Elon’s Gelhaus, Hofstra’s Davies Provide Late-Game Heroics in CAA First Round
Miles McQuiggan
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. and STONY BROOK, N.Y. (Oct. 31, 2024) – An 86
th-minute strike from Elon’s
Grace Gelhaus propelled Elon to the CAA Semifinals, while Hofstra’s
Millie Davies headed in her contest’s lone goal with an overtime winner for the Pride.
No. 3 Elon 2, No. 6 Charleston 1
A six-save first half from
Katie Bisgrove set the stage for a thrilling final 45 minutes that sent Elon to its first CAA Semifinal since 2020-21.
Bisgrove made seven stops on the night for Elon (13-3-1), which matches the program’s highest win total since 2013.
Ashlee Brehio broke the deadlock in the 62
nd minute on a shot from up top, but Charleston (11-4-5) would quickly respond, as
Caroline Fowlkes put home the equalizer on an exposed net after the initial opportunity pulled Bisgrove from her line.
Elon’s pressure continued and turned into an opportunity in the 86
th minute from
Grace Gelhaus, who was able to drive one past the Charleston defense for the game-winner. The goal was the second of the season for the All-CAA First Team selection.
Elon returns to the CAA Semifinals for the first time since winning the league title in the 2020-21 spring season. The Phoenix was outshot, 20-9, in the contest.
Elon will advance to face No. 2 seed Stony Brook on Sunday at 1 p.m.; the Phoenix defeated the Seawolves in North Carolina in September.
No. 4 Hofstra 1, No. 5 Delaware 0 (OT)
Millie Davies headed home a ball off a frantic play in the box to score the game’s lone goal in the 93
rd minute and send Hofstra to face Monmouth in postseason play for the third consecutive season.
Hofstra (8-4-6) notched five of the eight shots on goal in the contest with Davies’ final play coming 2:40 into the extra session. An initial effort by Delaware goalkeeper
Kyla Burns and her backline kept the ball off the line, but the ricochet to Davies was poked past the Blue Hen defense to notch the lone tally of the contest.
Delaware (6-7-6) held its opponent scoreless through 90 minutes for the seventh time in 11 contests against CAA competition. The Pride held a 15-14 advantage in shots; Burns made four saves to three for Hofstra’s
Synne Danielsen, including a great stop extended from the goal on a 1-on-1 opportunity late in the first half.
Hofstra will take on top-seeded Monmouth on Sunday at 1 p.m.; the teams will meet in the CAA tournament for the third straight year since Monmouth joined the league. The Hawks had the upper hand last Thursday with a 3-2 victory.
2024 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship
Thursday, Oct. 31
(4) Hofstra 1, (5) Delaware 0 (OT)
(3) Elon 2, (6) Charleston 1
Sunday, Nov. 3
(4) Hofstra at (1) Monmouth (West Long Branch, N.J.) – 1 p.m., FloFC
(3) Elon at (2) Stony Brook (Stony Brook, N.Y.) – 1 p.m., FloFC
Saturday, Nov. 9 or Sunday, Nov. 10
CAA Final – Time TBD, FloFC
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