Elon, N.C.- The trio of Ava Hellner, Kennedy Jones, and Gabby Hoschek, set the tone early, as the Elon Phoenix (11-2-1, 6-2 CAA) midfield swarmed the Hofstra Pride (6-3-6, 4-2-2) for 90 minutes. Elon controlled possession and capitalized when it mattered as the Phoenix finished off the Pride 2-1 Thursday night.
Hoschek and Ashlee Brehio both found the net with Brehio’s goal proving to be the decider in the 72nd minute. Brehio’s third goal of the season turned out to be her third game-winning goal of the season as Elon capped their fifth straight CAA win at Rudd Field.
How It Happened
- The game started and was played in the midfield for the majority of the contest.
- The first shot of the match came in the 12th minute when a curling effort from Ava Hellner was saved by the Hofstra keeper.
- Hofstra nearly snatched the lead from a shot in the 20th minute, but a diving save from Katie Bisgrove kept the game goalless.
- Elon would continue to push through the midfield and with the long ball. A long pass from Katie Lowe found the head of Lydia Totten, who headed it on to a wide-open Gabby Hoschek who put the ball into the bottom left corner to give Elon the lead in the 26th minute.
- Hoschek nearly found a second when a long cross found her feet. The midfielder hit the ball first time, on the volley but the shot missed the target.
- Elon continued to dominate the first half, but Hofstra found a goal at the back stick in the 43rd minute to tie the game going into the half.
- The Phoenix offense would respond to begin the second half. Jordan Green nearly found the back of the net when she got to a through ball and beat the keeper who had left her six-yard box. Green’s chipped effort slowly dribbled wide, so the game stayed tied.
- Elon continued to knock on the door in the second half. After a great, individual effort from Jess Beck, Beck kept a ball in play after beating a Hofstra defender to the byline and found Ashlee Brehio who buried it into the open net.
- Elon would see the game out in the final 20 minutes with Hofstra failing to register a shot in the final 20 minutes of the match.
Notes and Stats
- Elon picks up their sixth win in CAA play, their most wins in conference play since Elon finished with six wins in SoCon play in 2011.
- Elon currently sits in first place in the CAA table with a 6-2 CAA record with 18 points. The 18 points are the most in Elon’s CAA era.
- This is Elon’s second straight win over Hofstra at Rudd Field. The most recent games against the Pride at Rudd have ended 2-1 to the Phoenix.
- Gabby Hoschek found her fourth goal of the season and now sits in a tie for second in points with 11. Hoschek is the fourth Elon player this season to reach the double-digit point total.
- Ashlee Brehio scored her third goal of the season in the win. Brehio is the fifth player on the team to score at least three goals this season.
- Lydia Totten and Katie Lowe assisted on Hoschek’s goal. Jess Beck collected her first career assist on Brehio’s game winning goal.
- Katie Bisgrove made two saves despite only seeing four shots on the night.
Up Next
- The Phoenix will return to Rudd Field for their regular season home game next Thursday as Elon hosts Campbell. Kickoff with the Camels will be at 7 pm.
