Phoenix drops to 0-5 following loss to Old Dominion
The Elon University men’s tennis team’s losing streak to start the 2015 spring season has reached 5 games following a 6-0 loss to Old Dominion University on Saturday, Feb. 7.
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The Elon University men’s tennis team’s losing streak to start the 2015 spring season has reached 5 games following a 6-0 loss to Old Dominion University on Saturday, Feb. 7.
The Elon men’s basketball team will be feeling good going into the New Year as the Phoenix close out 2014 on a three-game winning streak following a 69-64 win over Marist College on Sunday, Dec. 28, afternoon.
Freshman guard Elijah Bryant scored six of the Phoenix’s final eight points as the Elon men’s basketball team edged Kennesaw State University 67-65 on Wednesday, Dec. 22 afternoon.
The Elon University softball team’s 2015 schedule was announced on Monday, Dec. 15. The 55-game schedule includes seven matchups against NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago in addition to 21 conference matchups in the Phoenix’s inaugural season in the Colonial Athletic Association.
The Elon University men’s basketball team cruised to a 111-55 victory over Virginia University of Lynchburg on Tuesday, Nov. 2 in Alumni Gym. The Phoenix had five players in double figures with sophomore forward Christian Hairston chipping in with a career-high 14 points and 11 rebounds in place of the injured junior center Tony Sabato.
The Elon University women’s basketball team wrapped up a successful opening weekend with a 69-56 victory over The Naval Academy.
For Elon University men’s basketball head coach Matt Matheny, there’s a great deal of change going into the 2014-2015 season. “We’ve got a brand new team,” he said. “Everybody on the roster is in a different role than they were last year.” The squad overhaul is no surprise since the Phoenix lost one of the most successful classes in program history. Four 1,000-point scorers in forwards Ryley Beaumont and Lucas Troutman and guards Jack Isenbarger and Sebastian Koch graduated in May 2014. “We have a lot of pride in what those guys accomplished, and that’s who we are,” Matheny said. “We still use that as a learning tool, as growth in the program, but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a brand new year.” With a number of holes left to be filled, returning players are stepping into more prominent roles. “We’re all hungry,” said junior guard Tanner Samson. “We realize we’re upperclassmen now and we’re excited for the opportunity presented to us.” Samson appeared in all 32 games for the Phoenix last season, making 22 starts. The Littleton, Colorado, native led the team in three-pointers made and averaged 9.4 points per game, but he may need to provide more of the scoring for the Phoenix this year. Senior forward Ryan Winters has been a role player himself during his three years at Elon, but this year he and junior center Tony Sabato will be called on to anchor the low post. “They’re very tough and smart,” said senior guard Austin Hamilton. “They might not be the most athletic and biggest guys, but they know how to use their bodies and know the game.” Winters called his new role refreshing despite the challenges. “Coach Matheny has given us the reins,” Winters said. “We have to steer this team in the right direction and help guys out if they don’t know what they’re doing.” Winters and the majority of the team stayed on campus during the summer, which was one of the most grueling in recent years. The competitive attitudes they forged have been the driving force for this year’s team. “As long as we come with the competitive energy each day in practice and work to improve, that’s the way we’re going to get better,” Winters said. Matheny said the loss of the seniors also drove the heightened work ethic. “The guys have passed the torch, and now they have to work a little harder and raise their level of competitive toughness,” he said. Senior guard Kevin Blake has accepted his new role as a leader but insisted everybody needs to act like one. “As a senior, I feel like I have to get everyone’s heads straight,” he said. “But we’re all one team, and once everybody’s on the same page, anyone can hold anyone else accountable, and they better listen.” With the departure of graduates and promotions for returning players, there’s room for a new talented group of freshmen in guards Dmitri Thompson and Elijah Bryant and forwards Collin Luther, Jack George and Jack Anton. “I like the toughness in the freshman class, and I love their coachability,” Matheny said. “They listen and try to do what we’re asking.” Thompson scored a team-high 14 points in the Phoenix’s exhibition win over Emory & Henry College, while Bryant added 12 of his own. Winters called this class the best he’s seen at his four years with the Phoenix. “They bring some quickness and size. A lot of them already have a college body,” he said. “Those guys are strong, talented and carry their weight well.” Anton, who won both district and sectional titles during his senior year at Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, has proved to be a strong post player who can run the floor. “He hustles. He’s fast for how big he is,” Winters said. “He’s probably our fastest big man.” Despite a talented group of newcomers and returners, the Phoenix has not been shown love in the preseason Colonial Athletic Association poll and was picked last out of 10 teams. It’s a drastic change from a year ago, when the Phoenix was the preseason favorite in the Southern Conference. Blake said that while the ranking is disappointing, preseason polls are not a focus for the Phoenix. “Nothing’s given to us, so we have to earn everything. Last year in the SoCon they gave us first place, but we didn’t actually earn it,” he said. “They think we’ll be in last place, but we’ll see.”
