Box Score

Wofford 2, Elon 1 (OT) Spartanburg, S.C. // Snyder Field

Elon head coach Darren Powell speaks after the Phoenix's 2-1 overtime loss at Wofford.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The No. 16 Elon men's soccer team suffered its first setback in Southern Conference play as the Phoenix fell 2-1 in overtime to Wofford on Saturday night, Oct. 12, at Snyder Field.
 
The loss snaps the Phoenix's (9-2-1, 1-1 SoCon) four-match win streak and gives the maroon and gold its first defeat on the road since a 2-1 setback at Coastal Carolina last September. The Terriers improved to 7-4-1 and 2-0 in league play.
 
The Phoenix overtook Wofford in shots in the contest with a 15-12 advantage, including a 12-5 mark in the second half. Elon also had a 13-1 lead in corners, including an 11-1 standing in the second period.
 
A golden-goal in the 94^th minute by Wofford's Forrest Lasso made the difference, similar to Elon's last regular-season loss to the Terriers. The Phoenix lost a hard-fought game in overtime last season to the Terriers at home.
 
Wofford broke through first with an opening-half goal at the 34^th minute. Ryan Hurst played a ball on a midfield throw-in by Nestor Jaramillo and was able to beat Elon keeper Nathan Dean and hit a shot from eight yards for his first goal of the season.
 
The Terriers continued to put the offensive pressure on the Phoenix in the opening stanza, leading to a 6-2 advantage in shots. Elon had the lone corner kick in the first period for either side.
 
Chasing the equalizer, Elon began the second half more aggressive and earned three corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes. The Phoenix could not capitalize on each opportunity and continued to look for the tying score.
 
After a few close chances at the 61^st and the 64^th minute, James Brace was finally able to connect on a shot in the 66^th minute. The sophomore received a ball from Matt Wescoe and found the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season and second in as many games.
 
Elon had a chance to go-ahead in the 79^th minute after earning a penalty kick on a Wofford foul. Wescoe drew the assignment, but Wofford's keeper Garret Closs made a great save to keep the score tied at 1-1.
 
The Phoenix scrambled for a couple of chances in the final minutes for the game-winner. Closs knocked Jason Waterman's header in the 88th minute out of play and Charles Howard's shot from 10 yards in the 89^th minute was blocked as both teams went into overtime.
 
Waterman nearly had the golden-goal at the 93^rd minute as he took a cross from Nick Butterly in the middle of the field. His shot however just curved left of the goal keeping the game knotted at 1-1 until Lasso's heroics a minute later.
 
Elon returns home on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to host Georgia Southern at Rudd Field. That match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.