ELON, N.C. – Junior Jaclyn Wood’s goal in the 60th minute and a stingy effort on defense by the Phoenix helped the Elon women’s soccer team to its first win of the season in a 1-0 shutout of Longwood on Thursday night, August 25, at Rudd Field.

Following a scoreless first half, Wood put the Phoenix on the scoreboard for the first time of the season in the 60th minute after blasting home a shot from the center of the goal into the back right corner following a great pass by Catherine Brinkman give the Phoenix the lead.

It was all Elon from there, as the maroon and gold defense gave the Lancers (1-1-1) limited opportunities to tie the match for the remainder of the contest to preserve the win and improve to 1-0-1 on the year.

“Our team executed with clinical precision tonight and stuck to the game plan for all 90 minutes. Longwood is a very good team and will undoubtedly get its fair share of wins this season,” said Elon head women’s soccer coach Chris Neal. “We were able to control the tempo and therefore control the game.

[Jaclyn] Wood worked hard all throughout the spring and into camp this fall on her striking and it’s a great example of a player doing a little bit extra to be great. I’m so happy she was rewarded for that tonight and it really is a nice success story.”

Elon had limited opportunities on offense in the opening frame, taking only three shots in the first 45 minutes. Sophomore forward Chelsey Stark just missed netting the match’s first goal in the 24th minute after heading a Brinkman cross just over the net.

Brinkman nearly put the Phoenix on the board in the 55th minute, but her shot sailed just over the net and Longwood goalie Kyra Byron.

But Wood put Elon on the board in the 60th minute after landing a strike in the back right corner of the net following a blocked shot and a pass by Brinkman to give Elon the lead with 30 minutes to play.

Elon limited Longwood to just three shots over the next 30 minutes to hold on for the win. Both teams registered a total of seven shots, but the Phoenix defense held Longwood to zero shots on goal. The Lancers held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Elon goalies Shannon Cosgrove and Kate Murphy each played 45 minutes between the posts tonight, but saw limited action from the Longwood offense with a great effort by the Elon defense.

The Phoenix returns to action on Sunday, August 28, for its first road test of the season against the Virginia Tech Hokies. The match is set for 6 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va.

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