No. 21 Elon 1, Appalachian State 0 Rudd Field // Elon, N.C.

Elon head coach Darren Powell talks about the Phoenix's 1-0 win over Appalachian State in its SoCon opener.

ELON, N.C. – The No. 21 Elon men's soccer team earned a 1-0 win over Southern Conference foe Appalachian State on Saturday night, Oct. 5, in the league opener for the Phoenix in front of 1,607 fans at Rudd Field.

A first-half goal by sophomore James Brace proved to be the difference on a night that the Phoenix posted its fifth shutout of the year and improved to 9-1-1 overall and 1-0 in SoCon play. It was the also the 14^th career clean sheet for junior keeper Nathan Dean, one shy for third place in school history.

Elon overtook the Mountaineers (2-2-6, 0-1-1 SoCon) in shots, 8-5, with a 4-2 mark on frame in the match. The maroon and gold also had a slight 4-3 advantage in corners.

ASU nearly had the first score of the game near the fourth minute as Donovan Japp took a cross from Jackson Allen and nearly placed a header into the net before Dean knocked it out of play. The following corner kick led to Appalachian State not getting a shot off, but the Mountaineers continued to put pressure on the Phoenix back four in the opening minutes.

Elon's first clean look came at the 14^th minute, but ASU keeper Danny Free corralled Matt Wescoe's strike. Nearly 10 minutes later, Myles Mansfield misfired on a shot that went high from about 12 yards near the top of the box.

Brace would score the game's lone goal at the 29^th minute, two minutes after entering the match as a sub. Jason Waterman initiated the play after taking the ball from Wescoe on the right side of the field and maneuvered past a couple of defenders to draw the keeper away. Waterman slipped a nice pass to Brace and the Hartlepool, England, native connected on his fifth score of the season.

Brace would nearly give Elon a few more chances to go up 2-0 before the end of the first half, but his shot at the 34^th minute went wide and another attempt near the 40^th minute was stopped by Free.

Elon held a 5-2 shot advantage in the opening stanza, but had yet to attempt a corner in the match and trailed ASU, 2-0.

Elon held off the Mountaineers in the second half to give the Phoenix its seventh straight victory against SoCon opponents dating back to last season. Elon also snapped Appalachian State's five-match unbeaten streak.

Elon will travel to Wofford next Saturday, Oct. 12, for a rematch of the 2012 Southern Conference Tournament championship game. That match is slated for a 7 p.m. kick off.