The Elon University women’s basketball team cruised to a 92-49 exhibition victory over Catawba College on Sunday, Nov. 2.
The Elon University women’s soccer team’s season came to a devastating end following a 1-0 overtime loss to James Madison University on Sunday, Oct. 26. Senior defender Sam Lofton scored the winner for the Dukes with a penalty kick in the 95th minute.
The Elon University women’s soccer team lost a Friday matinee to Townson University 2-0 on Oct. 24. Goals from senior midfielder Katie Ponce and senior midfielder Morgan Fraczkowski were enough to sink the Phoenix.
The Elon University women’s soccer team was unable to follow up on its first win in Colonial Athletic Association play as it lost 3-1 to the College of William & Mary. Three unanswered goals from the Tribe canceled out freshman forward Grace Bennett’s opener for the Phoenix.
The Elon University Women’s soccer team dropped its fifth straight Colonial Athletic Association game on Friday, Oct. 10 night with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Drexel University. A goal from senior forward Megan Hammaker in the 68th minute was difference as the Dragons remain undefeated in Colonial Athletic Association play.
The Elon University women’s soccer team lost to in-state rivals the University of North Carolina at Wilmington 2-0 on Sunday, Oct. 5. Two second-half goals from freshman forward Serenity Waters handed Elon their fourth straight loss.
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.
The signs were promising for the Elon University women’s soccer team as it began Colonial Athletic Association play. The Phoenix had won three straight matches, and junior midfielder Alissa Pantuosco put Elon ahead in the 10th minute of its first CAA game against preseason conference favorite Hofstra University. The Phoenix would come crashing down to reality as the Pride scored four unanswered goals to snag the win. It only got tougher for Elon as defending conference champion Northeastern University came to Rudd Field less than 48 hours later. Elon kept the match scoreless for the opening half hour, but the Huskies went on to score four goals of their own en route to their second conference win of the season. “Just because we didn’t take points off of both Hofstra and Northeastern, arguably the best two teams in the conference, does not mean that we can’t make the conference tournament,” said Elon head coach Chris Neal. Neither junior defender Mel Insley or senior defender Bethany Houpt played against Northeastern because of knee injuries. Both are typically starters. After playing two of the toughest teams Elon will face for the rest of the season, this weekend served as a valuable lesson moving forward. “We learned that putting in the hard effort isn’t enough,” said sophomore midfielder Rachel Hallman. “We have to finish the chances we get, because we’re only going to get a few.” Despite the optimistic outlook on the remainder of the season, the Phoenix still has a couple of question marks — goalkeeping, scoring and defending set pieces. Neal said set pieces are the difference between winning and losing a CAA match. “We try to take a lot of pride in defending and attacking corner kicks,” he said. “Scoring on set pieces, if you’re going to be successful in the CAA, is a must. Conceding them is something you must not do.” While some teams resort to complicated set piece routines to trick the opposing defenses, the Phoenix has taken a different approach. “We’ve tried to simplify things as much as possible for the players,” Neal said. “The first thing that has to be good is service. If the service is erratic, it makes everything else difficult.” In addition, Neal wants the team not to give up if the first option doesn’t yield a goal. “The thing about our corner kicks specifically that needs to improve is the second-phase part of the corner kick,” Neal said. “We don’t necessarily have to score off the initial header or volley, but we have to do a better job of keeping it alive.” Between the pipes, Elon has yet to find a goalkeeper to nail down the starting role. The Phoenix has used a two-goalkeeper system dating back to last year with junior Sydney Branson playing the first half and senior Kate Murphy, a reporter for The Pendulum, playing the second half. “We’ve been giving up a lot of goals, so it’s not different to a field player situation,” Neal said. “It was my hope either Kate or Sydney would perform and take a hold of the starting role, but that never materialized.” Against Northeastern, a third goalkeeper was thrown into the mix, freshman Hanna Macaulay. The San Diego native played all 90 minutes, having previously played sparingly against West Virginia University and Francis Marion University. “With us giving up goals and with a freshman who had a great week of training, she deserved her chance to play just like anybody else on the team,” Neal said. The Phoenix will have a third chance to get its first CAA win on Friday when they travel to take on the College of Charleston. The Phoenix will then face the University of North Carolina at Wilmington on Sunday. “We might be upset, but we’ll come out next weekend with wins, and our confidence will be right back up,” Hallman said.
