#1 Wofford 2, #3 Elon 1
Championship Game Photo Gallery
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - After a scoreless first half, Wofford was able to get two goals on the board and hold off a late surge by Elon to claim its first Southern Conference Men's Soccer Championship by a score of 2-1 in front of a home crowd of 1,014.
Elon had a chance to get on the board one minute into the game, but a header by Chris Thomas was caught by the Terriers' goalkeeper Thomas Hunter.
Wofford (12-2-3) responded less than four minutes later with a header by Yakov Rubinchik, but Clint Irwin made the save for the Phoenix.
The teams would trade shots throughout the first half with neither team finding the back of the net. Wofford had seven shots to Elon's four in the first half.
Finally in the 63rd minute Scott Redding connected with Wilson Hood to put the Terriers on the board 1-0.
Seven minutes later Kentrel Owens added a second goal for Wofford, this time breaking away from the defense for a one-on-one with Irwin. Owens was able to get the ball past a diving Irwin to pushed the Terriers ahead, 2-0.
The Phoenix (10-8-2) struck less than four minutes later as Chris Thomas sent a shot into the box that Hunter was unable to recover. After a scramble in front of the goal, Erfan Imeni was able to put it in for the Phoenix, making the score 2-1.
Elon's last chance came in the 89th minute on a shot by Thomas, but Hunter was there to make the save.
The Phoenix had six shots in the second half compared to Wofford's four. Hunter had five saves in the game for the Terriers, while Irwin had three for the Phoenix.
All-Tournament Team
Ryan Davis, UNC Greensboro
Matt Strine, UNC Greensboro
John Bello, College of Charleston
Matt Morris, College of Charleston
Clint Irwin, Elon
Chris Thomas, Elon
Erfan Imeni, Elon
Armin Kinigander, Wofford
Wilson Hood, Wofford
Kentrel Owens, Wofford
Thomas Hunter, Wofford
Tournament MVP
Wilson Hood, Wofford