STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Men's Soccer opened the 2011 home schedule with a 3-0 victory over Presbyterian College at the friendly confines of Eagle Field on Wednesday afternoon, September 14th. The Eagles exacted revenge on the Blue Hose for a 1-0 win last year in Clinton, S.C. Luigi Clendening scored twice on the afternoon to move into a tie for third place nationally for total goals.

"It was the tale of two halves today," said Head Coach Kevin Kennedy. "In the first half we played a little selfish, but in the second half we got our combination play working around the box and it payed off with a win for us."

Following a quiet first half in terms of goals, Luigi Clendening (Augusta, Ga.) scored the match's first goal in the 50th minute as Alex Evert (Marietta, Ga.) played a loose ball wide to Clendening in the penalty area. The forward slotted the ball past the keeper into the net for a 1-0 Eagle lead.

Clendening struck again just three minutes later for his sixth goal of the season on a breakaway pass from Ethan LaPan (Martinez, Ga.). A through ball to Clendening in the channel took the senior free one-on-one with the keeper outside of the six-yard box. The Blue Hose keeper dove to dispossess Clendening as he played the ball around the outstretched hands into an open position. Clendening delivered a close angle shot for the second goal of the day and sixth of the year.

In the 70th minute, Georgia Southern took advantage of a free kick in an attacking position for its third goal of the match. Sophomore Drew Ruggles (Mannassas, Va.) bent the free kick into the box and into the net through traffic for the Eagles' third goal of the match. The tally was Ruggles' second of the season and second in as many matches.

Senior goalkeeper Neal Bates (Preston, England) recorded his second clean sheet of the season while making two saves off nine total Presbyterian College shots.

Georgia Southern travels this weekend for a Sunday matinee against Mercer on September 18th. The match in Macon, Ga. starts at 5 p.m.

Elon 3, Campbell 1

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The Elon men's soccer team never trailed as the Phoenix turned in a 3-1 performance against the previously unbeaten Campbell Fighting Camels in Wednesday night non-conference action at Eakes Athletic Complex. The Phoenix got goals from three different players, including the game-winner from reigning Southern Conference Player of the Week Chris Thomas in the 36th minute of action.

"It was good to win on the road against a talented Campbell team," Elon head coach Darren Powell said. "It is good to see us progressing as the season goes on. Now we need to prepare to be back home against a ranked and undefeated Old Dominion team on Saturday night."

Elon (2-3-1) has scored eight goals in the last two games after scoring only one goal in the first four contests. The last time an Elon team totaled eight goals over back-to-back games was when it scored four against both UNCG and Furman in 2008.

The Phoenix got on the board early, capitalizing off a corner kick opportunity in the 10th minute. Gabe Latigue served the ball deep into the box where it was cleared outside the top of the 18-yard box. Nick Millington was in perfect position for the one touch strike into the right side of the net. It was the earliest score of the season for the Phoenix.

Rookie Jason Waterman nearly added to the lead just moments later, his long shot on a counter attack going just wide of the far right post.

A barrage of shots continued by the Phoenix as Thomas came off the bench and forced Campbell (3-1-1) keeper Ethan Hall to make a save on a short shot to maintain the one goal game.

In the 36th minute, Thomas did add to the Elon lead. Off a Phoenix throw in from the left side in its offensive third, Austin Dunker crossed a perfect ball into the middle of the box where Thomas flicked his third goal of the year past Hall to give Elon the 2-0 advantage. The points were the first of rookie Dunker's career.

The Camels managed to trim the lead right before the half. With 30 seconds remaining on the clock and the ball bouncing around deep in the box off a throw-in, Campbell's Justin Franz made a short pass to the right side where J.J. Elder drove a low shot past diving Elon goalie Nathan Dean into the left corner.

Early in second half action, the home team almost netted the equalizer off the foot of Eduardo Rodriguez, but his bullet curled just wide of the far post.

The Phoenix got the goal back in the 58th minute when Latigue pushed a long thru ball to a speedy Jordan Smith who broke away from his defenders and slid the score past the Camel goalie for a 3-1 Phoenix lead.

Although Elon held the majority of possession, Campbell had some near misses, including a shot midway through the final period by Mitchell Cardenas that ricocheted down off the cross bar and was narrowly cleared by a Phoenix defender.

Elon staved off the Camel attack for the remainder of the contest, with Dean making three saves on the evening. Campbell's Hall posted five stops.

Both teams recorded 17 shots, while Elon earned eight corner kicks compared to only two by the Camels.

The Phoenix returns to Rudd Field on Saturday night when it will take on the No. 21/12 Old Dominion Monarchs at 7 p.m.

Davidson 2, Winthrop 0

DAVIDSON, N.C. - First half goals from freshman Max Riehemann and senior Hunter Hayes were all Davidson needed, as the Wildcats earned their fourth shutout in five games to defeat regional foe Winthrop, 2-0 in non-conference men's soccer action Wednesday night at Alumni Stadium.

Senior goalkeeper Chips Sanders needed to make just two saves to earn his 12th career shutout, which ties him with Bart Creasman (2001-04) for fourth all-time at Davidson. Both Wildcat goals came within a five minute span early in the first half.

Riehemann notched his second career goal in as many games in the 15th minute after blasting his own rebound into the back of the net. Hayes, a defender, then notched his first career goal in the 20th minute off an Alex Givens corner kick on the first of Davidson's 15 corners in the game.

Davidson controlled the game from start to finish, outshooting the Eagles 14-6 and taking a 15-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The Wildcats play on the road for their next four contests, starting with a trip to No. 25 East Tennessee State Saturday. They will then play Campbell (Sept. 21), Georgia Southern (Sept. 25) and Wake Forest (Sept. 28) before returning home to Alumni Stadium to take on Duke Oct. 4.