Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. – Despite battling back from a goal down three times, the Elon men’s soccer team was unable to get past the 17th-ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, falling 4-3, in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Ashton Bennett, the nation’s leading scorer, banged in the ultimate game-winner in the 83rd minute to extend the Chanticleers’ (18-3) season. Elon, making the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, saw its season come to a close with a final record of 9-11-2.

“I thought this was a very entertaining college soccer game and I’m proud of the way our guys were able to come back from a goal behind three times,” said Elon head coach Darren Powell. “Full credit goes to Coastal Carolina. They are a very good team and we wish them the best of luck against North Carolina on Sunday.”

After Elon had knotted the game for the third time on a James Carroll goal in the 81st minute, Coastal Carolina had the answer for the final time. Justin Portillo took a deep throw in on the left sideline where Pedro Ribeiro headed the ball down to Bennett who used his body to push in his 22nd goal of the year inside the near post.

The Phoenix continued to pressure, having found the equalizer on three other occasions in the contest. But, the home team was able to stave off the final Elon efforts to earn the win.

Elon’s Chris Thomas scored two of Elon’s three goals, bringing his team-leading total to nine on the year.

Coastal Carolina came out firing in the first half, forcing Elon goalie Nathan Dean to do some early work. In the opening minute of action, Bennett rocketed a shot on goal from the right side but Dean punched it away. The Chanticleers had five first-half corner kicks but were unable to capitalize with several shots going just wide of the net.

In the eighth minute of the match, the Phoenix nearly got on the board. Austin Dunker brought the ball down the left side of the field and crossed it in the box. Thomas headed it forward and Matt Wescoe followed with a header past the goalie, but the goal was negated by an offsides call. Later in the half, another goal, this one off the foot of Thomas, was called back for the same call.

In the 35th minute, Coastal managed to get the games first goal. Shawn McLaws fired a deep shot from the far right side of the field and Dean attempted to control the ball. The ball popped out and Ricky Garbanzo tucked in the rebound shot for a 1-0 home team advantage.

Elon got the equalizer in the early minutes of the second half. Dunker brought the ball into Elon’s offensive third and played it back to Lovitz on the left side. Lovitz sent a long cross in the box where Wescoe headed it left. Thomas one-touched it into the back of the net to knot the score in the 48th minute.

The Chanticleers answered quickly in the 55th minute. Ribeiro served the ball in the box and TeeJay East finished a sliding shot into the middle of the net as Coastal moved on top 2-1.

The scoring was far from over as a Coastal foul in the box awarded Elon a penalty kick, the Phoenix’s second in as many games. Thomas converted the PK and the game was tied again with 27 minutes to play.

With under 19 minutes to play, the hosts found a way to punch in another goal. There was a scuffle in the goal box and Cyprian Hedrick managed to push the ball through the mix of players and past Dean for a 3-2 Coastal Carolina lead.

In the 81st minute, the Phoenix made it interesting once again. Glenn Scott, who had just come off the bench for Elon, sent a long pass to the left side of the field. Carroll made a great run and slid a shot to the far post past Coastal’s Scott Angevine for a 3-3 score.

Elon had a great run to end the year, winning three straight games as the No. 6 seed in the Southern Conference Tournament to earn its first-ever SoCon Tourney crown. Eight Phoenix seniors — Carroll, Austin King, Nick Millington, Jahan Threeths, Jordan Neuhauser, Morgan Fleming, Drew Gardner and Tony Pusateri — ended their careers in the maroon and gold.