Elon athletics are finally back as the Women’s Soccer team kicked off their 2012 campaign with a 1-1 tie over Big East opponent, Cincinnati.
“It was a well fought game on both sides and I’m proud of our team for battling a lot of injuries and adversity tonight,” Chris Neal, Elon head coach, told elonphoenix.com.
One of the injuries Neal was referring to was to preseason all-conference goalkeeper, Kate Murphy. Due to the injury, Elon’s leading scorer from a year ago, Catherine Brinkman, was forced between the pipes. She played all 120 minutes, registering three saves.
“(Brinkman) didn’t hesitate one bit,” Neal said to elonphonenix.com. “I’m extremely proud of the way she managed the game.”
The Bearcats got on the board first with a goal from freshman Laura Rose in the 12th minute, but Elon answered in the 48th minute with a goal of their own.
Sophomore forward Marissa Russo tallied for the Phoenix with a shot that got under the glove of a diving Kristina Utley to knot the game at one.
Though neither team could break the tie, Elon dominated possession at the end of regulation and throughout overtime. Last moment attempts in regulation from Nicole Dennion and Chelsey Stark went by the wayside as Elon couldn’t find that game-winning goal it was in search of.
[box] Elon will travel down I-85 for a matchup on Sunday night, August 19, with the second ranked Duke Blue Devils. Kickoff in Durham is set for 6 p.m. [/box]