WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Elon University men's soccer team continued its unbeaten streak versus CAA competition as the sixth-seeded Phoenix defeated No. 3 seed Stony Brook, 1-0, in the quarterfinal round of the CAA Tournament on Thursday evening, Nov. 2, at Hesse Field.
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Elon (6-8-3) is unbeaten in its last five matches versus CAA opponents while also extending its overall win streak to four. Stony Brook fell to 6-6-5 as the maroon and gold advances to its third straight CAA semifinal.
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THE RUNDOWN
• Less than a minute into the match, the Phoenix nearly had the first goal of the game.
Ben Rosenblatt played a ball from
Majaliwa Msabaha on the right side of the box and fired a shot that hit the top of the crossbar and out of play.
• In the third minute, Elon continued its aggressive attack as
Calle Edelstam got the first official look on goal for the Phoenix. The junior got free of the defense at the top of the box after a Seawolves' turnover and fired a shot towards the keeper, but it was stopped by the netminder.
•
Scott Vatne got free of the Seawolves' defense for a good look from about 20 yards away in the 20
th minute. Stony Brook's Edmond Kaiser was there again in goal to make the saves.
• Both teams were evenly matched in the opening half as Elon held a slight 7-6 advantage in shots with both teams attempting a corner each. The Phoenix withstood three shots on goal by the Seawolves in the first period with keeper
Tomasz Wroblewski able to turn away each chance.
• Early in the second stanza, the Phoenix broke free of the stalemate to get on the board. Msabaha forced a turnover in midfield and raced up the middle of the pitch against the defense before sending a ball to his left to Vatne. Vatne then sent a ball into the box where
Victor Stromsten was able to get a touch on it and push it past the keeper at the near post to put Elon ahead 1-0 in the 52
nd minute.
• That goal would prove to be the difference as the Phoenix held on for the 1-0 shutout win over the Seawolves.
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Notes
• Elon ended the match with a 17-13 advantage in shots with a 10-5 difference in shots on goal. The Phoenix also won the corner battle, 5-2.
• The Phoenix improved to 2-1 all-time versus Stony Brook. Elon was able to avenge its 4-0 loss to the Seawolves earlier this year.
• Wroblewski posted his second straight shutout and fourth overall on the season. The junior had five saves in the match for the Phoenix.
• Stromsten scored his team-best fifth goal of the season in the match while Vatne tallied his team-best fourth assist. Msabaha also was credited with an assist for his first official point of the year.
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UP NEXT
Elon will face No. 2 seed and semifinal host Monmouth on Sunday, Nov. 5. That match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start time and will stream on FloFC.
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-- ELON --
