The Elon University women’s soccer team dropped its second straight conference match, falling to Northeastern University 4-0 on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Rudd Field.
Two goals from freshman midfielder Hannah Lopiccolo along with two earlier goals were enough to sink the Phoenix.
“We dug ourselves a two-nil hole against a very good team, the defending conference champs, off of set pieces,” Elon head coach Chris Neal said.
Neither team managed to make an impact on the game in the early going with each team exchanging spells of possessions.
In the 10th minute, Northeastern nearly went ahead. A corner from Kimberly Slade was not cleared cleanly, resulting in a scramble in the box. Mackenzie Dowd was the quickest to react, but her effort was blocked. Dowd got her own rebound, but Elon freshman goalkeeper Hannah Macaulay was there to make the save.
In the 29th minute, Northeastern once again looked dangerous from set pieces. Brianca Calderone whipped in a free kick that was headed just wide by Lopiccolo.
Northeastern finally got its breakthrough at the 30:52 mark. Kayla Cappuzzo whipped in a corner that was met by Lopiccolo, who found sophomore midfielder Carina Deandreis and headed home from 5 yards out.
Elon finally got its first shot in the 33rd minute. Sophomore defender Erin Tanhauser rose up to meet senior forward Raychel Diver’s corner but her headed effort went into the arms of senior goalkeeper Paige Bennett.
Soon after, Diver switched from provided to finisher. The senior was left unmarked in the center of the box, but her headed effort was met by the arms of Bennett.
“We can’t seem to find the back of the net,” Russo said.
In the 44th minute, Elon had another opportunity to grab an equalizer. Diver had to end her run down the right wing and laid the ball off to freshman forward Katherine Wray. Her cross was met by freshman forward Susannah Anderson, but she was unable to steer her header inside the far post.
Northeastern doubled its lead in the opening stages of the second half. In the 49th minute, a corner kick from Slade landed right at the feet of Dowd at the far post and slotted home for her third goal of the season.
The Phoenix found itself down 3-0 in the 65th minute. Lopiccolo latched onto a cross from sophomore forward Taylor Caparo and drilled a shot into the back of the net.
Soon after at the 69:16 mark, the Huskies scored their fourth goal. Once again it was Lopiccolo providing the goal. The freshman ran through the middle of the field and rocketed a shot that went over Macaulay and into the top corner of the net.
The Phoenix desperately searched for a consolation goal, but came up short. In the 74th minute, sophomore midfielder Olivia O’Brien got her head on a corner from sophomore midfielder Kathryn Black, but the ball landed wide of goal.
“They finished on their set pieces and we didn’t take care of our chances,” Elon sophomore midfielder Rachel Hallman said.
With the win, Northeastern improves to 7-3-2 and 2-0 in CAA play. The loss drops Elon to 4-6 and 0-2 in the CAA.
The Phoenix will hit the road to continue its inaugural season in the CAA. Elon will take on former Southern Conference rival the College of Charleston on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.