After a convincing victory Sept. 26 against Western Carolina University to open Southern Conference play, the Elon University women’s soccer team continued the good start to its conference slate, but ultimately battled to a 3-3 draw in Boone, N.C. against Appalachain State University.
The Phoenix got off and running early. Very early.
The match was not scoreless for long to start the match as senior forward Chelsey Stark got Elon on the board just 41 seconds into the match.
The goal was her third tally of the year and second in conference play. She scored the insurance goal to put the Phoenix up 3-1 in the opener against the Catamounts.
Out of halftime, the Phoenix dominated the Mountaineers until the 65th minute when freshman forward Jane Cline knotted the game at one for her second goal of the season.
Nearly as quickly as the Phoenix got on the board to start the game, Elon retook the lead on a goal from senior Jennifer McGorty, who had just come in as a sub a few minutes beforehand. It was also her second goal in conference play and fifth of the season.
Seven minutes later, though, the Elon defense faltered again. Cline got loose again and found the back of the net for the second time in the game to tie the game at two.
But the Phoenix fought back for a third time to take the lead, this time on a goal from senior midfielder Angela Funari. The goal was her first of the season.
One last time, this time with 50 seconds remaining, the Mountaineers battled back. With 50 seconds left in regulation, sophomore defender Merlin Beckwith scored the tying goal.
Elon moved to 6-1-3 on the season with the draw and 1-0-1 in Southern Conference play. Appalachian State now sits at 3-4-2 and 0-0-2 in conference.
Next, the Phoenix travel to Charleston, S.C. Friday, Oct. 4 to take on The Citadel before going back out of conference for the final time this season against Francis Marion University. Francis Marion is in place of the College of Charleston, who departed for the Colonial Athletic Conference after the 2012-2013 academic year. The Patriots are in place on all SoCon team's schedules to keep the travel partners balance the same so each team can play two games on a weekend.