Elon 4, Campbell 1 (Exhibition)
BUIES CREEK, N.C. ? The Elon men’s soccer team scored early and then often as the Phoenix defeated Campbell, 4-1, at Eakes Athletic Complex on Tuesday evening in Elon’s lone exhibition contest of the year. Junior midfielder Brad Franks netted two goals in the preseason tilt that featured the 2008 regular-season champions from the Atlantic Sun and Southern conferences.
“Tonight was an opportunity to let some players get some time at various positions and help us prepare for our season,” said Elon head coach Darren Powell. “We still feel we have a lot of work to do, but we look forward to opening the season at home against High Point next Tuesday.”
Franks gave the Phoenix the early advantage, netting Elon’s first goal less than four minutes after the opening horn. Franks headed in the score off a serve from senior midfielder Justin Wyatt at the 3:20 mark.
After the initial score, both teams were relatively quiet on the offensive end, Elon tallying only four shots to Campbell’s six in the opening period.
Elon came out with a vengeance after the break, sending a barrage of 12 shots and finding the back of the net three more times. At the 57:24 mark, freshman Chris Thomas found senior back Clint Collins at the edge of the box. Collins sailed a shot just under the cross bar from 15-yards out into the upper right corner of the goal.
Less than four minutes later, Franks found the back of the net for his second score of the night, cleaning up a loose ball in the box at 61:14. Phoenix freshmen Archie Karpeh and Gabe Latigue combined for the final Elon goal with under 15 minutes to play. Latigue sent the ball down the left side to Karpeh who finished his chance and gave Elon the 4-0 edge.
The Fighting Camels scored their lone goal of the evening at 76:16 when Jason Keever converted on a penalty kick that resulted from a foul in the box.
Elon junior goalkeeper Clint Erwin made two saves and didn’t allow a goal in just under 76 minutes of action. Rookie keeper Reed Dillard also saw time in the net. The Phoenix held a 16-13 shot advantage, including an 8-3 edge in shots on goal.
The Phoenix will kick off the regular-season on Tuesday, September 1 at 7 p.m. when the High Point Panthers visit Rudd Field.
NC State 3, UNC Greensboro 1 (Exhibition)
RALEIGH, N.C. ? North Carolina State scored three goals in the second half to erase a halftime deficit and defeat UNC Greensboro, 3-1, in men’s soccer exhibition action on Tuesday night.
The Spartans took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. Matt Strine cleaned up a loose ball at the top of the box and banged it home for an unassisted tally at 27:18.
But the Wolfpack responded with three second half tallies, two from Ronnie Bouemboue. Bouemboue’s first tally came just 2:13 into the second half off a free kick from 20 yards out to tie the game.
Federico Nachmann broke the tie just 3:17 later. Alan Sanchez’s free kick into the box found Nachmann, who knocked it home to give the Wolfpack a 2-1 lead.
Sanchez had the helper on an insurance tally by Bouemboue with just under
21 minutes to play, as well. Bouemboue scored from point blank range for the final tally of the game.
NC State had an 11-10 advantage in shots, while UNCG held a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The Spartans will play an exhibition against their alumni on Saturday night before opening the season on Friday, September 4 against Evansville at the Carolina Nike Classic.