The Elon University women’s lacrosse team opened up Atlantic Sun conference play with an exciting win over the University of Detroit Mercy Titans on Wednesday, March 5, in Rhodes Stadium. It was a battle up until the final seconds of the game, but the Phoenix prevailed, winning its first-ever conference game 9-8 and claiming its second straight win this season.
“It was exciting; the first conference game is a big deal,” Elon head coach Josh Hexter said. “We talked about that and tried to keep all the perceived pressure off and really just try to improve on the things we need to improve on.”
Elon had a lot of heat behind its attack, seeing goals from eight different players. Molly Garrigan led with two goals and an assist. While Sydney Hesselbein, Ally Kozel, Elle Hvozdovic, Anna Vitton, Megan Weissman, Annie Shenk and Sloane Kessler each had one. Kessler also had an assist, her seventh of the season.
Elon took the took advantage in possession, winning 12-of-19 draw controls and totaled 21 shots, 19 of which were on goal.
Elon went on an early run, scoring three quick goals to open up the game that put them in the lead. Kessler netted the first goal in the first minute of the game, her eight of the season, and Garrigan followed up with the second goal just 30 seconds later.
The high pressure from the Elon attack started off strong, but Detroit struck back, scoring five straight. The Titans scored two goals in two and a half minutes with just over 16:00 left to play in the first period. A third goal by Detroit’s Tessa Keuler, her second of the night, tied the game up and a bounce shot that went passed Elon goalkeeper Rachel Ramirez put the Titans up 4-3 and they took their first lead of the game.
The Phoenix lost its momentum and Detroit took advantage as they were able to come back with a quick shot and a second straight goal by Kylie Birney that put Detroit up 5-3 with 11:06 left in the first half.
“We’ve got to do some better work on our help defense and our off-the-ball work,” Hexter said. “But the best part was our girls just played tough. It wasn’t necessarily pretty all the time, but we played tough.”
The Phoenix fought back and earned a free-position shot that Kozel took straight to goal and put away to bring the Phoenix within one with 8:15 left in the first period
Another goal by Weissman on a free-position shot tied it up with 7:03 left in the half.
“I think we lacked communication at first,” Ramirez said, “and then we had a wake-up call and stepped it up and played. We worked together really well and came together as a team.”
The two teams were tied 5-5 headed into the half.
Elon came out of the half hot, as Vitton scored a goal less than a minute in that gave the Phoenix a 6-5 lead.
The pressure was high from both teams as they fought up and down the field. Two goals by Detroit’s Campbell and Mendoza put the Titans up 7-6 with 22:31 remaining in the game.
It seemed like every time the Phoenix scored, the Titans were right there to take it back. The two teams went back and forth each taking the lead several times.
Hexter said possession was the key for the Phoenix.
“We talked about slower possessions,” Hexter said. “In the first half, we scored three quick and we kept trying to go too quick. So we talked about slowing the ball down and having the ball for a little longer on each possession to try and gain some momentum.”
Hesselbein scored on a free position attempt that tied the game up at 7-7 with 18:22 left. The lead was soon taken by Detroit with just about 15 minutes left in the game on a goal by Pritchard that put the Titans up 8-7.
The Phoenix came back and tied the game with a goal by Hvozdovic, her second of the season, off a great pass by Kessler, who leads the team in assists. The game was all tied up 8-8 with 8:38 remaining in the game.
A valiant offensive effort by Garrigan put the Phoenix ahead as she drew in the double team and passed it off to Shenk. Shenk drove to goal and netted what would become the game-winning goal, putting the Phoenix up 9-8 with 5:32 left in the game.
The Phoenix showed a bit of gamesmanship and composure down the stretch as it ran down the clock through the final minutes of the clock. A clutch save by Ramirez with seconds left in the game closed out the game for the Phoenix as it got its first conference win at home.
“For me, it was fun, for the girls I think you could see in their eyes out there they were determined and they wanted to finish it with a W,” Hexter said. “Having Rachel Ramirez in goal is huge. She had a really big night for us and had a huge save down the stretch. Then, Anna Vitton on offense in the last couple of minutes did a really great job controlling the ball.”
Ramirez came into the game fifth in the nation in saves and has now tallied 52 saves in five games, finishing with 11 against Detroit.
“It’s just another save, just another shot,” Ramirez said. “I don’t think about the score. But it’s awesome we really wanted this win and we came out very excited, not really knowing what to expect and we worked hard and it showed on the field today.”
Although the Titans outshot the Phoenix 23-21, Elon’s defense led by Ramirez held strong as it went 12-for-13 on clear attempts. Detroit took the edge over Elon, winning 15-of-23 ground balls.
This game marks two consecutive wins for the Phoenix which is now 2-3 and 1-0 in the conference. 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.