Box Score

STATESBORO, Ga. – The Elon men’s soccer team got three second half scores to roll to a 4-1 victory over the Georgia Southern Eagles in the Southern Conference regular-season finale for both teams on Friday afternoon. The Phoenix (7-5-1, 4-2-1 SoCon) broke out of a three-game winless stretch and currently sits in second place in the league standings. Elon will await the results of the conference games this weekend to determine its seeding in the upcoming league tournament. Georgia Southern dropped to 3-10-3 on the year, 0-6-1 in the SoCon.

SoCon leading goal scorer Chris Thomas added to his totals on Friday afternoon, netting two goals, including what proved the game-winner in the 51st minute of action. Thomas leads the league with 10 strikes, matching his total from last season.

The Phoenix opened up the scoring midway through the first half. Elon rookie defender Nick Butterly netted his first career goal, heading in the score at the 25:46 mark off a good delivery from Gabe Latigue on a Phoenix corner kick. The assist was Latigue’s second of the season.

After holding the 1-0 advantage at the half, Elon wasted little time adding to its lead in the early minutes of the final period. Defender Mark Berlin carried the ball up the right side of the field, passing it into the box where Daniel Lovitz chipped it forward to Thomas who headed home his ninth score of the year from about six yards out at 50:38.

Georgia Southern managed to get on the board in the 68th minute after a foul in the box awarded the Eagles a penalty kick. Austin Steele put his third goal of the year past Elon keeper Clint Irwin to cut the Phoenix lead in half.

The Phoenix cushioned its lead at the 81:49 mark when senior midfielder Brad Franks served a free kick that found the head of Drew Gardner who put Elon up 3-1. The goal was Gardner’s first of the season while Franks racked up his fifth helper of the year.

In the final minute of action, Thomas made it a three-goal game as Austen King sent a free kick over the Eagle line and found Thomas who buried his conference-leading 10th goal of the season.

Elon has scored four goals in three contests this year, twice against SoCon opponents.

The Phoenix and Eagles each posted 14 shots in the contest, while Elon held the 8-5 advantage in corner kicks. Irwin made four saves in the victory.

Elon will host Radford on Senior Night in the final regular season game on the year on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. Prior to the contest, Elon will honor six seniors for their many efforts during their time in the maroon and gold.