Elon 1, Appalachian State 1
ELON, NC- Matt Bengston scored the equalizing goal of the game as the buzzer sounded at the end of regulation to propel the Elon Phoenix men’s soccer team to a 1-1 tie with the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the Southern Conference opener for both teams from Rudd Field on Wednesday afternoon. Elon now sits at 4-4-2 overall and 0-0-1 in the league while Appalachian State owns a record of 4-3-1, 0-0-1.
The Mountaineers took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute when Cameron McCarthy crossed a ball through the box to Tim Bender who found the back of the net for the third time this season.
Appalachian State looked like it would make Bender’s goal stand up, but Elon was awarded a free kick with five seconds left from just on its side of the center line. Phoenix keeper Taylor Saxe booted the ball down field where Bengston turned and fired the shot to even the score as time expired. The goal was the first of the season for Bengston.
Elon recorded the only shot on goal in the first overtime period, but could not score. In the second OT, Elon got off two shots on goal, both of which were stopped by Alec Dufty. ASU recorded one shot on goal in the second overtime, but was denied by Saxe.
Saxe made two saves on the day for Elon while Dufty stopped seven shots.
The Phoenix edged out the Mountaineers 19-9 in total shots, 8-3 in shots on goal and 8-1 in corner kicks. The two teams combined for 39 fouls and three yellow cards.
UNC Asheville 1, Wofford 0
SPARTANBURG, SC - A first half UNC Asheville goal just before halftime was the deciding margin Wednesday night as the Bulldogs defeated host Wofford, 1-0, at Snyder Field.
Andrew Klerekoper knocked home a Chance Lord assist with 44:13 on the clock for the game's only tally. UNC Asheville (1-4-1) out-shot the Terriers, 10-6, with five shots coming in each half.
Bulldog keeper Michael Pereira collected three saves in playing the full 90 minutes in goal. Wofford (3-3-2) goalkeeper Joey Taylor stopped four UNCA shots.
Sophomore Reed Blair led the hosts with two shots, while Caleb Alexander paced all players with three.