ELON, N.C. – Looking to pick up its first league win of the season, the Elon University men’s soccer team welcomes Colonial Athletic Association opponent Northeastern to Rudd Field on Saturday, Oct. 14. Kickoff between both teams is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Follow @ElonMensSoccer
Fans can follow the Phoenix throughout the match on Twitter at the program’s handle @ElonMensSoccer. Other scores and updates will also be provided at the handle @elonscores. The match will be streamed on Elon’s Phoenix All-Access channel with Jake Young on the call.
Series History
The brief series between the Phoenix and the Huskies has been in Elon’s favor so far with the maroon and gold holding a 3-1-1 advantage all-time since the programs began facing each other in 2013. The Phoenix has won the last two meetings including a 1-0 victory over the Huskies last season in its first ever visit to Northeastern. Jack Willbye provided the lone goal in that contest in the 35th minute off a free kick.
Last Time Out
Despite a career-high tying seven saves from redshirt junior netminder Matthew Jegier, Elon suffered its second straight loss in a 1-0 setback at William & Mary on Wednesday, Oct. 11. The defeat was the third out of four matches for the maroon and gold and pushed its winless streak to eight matches.
The Tribe’s Graham Guidry netted the only goal in the contest in the 65th minute, scoring off a deflection inside the box. Elon continued to throw numbers forward while chasing the equalizer, but was held without a shot on goal for the first time this season.
About Elon (3-3-6, 0-2-3 CAA)
The Phoenix will look to earn its first three points of the CAA season on Saturday as Elon remains the lone team in the league without a CAA victory. Elon is still within striking distance of earning a postseason berth with three league games remaining on its schedule in Northeastern, Drexel and at Delaware.
Elon’s defense has been stellar throughout the season as the maroon and gold has remained one of the top defensive units both in the league and the country. The Phoenix is the lone team in the CAA that has allowed single-digit goals to its opponents (six) and had held the opposition to one goal or fewer in 19 of its past 21 games. Jegier also continues to put up standout numbers between the posts as the Charlotte, N.C., native leads the CAA in goals-against average (0.45), save percentage (.870) and shutouts (seven).
The Phoenix continues to search for answers to wake up its offense, which has been held scoreless over the past three matches and five of its last six. Elon is averaging 9.4 shots per match and has 42 attempts on goal this season at .372 percent. Four players have taken 10 or more shots for the Phoenix this season with sophomore John Walden leading the way with 18.
Scouting Northeastern (2-9-2, 1-3-1 CAA)
The Huskies are coming off a 6-0 setback at No. 17 SMU on Tuesday, Oct. 10, their fourth loss in a row and the sixth out of its last seven. Northeastern also currently has a long winless streak, having not won in its last seven matches. The Huskies’ last victory came versus College of Charleston on Sept. 16, by a score of 1-0 in overtime.
Offensively, NU has scored eight goals this season and is averaging 11.3 shots per match. The Huskies have fired 56 of those attempts on target at .381 percent with four players having 10 or more shots this season. Redshirt junior Harry Swartz leads the program with his seven total points on his team-high three goals and an assist. Senior Lewis Aird has been the leading playmaker with four assists for NU.
Northeastern has conceded 24 goals this season with opponents averaging 15.2 shots per match and putting over 41 percent of those shots on frame. Senior Jonathan Thuresson has started every game in goal for Northeastern and has a GAA of 1.65 with 56 saves, a .718 save percentage and a shutout.
Up Next
The Phoenix welcomes nationally-ranked Wake Forest to Rudd Field for its next contest on Tuesday, Oct. 17. It will be the first meeting between the Phoenix and the Demon Deacons since 2015 and the first at Elon since 2013. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.