Elon 4, Furman 3
ELON, N.C. - The Elon Phoenix capped a perfect run through its 2008 Southern Conference slate with a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the visiting Furman Paladins from Rudd Field on a cold Tuesday night. Elon's Justin Wyatt scored twice and assisted on another goal to lead the Phoenix to its seventh victory in as many tries in SoCon games. Elon is now 8-8-1 overall and 7-0-0 in league play. The Paladins dropped to 10-7-1, 4-3-0.
Furman jumped out on top first at 12:45 as Patrick White drove home Andrew Krysiak's cross on a free kick. The free kick was set up almost like a corner kick for the Paladins. The goal was White's second of the year.
Krysiak pushed Furman's lead to 2-0 just over three minute later. Patrick Murray played the ball downfield to Dane Roberts who found Krysiak for the score at 15:57. It was his fifth tally of the campaign.
Elon answered at 38:55 as Wyatt carried the ball into the box and leapt over the sliding Furman keeper. His touch toward the goal was knocked in by Aaron Parker for his fifth score of 2008 and took the Phoenix into the break down just one at 2-1.
The Phoenix stormed back early in the second 45 minutes. Just 3:05 into the half, Wyatt added to his league-leading goal tally. Brad Franks sent a ball to Wyatt in the box and he beat Furman's Josh Zimmer for his 10th marker of the year.
Wyatt struck again at 51:41 as Parker played a long ball to Wyatt who raced past the Furman defense for the score. His 11 goals on the season are a career high and give him 24 for his career, tied for fifth on Elon's career chart.
Furman had an answer, however, as Eric Cobleigh sent a cross from Jordan Howard past Elon's Kyle Boerner for his first goal of the year and the equalizer on the night. The goal came at 68:18.
Franks netted his first career game-winner when he headed home a Daniel Street crossing attempt at 70:29. The goal was the second in the past two games for Franks.
Clint Irwin and Boerner split the 90 minutes in goal for Elon. Irwin allowed two scores and stopped one shot while Boerner made three saves and gave up one goal.
Furman's Zimmer finished the night with two saves.
Elon out-shot Furman 16-11 overall, but both squads put seven shots on frame.
The win was the first for Elon over Furman in four tries.
Mercer 1, Georgia Southern 0
STATESBORO, Ga. ? The Georgia Southern men’s soccer team lost its final non-conference match to Mercer 1-0 Tuesday afternoon at Eagle Field.
The Eagles fall to 5-8-0 (2-3-0) and finish up non-conference play with a 3-5-0 record. The Mercer Bears improved to 2-9-5 (1-4-3) on the season.
Georgia Southern controlled the ball early in the match but was unable to score in the first half despite two shots on goal from Jon Cox. Cox took the first shot on goal in the sixth minute of play, but David Bird stepped in to make the save.
The Eagles took five shots in the first 15 minutes of play.
The first half ended with a score of 0-0.
Mercer scored an early second half goal in the 57th minute of action. Arkenson Neckles scored his third goal of the season off of a pass from Chrispine Ong’ango. Neckles ended the match with five shots, two on goal and a goal scored.
Georgia Southern was unable to tie the match despite four second half shots on goal. Three of the shots on goal came within a two minute stretch. Danny Hall took the first shot of the three in the 65th minute. B.J. Reine and Daniel Smith took the other two shots on goal in the 67th minute.
The Eagles did have a few good defensive plays. Mark Beville broke up a crossing pass in front of the goal, and Stephen George headed a free kick out of the box in the second half.
Georgia Southern returns to conference play Saturday at Davidson at 1:00 p.m. The Eagles still can host the first round in the Southern Conference Tournament with a win against Davidson and a loss by Appalachian State.