Elon WLAX Runs Through Coastal Carolina 14-6

CONWAY, S.C. – Elon University women’s lacrosse jumped out to an early advantage Sunday, March 18, against Coastal Carolina and came away with its first win of the season, a 14-6 victory at Brooks Stadium over the Chanticleers.

FINAL STATS

THE RUNDOWN
Elon (1-7) raced out to a 6-0 lead in the opening 8:44 and never looked back from there. Stephanie Asher started the day with a goal just 11 seconds into the game, and she followed with a second strike less than three minutes later to put the Phoenix up 2-0. Continuing its run, Melissa Birdsell, Summer Larese and Abby Godfrey all tallied to give Elon a 5-0 lead just 5:15 into the game. Quinn Daly then capped the run with her fourth of the year to make it 6-0.

Though the two teams traded goals over the final 20 minutes of the first half, the Phoenix opened the second half on a 5-1 run to turn a 9-3 halftime advantage into a 14-4 lead with 5:41 to play. The run included a pair of man-up goals from Godfrey and Birdsell in the first 14 minutes of the half and Mae McGlynn scored her second collegiate goal to round out the day.

HIGHLIGHTS
Asher tallied four times to lead all scorers. She also picked up a program-record 10 draw controls to help the Phoenix to the victory. Godfrey doubled her season total with three goals after entering the day with three tallies in Elon’s first seven outings. She also had two assists for five points. Birdsell and Maeve Cowley each added a pair of goals on the afternoon while Alexis Zadjura led the team with four ground balls and three caused turnovers.

All six Coastal Carolina goals came from six different scorers. Sophie Crowther also had an assist to lead the team with two points. Megan Kilpatrick led the Chanticleers with four ground balls and two caused turnovers and Sarah McEvoy finished with four draw controls.

NOTES
-Asher topped Elle Hvozdovic’s program record of eight draw controls. Hvozdovic set the mark Feb. 21, 2014, against Liberty.
-With 36 draw controls through Elon’s first eight games, Asher is already second on the program’s list for most draw controls in a season and stands only behind Hvozdovic’s 52 in 2014.
-Elon collected more draw controls than its opponent for the first time this season in taking 14 to Coastal Carolina’s eight.
-The win moves Elon to 5-0 all-time against Coastal Carolina.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix will welcome Virginia Tech to Rudd Field on Saturday, March 24, for its non-conference finale. Opening draw against the Hokies is set for 1 p.m. Elon beat then-No. 19 Virginia Tech last season 13-12 in overtime in Blacksburg, Va., on March 1.