THE PENDULUM
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10. 2010 // PAGE 21
Sun sets on soccer seasons
Compiled by Sam Calvert
Sports Editor
Last weekend saw the end of both the men’s and women’s
soccer teams’ seasons with losses in the Southern Conference
tournament. Each defeat marked one of many events that
characterized this fall for the Phoenix.
Sept. 10: The Phoenix
captured its first
regular-season win
of the season against
the University of
Richmond, 4-0.
Oct. 9: The Phoenix
ended its eight-match
unbeaten streak with
1-0 loss against College
of Charleston.
Aug. 21: The Elon
University men’s
soccer team began
its season with an
exhibition match
against Campbell
University in which
the team won 3-0.
Men’s Soccer
Sept. 28: It tied No. 9
Duke University 1-1
in a double-overtime
match. Sophomore
midfielder Gabe
Latigue earns Men’s
Soccer Player of the
Week.
Oct. 26: The team lost
to Wake Forest 2-1, the
first time the team
endured two losses in
a row since Sept. 4 in
its first two matches of
the season.
Oct. 12: Elon defeated
ACC-opponent
Clemson University
1-0.
Nov. 6: The season
ends with Southern
Conference
tournament loss
against Appalachian
State University 1-0.
Women’s Soccer:
Aug. 20: The Elon
University women's
soccer team lost its
season-opener 2-1
against Virginia Tech.
Sept. 12: The Phoenix
grabbed its fourth
win in a row against
Liberty University 2-0,
which was the longest
winning streak of the
season.
Oct. 24: Elon got its
first Sunday win since
Sept. 12 in its 2-1
victory against Western
Carolina University.
Oct. 31: In its first
Southern Conference
tournament win in
school history, the
Phoenix defeated
College of Charleston
1-0.
Nov. 5: With a 2-0 loss
to No. 14 at UNCG, the
Phoenix finished its
season in a rematch
of the last game of the
regular season.
Sept. 19: The team
played to its only tie
of the season in a 1-1
match against Virginia
Commonwealth
University.
For full season recaps for the men’s
and women’s soccer teams, visit
www.elon.edu/pendulum.
Sophomore hoops star
proves superstition success
Steven Lorenzo
Reporter
Some people have
horseshoes. Others have
rabbit’s feet. Sophomore
guard Ali Ford has her Nikes.
Her right, inscribed, “It’s not
how big you are, it’s how big
you play,”
slips on first.
Then the left,
which reads,
“to give
anything less
than the best
is to sacrifice
your gift,”
fits next.
Only then is
it game time.
Ford,
a first team
Conference selection and
the league’s Freshman of the
Year a season ago, said she
owes some of her success to a
routine that dates back to her
Freedom Fligh School days in
Morganton, N.C. Although
some of her habits have
changed, the bulk of Ford’s
“I always wear the
same necklace my
parents gave me."
- ALI FORD
SOPHOMORE
BASKETBALL
PLAYER
All-Southern
traditions have stayed intact,
especially on game day.
“I always wear the same
necklace my parents gave
me,” she said.
With each dive for the ball
or arc of a jumper, the chain
around the guard’s neck is
graced with her No. 11. Back
at Freedom High,
she sported a
similar look, only
with a different
jersey No. 15.
Two new
headbands
are essential
purchases each
year: one for
home games and
the other for
away. Last year’s
colors were white
and black.
Such habits extend to the
court as well.
The day before the
Phoenix sees action. Ford
will participate in the same
shooting drill from various
points on the hardwood to get
“dialed in.” Elbow jumpers,
dribble drives and treys from
beyond the arc all make up
the guard’s repertoire.
Yet, before she can move
from spot to spot, a crucial
10 free throws must be made.
Ford’s 16.1 points per game
and 80 percent average from
the free throw line last year
stem from such work ethic.
“It’s just something I’m
comfortable with,” she said.
“It’s the same series of shots,
ones I’m probably going to
take during a game."
Though she said she does
not believe her superstitions
envelop her entire game.
Ford might question some
things in a loss.
“It would be in the back
of mind," she said. "1 would
make sure I got all that stuff
in for the next game."
With her text-heavy Nikes
tightened, her numbered
necklace secured and
her headband snug, the
sophomore will look to take
those superstitions to the
court to lead the Phoenix
toward a successful season.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Sophomore guard Ali Ford goes through several routines before each game.