Sports

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SPORTS 10/26/24 11:56pm

Hat trick helps Elon University men’s soccer clinch playoff spot

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University men’s soccer team defeated Northeastern University 4-2 on Senior Night to win their eighth game of the season. After going scoreless  in the first half, the Phoenix responded in the second half with four goals. It was Elon’s first win since defeating William & Mary 2-1 on Oct. 5. The victory guarantees a fourth-straight trip to the playoffs for the Phoenix. They can clinch the CAA title for the regular season with a win against Campbell on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.

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SPORTS 10/24/24 9:39pm

Elon University women’s soccer falls to Campbell despite outshooting them

By Miles Hayford

Despite coming into the game as the Coastal Athletic Association’s best with a chance to clinch the regular season title, the Elon women’s soccer team fell to Campbell University 1-0. Campbell upset the Phoenix thanks to resistant defense, even as Elon outshot them 18 to 5. In the end, Elon played an almost perfect game. Few teams could have found more offensive opportunities than Elon did tonight, and their defense held firm most of the game. It came down to the Camels’ rigid defense and one single moment where Campbell’s offense saw an opportunity and took it.

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SPORTS 10/24/24 10:57am

Price of play: Impact of injury on Elon University athletes

By Miles Hayford

Season-ending injuries are an unfortunate, but common staple of collegiate athletics. Around 210,000 college sports-related injuries occurred from 2009-14, according to a Centers of Disease Control and Prevention study. Within that number, almost 4,000 athletes each year experience a season-ending injury, according to a study published in the Journal of Amateur Sport. These injuries are more than just a number, though. Each one affects a student-athlete in a different way, each student-athlete grapples with the absence of sport differently and each recovery process is different.

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SPORTS 10/23/24 11:08pm

Elon University men’s soccer drops fourth straight loss amid tough schedule

By Miles Hayford

Despite a strong start to the season, Elon men’s soccer dropped its fourth straight loss after falling to the University of North Carolina, Charlotte 2-0. After 10 minutes had passed, redshirt junior Ryan Manna had the first shot of the game, but Charlotte’s stalwart goalie Leo Stritter — who has nine shutouts this season — blocked it. That’s where it began to get tough for the Phoenix to climb out of the deficit. Against Charlotte’s nationally ranked defense — the team is first in goals allowed per game with 0.5 — the Phoenix’s offense stalled.

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SPORTS 10/17/24 11:14pm

Timely goals, tough defense propels Elon University women’s soccer over Hofstra

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University women’s soccer team defeated Hofstra University 2-1 to win their 11th game of the season Oct. 17. With a late goal and tough second half defense, Elon managed to prevail in a tightly contested matchup against Hofstra. It was Elon’s first win after losing 0-3 to College of Charleston on Oct. 13. Both teams went scoreless until there were three minutes remaining in the first half when Hofstra freshman forward Hailey Moschitta tied the game at 1-1. Despite ranking sixth in saves, Elon ranks second in points allowed with 12, according to CAA Handbook Statistics.

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SPORTS 10/8/24 10:54pm

Elon University men’s soccer falls in juggernaut matchup against Duke

By Miles Hayford

In a battle between former top 25 team Elon University men’s soccer and the No. 9 ranked Duke University Blue Devils on Oct. 8, Duke prevailed 2-1. The first half witnessed a brutal tug-of-war between Duke and Elon, with each exchanging possession to capture the opening score of the night. The final 15 minutes of the game were chaotic and full of ruthless physicality. Controversial calls and no-calls were everywhere as coaches and fans on both sides yelled at the refs about fouls or fouls they think the refs should have called. But in the final minutes, calls didn’t go in Elon’s favor.

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SPORTS 10/7/24 8:41am

Elon football starting safeties evaluate productive start to season

By Benjamin Berfield

Elon University football's duo of All-American safeties, Caleb Curtain and Khalil Baker, have burst onto the scene this year for the Phoenix. In five games, Curtain, a redshirt junior, and Baker, a redshirt senior, have combined for 65 total tackles and five pass deflections with Curtain notching one interception. Each of them are in the top three for tackles and pass deflections among Elon defenders. Even with a productive start, Baker said that they’re starting to coexist better as the season has gone on. This is their first season playing together, as Baker transferred from North Carolina Central University.

