ELON – The Elon University women's soccer team opened its season with a 1-1 tie against VCU on Aug. 14. Since then, Elon has played six matches, in which the Phoenix has captured five more wins and one tie to hold a 5-0-2 record.
But more impressive than the unbeaten start is that each of the last six matches has ended in a shutout for the Phoenix. Behind sophomore goalkeeper Katie Bisgrove and a strong back line, Elon's women's soccer team has been able to successfully shut out opposing offenses, tying a program-record of consecutive clean sheets set in 1986.
"I just have so much faith in my defense," Bisgrove said. "I think we've done a lot of building this year, and it's really paying off. Everybody from the forwards down to the back line really put their hearts out on the field, and I think that's what mattered the most in this game. We just knew we could rely on each other."
The most recent home match for the Phoenix was a tie against NC State. The defense did its job, defending 20 shots as Bisgrove picked up six saves along the way. She was a brick wall for Elon, grabbing any ball that flew her direction.
"It comes down to the ruthless mentality. We knew we were the underdogs going in. So just having that gritty mindset to give them everything we have, and not looking back."
Bisgrove is coming off her third CAA Defensive Player of the Week recognition of the season on Monday and her six shutouts are the most in the country. As a team, Elon ranks second nationally in shutout percentage, total shutouts and goals against average, as well as third in save percentage
"It's really a reflection on the team as a whole, and the work we've been putting in day in and day out," Bisgrove said of the shutout record. "It shows the rest of the teams that we're ready to compete."
With a lot of season still yet to come, the Phoenix has yet to take a loss and is one of 25 remaining unbeaten teams in Division I women's soccer entering Wednesday's game against South Carolina State. The team will look to keep building momentum to become a contender heading into CAA play.
"We just are going to keep doing what we've been doing," Bisgrove said. "The coaches have really done a good job of cultivating a positive environment where we step out on the pitch every day and we're ready to work hard, be disciplined, but also have fun. I think we've just got to keep that energy going. We had a good season last year, but we're not going to settle. We're ready for more."
'Rising Phoenix' is a student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department's various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on X (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Sydney Spencer at sspencer9@elon.edu.
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