Elon University’s women’s soccer team lost 2-1 against the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Seahawks in its first Colonial Athletic Association match of the season. 

Elon came into the game on a three-game winning streak, ready to take on UNCW for the first time since the 2020 CAA tournament championship match. It was then that Elon won 1-0 and claimed its first ever CAA championship.

However, the Phoenix were unable to recreate the same results on Sunday in Wilmington.

Both teams struggled in the first half to gain an advantage over the other, with the Seahawks leading in shots 5-4 after the first half. Despite the final score, the match ended with Elon outshooting UNCW 8-4 in the second half.

After a scoreless first half, both teams picked up the pace, with UNCW’s Audrey Harding scoring the first goal in the 63rd minute of the game. Junior defender Kayla Hodges responded for Elon, scoring in the 84th minute to tie the game 1-1.

With regulation time winding down, Harding scored her second goal of the game in the final minute to seal the win for UNCW. 

Elon’s women’s soccer team returns home to play Delaware on Oct. 3 at 1 P.M.