Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – A pair of goals early in the second half by the College of Charleston Cougars proved to be too much for the Elon women’s soccer team to overcome, as the Phoenix saw its 2011 season come to an end with a 3-0 setback on Sunday, Oct. 30, at Patriots Point.
 
The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for Elon, as the maroon and gold end the season with an 8-8-4 record. College of Charleston improves to 12-7-1 with the win and advances to the semifinals to face second-seeded UNCG or seventh-seeded Georgia Southern next week in Greensboro.
 
Today marked the final contest for seniors Andrea Keller and Noell McCain, as the duo finished with 39 career wins, the most by a senior class for Elon since joining the Division I ranks.

"It’s hard to put a finger on what went wrong today. Charleston is the same team that we played a few weeks ago, on the same field, in a tightly contested match," said Elon head women's soccer coach Chris Neal. "Today we simply failed to match their readiness and desire to win a playoff game. Give Charleston credit for being the superior team today."

The Cougars took a 1-0 advantage in the 18th minute after a header near the left post by Hope Atkinson leaked by the Phoenix defense and into the net for the score. Just prior to the goal by the Cougars, Elon keeper Kate Murphy made a great leaping save to knock a CofC shot off the top of the crossbar and into her arms for the save.
 
The Cougars held a 12-2 advantage in shots at intermission and a 6-2 edge in corners.
 
College of Charleston took a 2-0 lead in the 53rd minute after Maryam Buazza knocked in a Sarah Cardamone cross inside the box near the left post. Four minutes later, Atkinson netted her second score of the match to put the Phoenix down three goals.
 
Elon nearly put a score on the board in the 89th minute on a great header by sophomore Jennifer McGorty, but College of Charleston goalie Cricket Wise came up with the save. Wise finished the match with four saves.
 
College of Charleston ended the match with a 24-6 advantage in shots, including a 9-4 edge in shots on-goal, and claimed seven corners to Elon’s three.