbled her way past a High Point defender and into the box. She ripped a low shot from the top center of the box that McKessy lunged to save, but the rebound popped out toward Beck, who beat McKessy in the bottom right corner of the goal for the match's first tally.
- High Point got three more shot attempts off following Beck's marker but could not find the equalizer, as the Phoenix held on for a 1-0 victory.
Notes & Numbers
- Beck's goal was the second of her Elon career and her first ever game-winning goal. The sophomore has three points (1g, 1a) off the bench in the last two wins for the Phoenix.
- Murdock's assist was her second of the campaign as she now leads the Phoenix in points (6) through the first five games.
- Bisgrove became the first Elon goalkeeper to post four straight shutout victories in a season since McKenna Dalfonso did so in the spring 2021 season. Bisgrove has been in the net for all 373:28 of Elon's current shutout streak.
- Bisgrove's seven saves were one shy of her season-high tally of eight which came in the season opener at VCU. The sophomore is now up to 9.5 career shutouts.
- Brehio led the Phoenix in shot attempts, taking five of 10 for Elon on the night.
- Grace Gelhaus, Jessica Hill and Alexis Pierce logged the full 90 minutes for the Phoenix on the backline, with Ava Hellner going the full distance in the midfield. Hoschek went 88 minutes in the Phoenix midfield.
- The victory was Elon's first at High Point since 2000, snapping a streak of seven straight draws or losses at High Point for the Phoenix.
- Elon improves to 16-3-7 all-time against the Panthers with the victory and has now won the last three matches between the squads that have not ended in a draw.
Up Next
Elon welcomes ACC opponent NC State to Rudd Field on Thursday. The contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Stay Posted
For further coverage of Elon women's soccer, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonWSoccer), Instagram (elonwsoccer) and Facebook (Elon Women's Soccer).
--ELON--
