Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Elon men’s soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to five straight games, opening Southern Conference action with a 4-1 victory over the host Davidson Wildcats on Saturday night at Alumni Stadium. Sophomore Gabe Latigue netted two goals while classmate Chris Thomas extended his scoring streak to five consecutive games to help the Phoenix earn the victory.

“This was a good opening performance in the league,” stated Elon head coach Darren Powell. “We were able to get a good early goal against a solid Davidson team which gave us confidence to push on for the victory. Now our focus is to prepare for our next match against one of the top 10 programs in the country in the Duke Blue Devils who will come to Rudd Field on Tuesday night.”

The Phoenix (3-2-2, 1-0-0) has never lost a conference opener under Powell with a mark of 5-0-1 in the first game of SoCon play. Elon has not lost a league opener since 2003, its inaugural season in the Southern Conference. Davidson, ranked fourth in the South Region heading into the contest, dropped to 4-2-2 overall, 0-1-0 in the league.

Elon took the early lead in the 10th minute of the contest when freshman Daniel Lovitz and Thomas teamed up for the second time this season. Lovitz sent a perfect cross from the left side of the field to the middle of the box where Thomas one-touched the score into the lower left corner of the net past a diving Chip Sanders. The goal was Thomas’ fifth of the season — Elon is unbeaten this season when the forward nets a goal.

The Phoenix was quick to add to its lead, going on top 2-0 on a Latigue goal at 18:03. Senior midfielder Brad Franks pushed a ball forward from the right side of the field to the foot of Latigue who slid the shot into the far corner of the net from about 15 yards out.

Davidson got some decent pressure on net, but Elon keeper Clint Irwin and the back line kept the ‘Cats at bay. About 15 minutes into the game, Davidson’s Alex Caskey launched a shot from the left side but a punch save by Irwin kept the Wildcats scoreless. Elon held a slight 7-6 advantage in shots after 45 minutes of action.

Elon netted an insurance goal in the 58th minute. A Davidson foul awarded the Phoenix a free kick from about 30 yards out on the left side of the field. Latigue’s shot off the free kick sailed just over the fingertips of Sanders into the top corner of the far post as Elon took a 3-0 advantage. Latigue now has three goals on the season.

At the 77:39 mark, rookie Glenn Scott drove a deep free kick at Sanders who could not control the ball. Ben Lunka was there for the rebound score, sending the shot into the right corner of the net to give Elon the commanding 4-0 lead.

Davidson finally got on the board as the clock ticked under seven minutes to play. After one of the Wildcats’ eight corner kicks, Caskey touched a short pass in front of the goalmouth where Jake Keator managed to tap it in the net and avoid the shutout.

The last time Elon scored four goals in the SoCon match was a 4-3 victory over Furman in 2008. The Phoenix held the upper hand in the shot tally, 15-12, while Davidson took eight corner kicks compared to only one, which came in the game’s final minute, by Elon.

The Phoenix will be back in action when it hosts 11th-ranked Duke in a non-conference battle at Rudd Field on Tuesday, September 28 at 7 p.m.