ELON, N.C. – After a pair of road matches, the Elon University men’s soccer team hosts two games at Rudd Field this week starting with an early-week matchup versus Triad rival High Point on Tuesday, Sept. 30. That match is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.
Follow the Phoenix
Fans can follow the Phoenix on Tuesday and throughout the season with live updates on elonphoenix.com. Live stats for every men’s soccer match will be available on the team’s schedule and home pages on the Elon athletic website as well as an opportunity to sign up for text alerts. The match will be streamed online for free through Phoenix All-Access with Alex Simon (play-by-play) and Ryan Meizinger (color) on the call. In-game updates will also be provided on Twitter at @elonscores or the program’s handle @elonmenssoccer.
Marines Soccer Sponsorship
The Marines will sponsor Tuesday’s match with fans being able to sign up for a pull-up challenge before the half for a chance to win prizes.
Series History
Former rivals of the Big South Conference, Tuesday’s meeting will be the 50th all-time between the two programs in a series dating back to Elon’s first year of collegiate soccer in 1972. The Phoenix trails 10-28-11 all-time versus the Panthers, but Elon won the most recent contest last year in High Point, 4-1. Jason Waterman had a pair of goals in that contest, the first of three multi-goal games for him in 2013.
Last Time Out
The Phoenix suffered a 3-1 road setback at the hands of No. 24 Coastal Carolina on Friday, Sept. 26. Elon’s James Brace scored the lone goal of the match for the maroon and gold with a penalty kick in the 21st minute. The three goals allowed were the most that the Phoenix has given up in a game this season.
About Elon (3-3-2)
Elon has played six of its eight games on the road this season, but has been undefeated at home with a 1-0-1 record. The Phoenix earned a 1-0 victory over West Virginia in its recent home match on Sept. 14. Last season, the maroon and gold posted a 7-1-2 record in front of the home crowd at Rudd Field.
Brace scored the lone goal and game-winner in the match versus the Mountaineers and has a team-best three goals and six points on the season. He also has two game winners on the year, his first as a full-time starter after scoring 10 goals mainly as a reserve last season.
The Phoenix backline defense of goalkeeper Nathan Dean and defenders Austin Dunker, Samuel McBride, Nathan Diehl and Jonathan Coleby has been a formidable unit this year. Elon ranks among the top three of the Colonial Athletic Association in fewest goals allowed (8), goals against average (0.94) and shutouts (four).
Offensively, Elon is outshooting its opponents 94-86 on the year on and is averaging 11.8 shots per contest. The Phoenix has yet to give up a goal on a corner kick this season despite trailing overall in the set piece, 33-46.
Scouting High Point (3-3-1)
Under eighth-year head coach Dustin Fonder, the Panthers have lost two of its last three matches after going unbeaten in their previous three games. High Point won its most recent game at home against UNC Asheville on Saturday, Sept. 27, 3-0 in its Big South opener.
High Point is averaging 1.43 goals per game and 14.7 shots per contest with 34 percent of those coming on frame. Senior striker Mamadee Nyepon leads the team in goals with six and is one of five players to tally a score this season for HPU.
Defensively, the Panthers are giving up 1.29 goals per game and 9.4 shots, but opponents are shooting nearly 39 percent on frame. Kody Palmer has seen the most time in goal for HPU and is averaging 1.44 GA with 16 saves and a save percentage of .640.
Up Next
Elon officially enters CAA play for the first time as the Phoenix welcomes Hofstra for its league opener on Saturday, Oct. 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Rudd Field.