Elon 3, Wofford 1
ELON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix men's soccer team opened up Southern Conference play with 3-1 victory over the visiting Wofford Terriers from Rudd Field on Wednesday evening. The Phoenix struck less than 10 minutes into the contest, improving to 2-3-1 overall and 1-0-0 in SoCon play. The Terriers dropped to 3-3-0, 0-1-0.
After collecting the ball in his box, Elon keeper Kyle Boerner punted the ball down field and found Aaron Parker who spun knocked the ball down, spun around the Terrier defender and fired a low shot past Wofford keeper Joey Taylor for his first goal of the season at the 9:47 mark. Boerner picked up his first career assist on the play.
The rest of the first half remained scoreless and Elon carried a 1-0 edge into intermission.
In the second half, the Phoenix quickly added to its lead, scoring just 1:25 into the period when Erfan Imeni sent a shot from the corner into the net, his second tally of the campaign.
In the 69th minute, Justin Wyatt's bicycle kick spun past Taylor to push the Phoenix margin to 3-0. Wyatt's second goal of the year was set up after Stephen Miller played a ball long down the line to Brad Franks who crossed the ball to Wyatt.
The Terriers got on the board in the 82nd minute when Phil Beene fed a ball through the Phoenix defense to Wilson Hood. Hood's ground ball of a shot found the lower right corner of the goal for his third score of the season.
Boerner made one save on the evening and the Elon defense stopped another Wofford shot on goal. Taylor finished with three saves. Both keepers played the full 90 minutes.
The Phoenix return to the pitch Saturday night, hosting William & Mary at 7 p.m. Wofford returns home to host the Wofford/Nike Soccer Classic and will take on USC Upstate at 7:30 p.m. on Friday evening.
UNC Greensboro 2, Campbell 1
GREENSBORO, NC ? UNC Greensboro stopped two shots from point-blank range with 30 seconds to go to preserve a one-goal lead and defeat Campbell, 2-1, in men’s soccer action at UNCG Soccer Stadium on Wednesday night.
Campbell’s Richard Jata had two shots from inside the six-yard box during a scramble with 30 seconds left. The first was knocked down by UNCG keeper Chad Janda. The second off the rebound by Jata appeared to hit a Spartan defender. Jata could not get another crack at the loose ball and the Spartans survived for their second win of the year (2-3-1). Jata also had a gorgeous bicycle kick from 12 yards out a few minutes early that glanced off the side of the net.
UNCG got off to a fast start with two goals in the first 20 minutes. Matt Strine, a redshirt sophomore from Spring, TX, started the scoring at 5:22 with his second tally of the season. Travis Young fed Strine at the top of the box in the middle of the field. Strine took two dribbles towards the net, fighting off a defender, before hitting a blast into the left side of the goal.
Sophomore Nirav Kadam made it 2-0 at the 18:16 mark. Tebatso Manyama played a ball in the midfield to the left sideline and the foot of Joe Burnett.
Burnett made a run down the sideline and crossed the ball to the top of the box, finding Kadam. Kadam, a Germantown, MD native, connected on a shot from there for his first tally of the season and a comfortable two-goal lead.
Campbell got one back midway through the second half. UNCG’s Matt Elliott was called for a hand ball just barely inside of the box, one step inside the 18. Josue Soto converted the ensuing penalty kick to make it a 2-1 lead.
The Spartans survived the late scurry and being outshot 12-1 in the second half to extend their unbeaten string to three straight after their first 0-3-0 start since 1973. Campbell (2-3-0) finished with a 15-8 advantage in shots and 6-2 in corner kicks. Janda finished with three saves in the second half, while Chad Dickerson had two saves in the first half for UNCG.
The Spartans, who have now beaten Campbell three consecutive seasons, will host UNC Wilmington at 7 pm Saturday.
High Point 2, Appalachian State 1
HIGH POINT, N.C.- The Appalachian State men's soccer team lost to High Point 2-1 Wednesday night at High Point.
In a heated contest that featured 36 fouls, five yellow cards and one red card, the Panthers scored first when Scott Rojo lofted a ball over Appalachian goalkeeper Collin Taylor for the 1-0 lead.
Appalachian had a chance to tie the score but a shot by Antonio Harley from 15 yards out went wide right as High Point took the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Nine minutes into halftime High Point made the score 2-0 when Hilaire Babou scored from just inside the 18 yard box beating Taylor to the right corner of the goal.
Appalachian got on the scoreboard in the 88th minute when Ryan Maloney knocked in a rebound off a J.T. LaBruyere header to make the score 2-1.
The Mountaineers fall to 4-1 on the season and host Campbell on Saturday Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. at ASU Soccer Stadium for the home opener.
North Florida 1, Georgia Southern 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Men’s Soccer out shot North Florida 14 to six in the second half, but lost 1-0 on a late goal by North Florida’s Steven Lowenthal.
“The last few minutes were disappointing. They scored of one of the few corner kicks they got and nailed a shot from 30 yards out,” said Coach Kennedy.
Georgia Southern’s best scoring opportunity came in the first half when Jon Cox shot and hit the left post. Cox took six shots, three of which were on goal.
“I felt like the last 60 minutes of the game was some of the best soccer we have played all year,” said Coach Kennedy.
The Eagles fall to 1-3-0 and North Florida (2-4-0) picks up its second win of the season.
Mark Beville picked up a shot on goal in today’s action, while Fredrik Langseth took three shots and picked up a shot on goal. Goalkeeper, Joey Ralph played well all day and picked up six saves.
Senior, Jon Kinsler played strong defense and took a two shots. Freshman, Joe Madigan took three shots in his second start of the season. Austin Steele and Stephen George took two shots in the game.
The match was a physical one with a combined five yellow cards being issued.
“I felt like we settled into how the match was going to be played after the first few minutes and started to play our game,” said Coach Kennedy.
The Eagles return to action Sunday against Jacksonville at 4 pm.