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SPORTS 10/4/24 1:30pm

Elon men’s soccer goalkeeper thrives among challenges of position, sets program record

By Miles Hayford

A goalkeeper is asked to do many things: save every ball, refuse to back down in stressful situations — and be perfect. Elon men's soccer goalkeeper Tomasz Wroblewski has been scored on nine times this season, but with 37 saves, he said the stress of the position no longer bothers him. However, Wroblewski seems to have gotten over this fear, having set an Elon Division I record with 13 saves against Wake Forest on Sept. 17 amid an incredible season for the Phoenix. Going into the back half of his final season at Elon, Wroblewski is on a hot streak.

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SPORTS 10/1/24 10:41pm

Elon University men’s soccer falls to High Point in physical, defensive clash

By Miles Hayford

In a Piedmont Triad showdown, the Elon University men’s soccer team lost in a physically demanding game to High Point University 1-0 on Oct. 1. Elon jumped off to an almost perfect start, entering the top 10 of Top Drawer Soccer’s national rankings for the first time since 2015. They are also currently ranked 17 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Coming off the team’s first loss of the season after falling to Hofstra University on Sept. 28, Elon looked to bounce back from one of the first signs of adversity the team has faced this year.

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SPORTS 9/28/24 7:33pm

Turnovers, Richmond’s rushing attack doom Elon football on Family Weekend

By Benjamin Berfield

Elon University’s football team was defeated by Richmond University 27-17 in their CAA opener. With a strong Richmond rushing attack and three turnovers, Elon struggled to build any momentum. During the game, head coach Tony Trisciani decided to make a change and subbed in redshirt junior transfer Jack Salopek. Trisciani praised Salopek’s performance, but didn’t indicate whether the switch will be permanent or who the starting quarterback will be going forward. Elon falls to 1-4 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. They head into the bye week before hosting New Hampshire at 2 p.m. next Saturday, Oct. 5.

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SPORTS 9/21/24 10:13pm

Elon University football fails to stop running game, loses to ETSU

By Miles Hayford

With a little over 4,000 in attendance, Elon University football got beaten and battered by East Tennessee State University’s run game, falling 34-14. ETSU looked ready from the jump, beginning the game with an efficient three-minute drive that resulted in Bryson Irby rushing touchdown to go up 7-0. Immediately following the touchdown, Elon got off to a disastrous start with freshman TJ Thomas Jr. fumbling the ball on the first play of Elon’s opening drive. ETSU took advantage of the turnover, scoring their second touchdown within the first five minutes of the game. 

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SPORTS 9/21/24 6:31pm

Big first half helps Elon University men’s soccer defeat Stony Brook

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University men’s soccer team remained undefeated with a 2-1 victory over Stony Brook on Sept. 21. Thanks to a strong first half, Elon managed to hold firm even as Stony Brook chipped away at the Phoenix in the second half. It was Elon’s first win after tying against Wake Forest on Sept. 17. Most of the damage from Elon offensively came in the first half as they converted two of their six goal attempts.

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SPORTS 9/21/24 4:15pm

Carolina Cowboys return to Greensboro for Professional Bull Riding Team Series

By Sarah T. Moore

Starting off the night as No. 1 in the league, the Carolina Cowboys competed on home turf for the third annual Professional Bull Riding Camping World Team Series. The crowd was fired up as audience members wore their boots, dawned their cowboy hats and rang their cowbells. The opening ceremony started with a bang as flashy pyrotechnics spelled out “PBR” in the dirt. The team’s three-day stop in Greensboro — titled Cowboy Days — started Sept. 20. The Cowboys will compete against No. 6 Nashville Stampede on Sept. 21 and No. 7 Missouri Thunder on Sept. 22.

