Box Score

ELON, N.C. – Back-to-back Gabe Latigue goals followed by a senior-to-senior connection lifted the Elon men’s soccer team to a 3-1 victory over the Radford Highlanders in the final game of the regular season from Rudd Field on Friday night. After Latigue put the Phoenix ahead with his second goal in a seven-minute span, senior Greg Mader connected with classmate Stephen Dilger to tack on a third score and secure the Elon (8-5-5) victory and ensure a fifth consecutive winning season on Senior Night. Radford dropped to 6-7-3 on the season.

“It is good to get a win in the final home game of the season against a very well-coached Radford team who fought very well having played a game last night,” commented Elon head coach Darren Powell. “It is always positive that all the seniors could play and to see them contribute and combine on goals as well. Now we will look forward to postseason play.”

The Phoenix got off to a slow start in the first 45 minutes of action, registering only four shots and allowing the visitors to get on the board in the 25th minute. Radford’s Camden Brown sent a shot from the left side of the field on goal where Phoenix keeper Reed Dillard blocked it away, but Iyiola Awosika was there for the rebound score to give the Highlanders the lead with his team-leading eighth goal of the year.

Elon’s best chance of the first half came with under 10 minutes to go before the break when sophomore forward Chris Thomas drilled a shot from the far left side of the field. Radford goalie Joey Dennis leaned right to make one of his five saves on the night.

Down a score to start the second half, Latigue got the equalizer in the 65th minute of play. Senior Brad Franks dribbled deep down the left side of the field, beating his defender and crossing a perfect ball into the box where Latigue buried his fifth goal of the season from about 10 yards out.

The sophomore wasted little time getting the go-ahead goal for the Phoenix in the 72nd minute, taking a short pass from Denzel Ogunyase on the right side of the field and blasting a shot into the far upper 90 from about 20 yards out over the outstretched hands of Dennis. Latigue has three game-winning goals this season and is second on the team with six strikes and 14 points.

In the 79th minute, Elon added to its advantage when Mader touched the ball forward to Dilger in the middle of the box. Dennis came out of the net and Dilger slipped the ball straight into the back of the net for his second goal of the season. The points were the first of Mader’s career.

“It was an awesome feeling,” Mader said about his assist. “It was good to go out like that after four years of hard work and in front of many family and friends.”

Elon held an 18-7 advantage in the shot column, racking up 14 attempts in the second half. The Phoenix also took the 4-3 edge in corner kicks.

Elon also learned its fate for the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament which begins this weekend. The Phoenix earned the No. 5 seed in the tournament and will travel to Boone, N.C. for a rematch with Appalachian State. The Mountaineers came out with a 2-1 double overtime victory in the regular-season meeting on Oct. 23. Game time is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6.