ELON, N.C. – The Elon men’s soccer team (12-4-1) will host its final regular season match against the Duke Blue Devils (7-7-1) on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. Six players for the Phoenix will play in their final regular season game on the home pitch at Rudd Field.
 
The Series
This is the 11^th meeting between the two schools in a series that dates back to 1980. Duke holds an 8-0-2 advantage all-time versus Elon, but the previous two encounters have ended in draws. In last year’s match, Chris Thomas scored twice for the Phoenix as the game ended in a 2-2 tie in Durham, N.C.
 
About Elon
Elon has won 12 matches this season, the most for the program since entering Division I play in 1999. The maroon and gold captured a share of the Southern Conference regular season crown on Saturday, Oct. 27, with a 2-1 double overtime win at UNCG and finished SoCon play at 5-2.
 
The match against the Blue Devils will be the Phoenix’s second game against an ACC opponent in a week. Elon hosted Wake Forest last Tuesday, Oct. 23, and defeated the then 13^th – ranked Demon Deacons, 1-0, for its fifth shutout of the season. The win was Elon’s fourth against ranked competition this season and extends the Phoenix’s unbeaten streak to four matches against ACC schools.
 
Thomas leads the nation in goals with 21, including one on Saturday versus UNCG to extend his single-season record for the program. He is one point away from tying Mike Wessels’ all-time record for total points in a career with 113. Thomas has scored a school-record 51 goals along with 10 assists in his career tallying 112 points.
 
Nathan Dean has played every minute between the posts this season and has helped the maroon and gold defense to three shutouts against ranked opponents this year. Dean's efforts last week earned him a spot on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Monday, Oct. 29.
 
Darren Powell is in his eighth season as the head coach of the Elon men’s soccer program. Powell led the maroon and gold to its first SoCon Tournament Championship last season and first ever berth to the NCAA Tournament.
 
About Duke
The Blue Devils are 7-7-1 this season after its most recent match, a 2-0 win against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Oct. 27, in its ACC finale.
 
Duke’s Sebastien Ibeagha leads the team with five goals on the year while keeper James Belshaw has allowed only 12 goals this season (0.79 GAA). The Blue Devils have posted 2-0 shutouts in consecutive games.
 
John Kerr is in his fifth season at the helm of the Duke men’s soccer team and has a record of 2-0-2 all-time against Elon.
 
Senior Night
The Phoenix will be honoring six players prior to the match as they play their final regular season home contest at Rudd Field. Mark Berlin, Archie Karpeh, Gabe Latigue, Denzel Ogunyase, Jordan Smith and Thomas will be recognized and acknowledged before the kickoff.
 
Up Next for Elon
The maroon and gold will return to the home pitch on Saturday, Nov. 3, to host an opening round match for the SoCon Tournament. That game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. with the opponent to be determined.