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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Two first-half goals and a strong defensive effort led the Elon men’s soccer team to a 2-0 shutout against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest at Spry Stadium in wet weather on Tuesday night. The victory is Elon’s first-ever over the Demon Deacons during its Division I era and first against Wake Forest (6-6-2) since 1979.

Elon (5-8-1) has now posted back-to-back shutouts against ACC teams, having defeated the Clemson Tigers, 1-0, last week.

“I thought the team played very well tonight,” Elon head coach Darren Powell said. “We defended well throughout the game against a very talented Wake Forest team. I thought we executed in key moments to get two good goals and we hope to keep on improving for the rest of the year. We look forward to getting back to Southern Conference action in front of a homecoming crowd on Friday night.”

As has been the case in its last few matches, the Phoenix got on the board early in the contest. In the 14th minute, Matt Wescoe got his first goal of the year, a header that proved the game-winner. Senior co-captain James Carroll lofted the ball in the box where Wescoe finished for the 1-0 Elon advantage. The assist was Carroll’s second of the season.

Elon added to its lead in the 37th minute when junior midfielder Gabe Latigue chased down a ball from Daniel Lovitz. On the breakaway, Latigue beat Wake keeper Michael Lisch and came through with a sliding finish on his second score of the season.

The Phoenix defense was solid for the entire 90 minutes and goalie Reed Dillard came up with four big saves, including two impressive first-half stops on shots by WFU forward Sean Okoli, to fend off the Wake Forest attack. The shutout was Dillard’s second of the year. Lisch collected three saves for the home team.

Wake held the 17-13 advantage in the shot column and the 6-4 edge in corner kicks.

Elon will get back into Southern Conference action as the Phoenix kicks off Elon’s Homecoming festivities with a 6 p.m. bout against Georgia Southern on Friday night at Rudd Field.