Elon 1, Georgia Southern 0 Elon, N.C. // Rudd Field

Elon head coach Darren Powell and senior midfielder Matt Wescoe talk after the Phoenix's 1-0 SoCon win over Georgia Southern.

ELON, N.C. – The No. 25 Elon University men's soccer team dominated the ball throughout and held on late to earn a 1-0 Southern Conference victory over Georgia Southern on Tuesday night, Oct. 15, at Rudd Field.
 
Matt Wescoe scored the lone goal of the match in the 31^st minute for the Phoenix, who improved to 10-2-1 on the year and 2-1 in SoCon play. The maroon and gold reached the double-digit win plateau for the second straight season and the fifth time overall under head coach Darren Powell.
 
For the match, Elon outshot Georgia Southern (4-8, 0-3 SoCon) 20-5 and allowed just one shot on goal for its sixth shutout of the season. The Phoenix also blanked the Eagles in corners, 9-0.
 
Elon jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first half thanks to some solid play by Wescoe, Jason Waterman and James Brace. Brace make a solid diving tackle to get the ball back to Waterman on the left side of the field. Waterman then sent a through ball to the box where and found Wescoe for his fourth score of the year.
 
The Eagles nearly responded four minutes later as Reed Norton had a great look at the net, but his attempt went high. Another attempt by GSU's Eric Dinka also went wide of the goal and the Phoenix went into the half with its 1-0 lead intact.
 
Elon was in complete control in the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the Eagles 11-3, with a 5-0 mark on corners.
 
In the second stanza, the Phoenix did not let up offensively and continued to look for its second score of the match. Forward Thorsten Pacher had a couple of opportunities in the 70^th and 71^st minute, but was unlucky on both as his first attempt was knocked out of play by Georgia Southern keeper Neal Bates. On the following corner kick, Pacher's second attempt from seven yards hit the post, giving the ball back to the Eagles.
 
Georgia Southern created a few frantic moments late in the last 10 minutes of the contest. Jeremy Rector saw his attempt at the 80^th minute blocked by an Elon defender while the maroon and gold back four also defensed Witt Carlisle's shot in the 83rd minute.
 
The clean sheet was the fifth of the season for Elon keeper Nathan Dean, who made a save while playing all 90 minutes between the posts. Bates had eight saves for the Eagles and also played every minute of the match.
 
Elon will travel back to the state of South Carolina this Saturday, Oct. 19, to face No. 22 Furman in a conference match between ranked teams. That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.