The Stony Brook women’s soccer team’s momentum was halted in its first defeat in three weeks.
On a rainy Thursday night, the Seawolves (6-3-1, 1-1-0 CAA) faced off against the undefeated Elon Phoenix (7-0-1, 2-0-0 CAA) in North Carolina. In a battle of two hot teams — as Stony Brook came into the contest with four straight wins — the Phoenix rose with a 2-0 victory.
Elon got on the board early on its home soil. In the 14th minute, a cross into the Seawolves’ box was headed out by midfielder Gabby Daniels. However, the ball fell to Elon forward Lydia Totten just outside the box after her teammate — midfielder Ava Hellner — set her up. Totten allowed the ball to bounce twice before firing a shot which pinged off the right post and went in to put her team up.
Although Stony Brook had 16 shots after conceding the match’s first goal, it only challenged Elon goalkeeper Katie Bisgrove twice. On both tries, the first-year shot stopper was up to task, which allowed the Phoenix to secure an insurance tally.
In the 77th minute, Elon midfielder Kennedy Jones recovered a loose ball, and, after dribbling to her right, unleashed a shot from way beyond the box which curled into the right corner of goalkeeper Nicolette Pasquarella’s net.
Once again after allowing a goal, the Seawolves were the more dangerous side but failed to get on the board. Neither of their two attempts after going down 2-0 found the back of the net.
“Credit to Elon,” head coach Tobias Bischof said in a postgame interview with Stony Brook Athletics. “They were defensively organized and got the result today. We played hard and with a lot of effort but weren’t sharp enough in the final third.”
Stony Brook outshot the Phoenix 20-8 but each team landed just three shots on goal.
Pasquerella made just one save while allowing both goals. Conversely, Bisgrove posted her fourth clean sheet of the season. She made three stops.
The Seawolves will look to hit the reset button on Sunday, when they remain in North Carolina to play the Campbell Camels. The Camels are 4-3-3 overall and 2-0 in CAA play this year. They are coming off a 7-0 rout of Hampton. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
