Men’s Soccer – Thomas and Lovitz Lead Elon to 4-2 Win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Chris Thomas and Daniel Lovitz each scored a pair of goals to help the Elon men’s soccer team close out the Hyatt Place Select Invitational at Lipscomb with a 4-2 victory over Belmont on Sunday, Sept. 9.

Elon improves to 3-1 with the win, while Belmont falls to 1-4-1 with the loss.

“I thought we fought hard for both wins this weekend in our first two road games,” said Phoenix head coach Darren Powell. “We overcome several challenges against two quality opponents. Our team was able to create enough chances to win the game in both matches and hopefully that will allow us to keep getting better throughout the season.”

Thomas put the maroon and gold ahead 1-0 in the 14th minute after Matt Wescoe found the senior forward in the center of the field from 15 yards out for the goal.

Thomas helped Elon out to a 2-0 advantage in the 28th minute when he headed in a Lovitz cross for his fourth goal of the tournament and sixth of the season.

Belmont made it a one-goal game in the 36th minute when Tyler Vieth picked up a loose ball along the left side and struck it into the back of the net to limit the Phoenix to a 2-1 lead.

Both squads took a total of four shots in the opening frame, as Elon put three on-target to Belmont’s one shot on goal. The Phoenix held a 3-1 edge in corners in the first 45 minutes.

Elon took a 3-1 lead in the 66th minute after a Bruins foul in the box led to an Elon penalty kick for Lovitz. Lovitz blasted the shot behind Belmont goalie Lou Manning for the score, his second of the season. However, the Bruins answered with a goal 90 seconds later to pull within one, 3-2.

But Lovitz struck again to give Elon a two-goal edge in the 73rd minute when he dribbled past a Belmont defender on the left side for an open look at the net for the score, giving the Phoenix a 4-2 lead. The maroon and gold held off the Bruins for the next 17 minutes to secure the victory, its third straight.

The Bruins ended the match with a 13-7 advantage in shots, but both squads took a total of six shots on goal.

Elon’s next match is scheduled for Sept. 14 when it heads to Conway, S.C., to face No. 19 ranked Coastal Carolina. The two teams last met in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament.