Elon WLAX Takes Down No. 19 Virginia Tech 13-12 in Overtime

BLACKSBURG, Va. – For the second time in less than one month, Elon University women’s lacrosse knocked off a nationally-ranked ACC opponent on the road by defeating No. 19 Virginia Tech at Cupp Field on Wednesday, March 1.

The victory is Elon’s third all-time win over a nationally-ranked foe and the second of the 2017 season. Last month, the Phoenix took down No. 13 Virginia in Charlottesville, 11-10. All three wins over ranked opponents have come over ACC programs. Elon also upset No. 10 Duke, 7-6, last February in Durham, N.C.

Sloane Kessler scored the game-winner just 1:10 into overtime. It was her second goal of the day to go with two assists, a ground ball and a draw control. Stephanie Asher led the Elon attack with five goals and an assist on the day. The five goals ties her season high, which she previously set twice in the first two games of the year against Campbell and Virginia. Kelsey Dupere also added two goals in the victory with two ground balls and a caused turnover. In the cage, Rachel Ramirez made seven saves and had a team-high three ground balls.

The Hokies were led by three goals apiece from Mary Claire Byrne and Emma Harden. Byrne’s three goals came in the first half, notching them all in the opening 22 minutes of play. She also added a team-high four ground balls and had five caused turnovers. Zan Biedenharn and Kristine Loscalzo each scored twice. Tristan McGinley tallied once on one shot, but picked up a game-high eight draw controls. In goal, Meagh Graham made eight saves.

The Rundown
Virginia Tech broke the ice just over five minutes in when Taylor Caskey scored her only goal of the game, but Elon answered with Asher and Cooper tallying back-to-back goals to give Elon a 2-1 lead. The Phoenix continued their run to 4-1 with two more goals from Asher and Kessler to lead 4-2 with 10:58 to play in the half.

From there, Virginia Tech went on a 5-0 run from the 8:44 mark to the 2:07 mark of the half to take its largest lead of the afternoon at 7-4. In the final minute of the opening half, Dupere ended the streak with a goal from Kessler to take the two-goal deficit to half.

Out of the break, Elon used Dupere’s late goal as momentum to score the first two goals of the half to tie the game at 7-7. Though the Hokies retook the lead at 8-7 one minute after the Phoenix tied it up, it was the last goal Virginia Tech would score until the final five minutes of the half as Elon went on a 5-0 run that spanned nearly nine minutes of game action to take a 12-8 lead with 15:13 to play.

In the final 5:04 of regulation, Virginia Tech found the back of the net four times with the tying tally coming with four seconds left on a free position goals by Loscalzo. But early in overtime, Kessler tallied the game-winner to claim the 13-12 victory.

Up Next
After one week of practice, Elon will return home Wednesday, March 8, for a 6 p.m. game against Vanderbilt at Rudd Field. Last season, the Phoenix traveled to Nashville and lost 10-9. Elon trailed 10-5 with 6:40 to play and went on a four-goal run, but the comeback attempt fell just short against the Commodores.