Elon Women’s Lacrosse Phoenix Picks Up A-Sun Win Over Detroit

ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s lacrosse team recorded its second straight win and its first Atlantic Sun victory with a 9-8 final over Detroit tonight, March 5, in Rhodes Stadium. The Phoenix improves to 2-3 on the season and 1-0 in A-Sun play, while the Titans fall to 0-4 overall (0-1 A-Sun).

Annie Shenk scored the deciding goal with just over five minutes remaining in the game to put the maroon and gold on top after the equalizer by Elle Hvozdovic at the 8:38 mark. Molly Garrigan recorded two goals and an assist for Elon, while Sloane Kessler netted one goal and two assists. Ally Kozel, Sydney Hesselbein, Anna Vitton and Megan Weissman also finished with scores for the Phoenix on the night. Vitton and Kessler both lead the maroon and gold on the season with eight goals each, while Kessler has also tallied seven assists.

Elon finished the game 12-of-13 on clear attempts and held the advantage at the draw, 12-7, with Hvozdovic claiming five draw controls. The Phoenix also netted four of its five free-position shots for scores. Goalie Rachel Ramirez posted her second win between the pipes with 11 saves on 23 shots.

Kessler started the scoring for Elon with a goal 50 seconds into the game, whiel Garrigan followed with two scores in the next 10 minutes to give the Phoenix a 3-0 lead. The Titans answered by rattling off five straight to take a 5-3 advantage with 11 minutes left in the half. Kozel and Weissman netted back-to-back goals on free-position shots to even the game, five-all, at the break.

After a Vitton score in the first minute of the second half made it a 6-5 edge for Elon, Detroit scored twice to regain the lead, 7-6. With the Phoenix still trailing by one score, 8-7, Hvozdvic scored after a Titan turnover to even the game before a pass from Garrigan to Shenk turned into the game-winning goal with 5:32 left to play.

Kozel won the next draw for the Phoenix, as the team was able to keep the ball away from the Titans for over four minutes. Detroit took its final shot with 26 ticks remaining but Ramirez was able to pick up her 11th save of the game to secure the win for Elon.

For the game, the Titans outshot the Phoenix, 23-21, and picked up 15 ground balls, compared to eight for the maroon and gold.

Elon will travel to Conway, S.C., this weekend to play Coastal Carolina on Saturday, March 8. The opening draw is set for 1 p.m.