Box Score

BOONE, N.C. – The host Appalachian State Mountaineers battled back from a one-goal deficit to pull off a 2-1 double overtime victory against the Elon Phoenix in Southern Conference men’s soccer action from ASU Soccer Stadium on Saturday night. In the 109th minute, ASU’s Bruno Mbamala netted the golden goal to lift the Mountaineers (7-5-2, 4-1-0) to victory. Elon, playing its seventh double overtime game of the season, suffered its first overtime loss and dropped to 6-4-5 overall and 3-2-1 in league action.

As time wound down in the final extra session, ASU’s Steven Sassano served the Mountaineer’s ninth corner kick deep into the box where he found Mbamala. The forward managed to slip the ball past Elon keeper Reed Dillard from about seven yards out for the game-winner.

Chris Thomas’ conference-leading eighth goal of the season put Elon on top with 20 minutes remaining in regulation. Daniel Lovitz served a Phoenix corner kick from the right side of the field to the far post where Austen King headed it forward. Thomas turned and one-touched it into the back of the net for the game’s first score.

Minutes later, Appalachian State’s Sassano fired from about 15 yards, but Dillard stretched out to punch away the attempt. With under 15 minutes to go in the second stanza, the home team’s Lee Ritter sailed a shot just wide right.

As the clock ticked under eight minutes, Ricky Davey got the equalizer for the Mountaineers. Mbamala controlled the ball on the right side of the field, touching a pass forward to Davey who put the ball in the near corner to knot the game at one goal apiece.

After a quiet first half, Elon nearly took advantage of an Appalachian State foul just minutes into the second period. Brad Franks took a free kick from just inside the midfield line, serving it into the box. King headed the ball into the corner of the net, but a Phoenix foul negated the goal.

With 28 minutes left in the second half, Hunter Miller lofted a ball wide left to Daniel Lovitz. The freshman managed to get around his defender and get a look at the goal. ASU goalie Drake Branson stopped the shot but couldn’t corral the ball and it dribbled toward the near post. Thomas got a foot on the ball but didn’t have an angle to tuck it in the net.

Dillard made nine saves in the contest while Branson stopped five Phoenix shots. The Mountaineers owned a 19-11 advantage in the shot column and a 9-7 edge in corner kicks.

With only one regular-season league contest remaining, Elon sits in fourth place in the standings. The top four seeds host a first-round SoCon Tournament game.

The Phoenix will face off against its third Atlantic Coast Conference opponent on Tuesday night when Wake Forest visits Rudd Field. The game is the annual Jimmy V contest featuring a silent auction where all the proceeds benefit The Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research.