CONWAY, S.C. – The Elon University men’s soccer team could not recover from three first-half goals by 24th-ranked Coastal Carolina on Friday, Sept. 26, dropping a 3-1 decision at CCU Soccer Field.
Elon drops to 3-3-2 with the setback, while Coastal improves to 5-3.
Elon ended the match with five shots, all on target, but could not match Coastal Carolina’s potent offensive attack in the first period and fell behind early.
The Chanticleers took a 2-0 lead in the 21st minute with a pair of goals within 12 seconds of one another. Bryce Follensbee’s header on a throw in inside the box landed behind Elon’s Nathan Dean for the score just seconds before Sergio Camargo struck a ball from 15 yards away into the back of the net to give CCU momentum.
James Brace limited the damage to one goal in the 21st minute on a penalty kick goal, his team-best third score of the year. But the Chanticleers answered in the 30th minute on a Louis Dargent goal that put the Phoenix down, 3-1.
Coastal nearly took a three-goal lead in the 77th minute of the match on a penalty kick opportunity, but Dean made the save for Elon.
The Phoenix returns to Rudd Field on Tuesday, Sept. 30, to host Triad rival High Point at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on Phoenix All-Access.