RICHMOND, Va. – Hannah Doherty scored the game-winning goal in the 48th minute and assisted Carson Jones’ opening goal as the Elon University women’s soccer team defeated the Richmond Spiders 2-1 on Thursday evening, Sept. 7, at E. Claiborne Robins Stadium.
Jones opened the scoring in the 16th minute lobbing Doherty’s pass over the goalkeeper for her second of the season to give the Phoenix a 1-0 lead. After Richmond scored just over 10 minutes before halftime, Doherty’s first-career goal just over two minutes into the second half clinched the win for the Elon.
“The coaches are so proud of how we bounced back tonight as a team,” said head coach Chris Neal. “Richmond is a very good squad that is organized and well coached. It took a very inspirational effort from our entire team tonight. This experience, on the road and on turf, will serve us tremendously in conference play.”
The Phoenix improves to 4-2-1 overall with the win and the Spiders fall to 0-5-0 on the season after the loss.
HIGHLIGHTS
Jones put the Phoenix ahead 1-0 in the 16th minute. Doherty chipped a ball behind Richmond’s back line and Jones lobbed Olivia Sjodin off the bounce for her second of the season.
Richmond’s Alyssa Walker knotted up the score in the 34th minute finishing a one-on-one chance after Lexi Prillaman placed a through ball past the Phoenix defense. Richmond held a slight 5-4 edge in the shot count after 45 minutes and the match remained level at halftime.
Just over two minutes into the second half, Doherty hustled to a header from Richmond’s defender and made a sliding finish for her first-career goal to put the Phoenix in front 2-1 in the 48th minute.
The Phoenix was on the offensive for the final 45 minutes, outshooting the Spiders 9-4 and winning the corner battle 5-0 in the second frame to seal its third road win of the season.
Hanna Macauley earned her second win of the season in goal for the Phoenix making three saves and improving to 2-0-1 overall.
NOTES
– Hannah Doherty finished with three points with an assist on the opening goal and scoring her first-career goal and game winner in the second half.
– Carson Jones scored the opening goal in the 16th minute, her second goal thus far in her freshman season.
– Despite losing the shooting battle in the first half by a 5-4 margin, the Phoenix responded in the second winning the shot count 9-4 and the corner count 5-0 in the final 45 minutes.
– Elon improves its road record to 3-1-0 this season.
– The Phoenix has scored nine goals in its first four true road matches, the most by an Elon team in the program’s Division I era. The last time Elon scored at least nine goals in its first four true road matches was in 1998 when the maroon and gold matched the same nine-goal mark.
– Scoring nine goals in its first four matches away from home is the most since the 2013 season.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix returns to Rudd Field on Sunday, Sept. 10, to host Triad rival High Point. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcasted on Phoenix All-Access.