The Elon University women’s soccer team is still looking for its first win in the Colonial Athletic Association following a 3-1 road loss to the College of Charleston. Two goals from freshman forward Mary Kate Bowers and a goal from freshman midfielder Tracey Webster proved to be enough to sink the Phoenix.
Elon had the first chance to break the deadlock in the eighth minute, but junior midfielder Alissa Pantuosco’s shot was handled by College of Charleston sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Killian.
In the 15th minute, College of Charleston had its first chance in front of goal. Bowers’ shot drifted wide left of the goal. Soon after in the 19th minute, junior defender Allie Sender had a chance to put the Cougars ahead. But her shot had the same fate, sailing wide-left of the net.
The Phoenix looked in on goal in the 32nd minute, but was once again denied. Freshman forward Susannah Anderson had her shot blocked, and Pantuosco followed with an effort of her own but once again was denied by Killian.
College of Charleston would respond immediately going right back down the field to take the lead. Bowers dribbled into the box, dished it back to Webster who buried the ball into the top right corner of the goal at the 32:00 mark.
The Cougars would go two ahead minutes later. Bowers kept possession around the edge of the box and got off a left-footed shot that beat senior goalkeeper Kate Murphy at the 34:22 mark.
Elon looked to get a goal back early in the second half via a corner kick. Senior forward Raychel Diver’s delivery was met by senior forward Marissa Russo, but she couldn’t keep the ball down as it sailed over the crossbar.
In the 55th minute, the Cougars nearly extended their lead to three. Freshman defender Summer Edwards’ shot was blocked and freshman midfielder Hannah Huizenga’s follow up went over the goal for a goal kick.
The Phoenix came up begging once again after another well-worked corner kick routine. Senior defender Bethany Houpt’s delivery was headed on by sophomore defender Rachel Hallman only for her effort to go just over the crossbar at the 65:45 mark.
Elon’s fate was sealed in the 83rd minute when Bowers grabbed her second goal of the evening. The freshman dribbled down the left wing cut back onto her right foot and finished past Murphy.
The Phoenix grabbed a consolation goal late from Anderson, the first of her career, at the 83:52 mark. A corner kick came back out to Russo, who crossed it right back in and Anderson was there to head it home.
The Phoenix continued to press until the final whistle with three shots and a pair of corner kicks in the final five minutes, but it was too little too late.
Elon will wrap up its weekend on the road with a return trip to Wilmington to take on the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The Phoenix won two matches at the UNCW Soccer Stadium last month in a tournament, though it did not face the Seahawks.