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SPORTS 9/21/24 3:01pm

Elon University men's soccer player celebrates his Hispanic heritage

By Jordyn Forni

Carlos Levy, a redshirt sophomore on Elon University men’s soccer team has a deep connection to Hispanic Heritage Month. Levy was born in Mexico and moved to Miami at 8 years old. He moved among family and friends, and in his experience, Miami had a rich Latino community, he said. He cites his transition to Elon as a more prominent culture shock than originally moving to America. Levy has been playing soccer his whole life and said his devotion to the sport is another way he stays in touch with his heritage.

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SPORTS 9/17/24 11:08am

Elon senior faces off with hockey, academics

By Monika Jurevicius

High Point University women’s hockey captain and Elon senior Melanie Joy “MJ” Volpe had her biggest birthday surprise when she scored a hat trick that secured a 9-2 win against Virginia Tech University at the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League Championships. However, she said her dream would be to wear an Elon women’s hockey jersey, when in reality there is only a men’s club hockey team on campus. Elon alumna Grace Moroney and the High Point men's and women's coaches created the women’s team in the 2021-22 season with a majority of Elon students on its roster.

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SPORTS 9/14/24 10:13pm

Elon University football falls to Western Carolina

By Miles Hayford

The Elon University football team lost its home opener 24-17 to Western Carolina University in a game defined by turnovers and mistakes. As the players ran onto the field, smoke trailing them, the excitement for the home opener Sept. 14 was palpable. A generous crowd had shown up to Rhodes Stadium. This crowd was rewarded early with some entertaining play. Elon started their first drive with a spark of trickery, employing an end-around rush by wide receiver senior Chandler Brayboy that resulted in 16 yards. Elon continues a four game home stretch, playing East Tennessee University next week.

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SPORTS 9/14/24 3:42pm

Former Elon volleyball player returns to coach

By Miles Hayford

The Elon volleyball team has a familiar face this year. Two years after leaving Elon with numerous accolades from her time on the volleyball team, Haylie Clark has returned to Elon’s campus as an assistant coach. During her time at Elon as a student-athlete, Clark played volleyball under head coach Mary Tendler from 2018-22. She earned many achievements during her time, including being named to the 2021 All-Coastal Athletic Association Second Team and the 2021 CAA Setter of the Year. She also racked up 349 kills, 879 digs, 142 blocks and 113 aces during her time at Elon.

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SPORTS 9/12/24 10:16am

Elon University soccer program remains undefeated, stands atop Division I

By Miles Hayford

Elon University’s soccer program is red-hot right now. The first few weeks of games have gone extremely well for the Phoenix, and both soccer teams are playing incredible on the field. Between the men’s and women’s combined 9-0 record, the program is on a tour of wins as the soccer season begins. Elon soccer is the only current program in all of Division I to be undefeated and untied. Additionally, men’s soccer is ranked No.  20 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches Poll — the first time the team has reached the top 20 since 2015.

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SPORTS 9/10/24 9:09pm

Elon University volleyball pulls out four-set win

By Miles Hayford

Elon volleyball defeated Norfolk State University in a difficult, four-set affair on Sept. 10 at Schar Center. The Spartans got off to a hot start, jumping to a quick 7-3 lead thanks to a flurry of kills to begin the match. A lengthy point at 8-6 got Elon’s motivation back up, and after a strong serve by senior Sydney Love, the Phoenix tied it up. After Elon tied it up, the two teams traded points in a back-and-forth volley. Despite Elon’s comeback to tie it up, Norfolk State didn’t relent their attack, notching 11 kills to Elon’s three halfway through the first set.

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SPORTS 9/5/24 4:48pm

2024 Fall Sports Preview

By Benjamin Berfield and Miles Hayford

Elon University's football team seeks to claim a conference title alongside starting quarterback Matthew Downing — who just started his seventh year in collegiate football. Men's soccer also has its sights set on conference, while women's soccer welcomes back graduate student defender Katie Lowe for her fifth year. The volleyball team prepares to make the 2024 season better than last year's, while the cross country team adapts to a new head coach. And after a first place finish at nationals in 2022, followed by two, consecutive second place wins in 2023 and 2024, the dance team seeks to continue its momentum. Check out Elon News Network's fall 2024 sports preview for more insight.

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