Elon Men’s Soccer Falls to Radford in Regular-Season Finale, 2-0

ELON, N.C. – An opening goal 42 seconds into the match doomed the 21st-ranked Elon University men’s soccer team as the Phoenix fell to Radford, 2-0, in a non-conference game in its regular-season finale on Wednesday night, Nov. 4, at Rudd Field.

The defeat dropped the Phoenix to 13-5 to close out its 2015 regular-season slate. The loss was also the first setback at home this season for Elon at the home pitch at Rudd Field (6-1). Radford improved to 13-2-2 on the season.

The Rundown
Radford quickly got on the scoreboard 42 seconds in to open the start of the match. The Highlanders’ Sivert Daehlie headed in a shot at the top of the six-yard box that floated over the head of Phoenix goalkeeper Matthew Jegier that put the Phoenix in an early 1-0 hole. The score was the 11th goal of the season for Daehlie.

Elon could not get its offense going in the opening stanza and was held to only three shots in the first period. The Phoenix had four corner kicks in the first half, but could not connect on either set piece attempt.

Radford added its second goal – and the game-winner – almost three minutes into the beginning of the second half. RU’s Garland Smith beat the Phoenix defense with a shot from the right corner at the six-yard line and pushed the ball to the low left corner of the net.

The Phoenix’s best chances to score came first at the 53rd minute when Billy Beresford seemed to have an opportunity at a goal, but the Highlanders’ goalkeeper was there to make the stop. In the 72nd minute, Cooper Vandermaas-Peeler attempted to cross the ball from the right side of the 18-yard line, but the ball nearly snuck in as the ball hit the post.

Match Notes
• Elon ends the regular-season with 13 wins – tying its single-season Division I record for victories.
• Radford outshot the Phoenix, 14-9, with a 6-4 advantage in shots on target.
• This is only the second time this season that Elon has been shutout. It’s the first that the maroon and gold suffered a multi-goal shutout.
• Five yellows were issued in the match along with 30 combined fouls.
• Radford improved its all-time mark versus the Phoenix to 10-6-3.

Up Next
Elon will next play in the semifinal round of the Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Soccer Championships. The Phoenix will play the winner between Delaware and UNCW on Friday, Nov. 13, in Hempstead, N.Y.