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.
The Elon University women’s soccer team dropped its inaugural Colonial Athletic Association match to Hofstra University 4-1 on Friday, Sept. 26 at Rudd Field.
With a run of three straight victories, the Elon University women’s soccer team is heating up going into its inaugural season in the Colonial Athletic Association. “We’re certainly going in the right direction,” said Elon head coach Chris Neal. “Would I want more wins going into conference play? Sure, but winning three straight is a very good ending to nonconference play.” The Phoenix recorded an opening night victory over Jacksonville State University Aug. 22, but followed up with four straight losses in which it scored just one goal. Elon got back on the winning track by beating Coastal Carolina University and Francis Marion University during a weekend trip to Wilmington and continued its winning streak into a Sept. 19 victory against Gardner-Webb University. In the three wins, the Phoenix conceded one goal while keeping two clean sheets. It’s been a dramatic improvement from the 13 goals Elon allowed during its four-game losing streak. Senior defender Bethany Houpt said the difference has been in the team’s discipline. “We’ve focused a lot on our defensive tactics, especially in the last few,” Houpt said. “We were really focusing on staying compact, keeping the gaps between us and midfield tight with a lot of communication.” Thus far, Neal has partnered Houpt’s experience with freshman defender Kendall Ballotti on the back row. Ballotti was the only player to play the full match against Gardner-Webb and is second on the team in minutes played with 543. The Long Valley, New Jersey native also recorded a goal and an assist in Elon’s victory against Francis Marion. Four Elon defenders lead the Phoenix in minutes played through eight games, but Neal wants to maintain a defensive rotation, particularly with their fullbacks. “We have a nice rotation of our outside backs between [sophomore] Erin Tanhauser, [senior] Caroline O’Dee, [sophomore] Sarah Henson, [sophomore] Hannah Howard and [junior] Mel Insley,” Neal said. “Those are five capable players that can hold down the outside back positions for us.” Neal admitted that conference play is a horse of a different color, especially with the steeper competition throughout the CAA. “The mentality changes completely,” Neal said. In the CAA, only the top six teams qualify for the conference tournament. With postseason spots at a premium, Neal said he believes there is no room for a let-down game. “Every game for me, which I need to imprint on the team, is a tournament game,” he said.
The Elon University women’s soccer team’s 2-0 victory against Gardner-Webb University Friday, Sept. 19 was more than the team’s fourth win of the season. It was head coach Chris Neal’s 100th career victory as a head coach. Neal said he was not distracted during the match, and his focus was simply on winning. The players also knew, and when the final whistle blew, Neal was honored with a bath of ice water. “We knew tonight was going to be his 100th win,” said junior midfielder Taylor Glenn. “We went into it with a game plan and water was the way to go.” Neal won his first 36 matches as the men’s coach at Pfeiffer University between 1998 and 2000, where he gave the Falcons their first-ever Division II ranking. After a spell as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Neal took the Elon job, where he is now in his seventh year. “When I first got here seven years ago, I was new, the players were new, everything was new,” Neal said. “But now the relationships are firm, and this is a family.” Neal’s intent was to turn the program around in his first season at the helm. The Phoenix went 8-8-3 in 2008, giving Elon its first .500 record since 1999. In his second season, Neal led the Phoenix to 12 wins, the most since moving to the Division I ranks. From the day senior defender Bethany Houpt signed on to play for Neal, she knew she was with a special program. “Coming in as a freshman, we were already playing really good teams,” she said. “Throughout the four years here, it’s been so consistent. We just continued to grow stronger mentally, physically and it’s been a dramatic difference over the years.” Neal has created a winning tradition behind the framework of a strong team, not individuals. “He’s really there for us and makes us understand how we each have a specific role on the team and we’re all there to make it a team effort every game,” Glenn said. “He expects a lot out of us and we give him a lot [in return].”
Elon University head women’s soccer coach Chris Neal won his 100th career match as his team beat Gardner-Webb University 2-0 on Friday, Sept. 19 at Rudd Field.