2013 Southern Conference Semifinals Elon 5, Georgia Southern 1 Greenville, S.C. // Stone Soccer Stadium

Elon senior midfielder Daniel Lovitz talks after the Phoenix's 5-1 win over Georgia Southern in the semifinals of the Southern Conference Championships.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Elon University head men's soccer coach Darren Powell tied the program's all-time wins record with 93 as the Phoenix advanced to its third straight Southern Conference Men's Soccer Tournament championship match after defeating Georgia Southern, 5-1, in the semifinal round at the Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium on Friday night, Nov. 15.

Powell tied Steve Ballard's (1978-87) program mark after helping the Phoenix improve to 14-4-2 on the year and a chance for its third straight league tournament title on Sunday, Nov. 17, against  No. 1 seed Wofford, who defeated No. 4 seed and host Furman, 2-1, Saturday night.

Elon dominated the ball throughout the majority of the match against the Eagles and ended the game with a 23-11 shot advantage, including a 10-8 mark on frame. The five goals were also the most for the Phoenix since its 4-3 regular-season finale victory over UNCG on Nov. 2.

Elon jumped out to a quick start in the opening stanza and scored the first goal of the contest in the 12^th minute. Jason Waterman connected on his 10^th goal of the year off a header pass from Samuel McBride on a Daniel Lovitz free kick to give the maroon and gold a 1-0 lead.

Elon's Matt Wescoe then followed with his fifth strike of the year in the 14^th minute. The senior midfielder headed in a shot past GSU's keeper on a helper from Mark Berlin and Miguel Salazar to push the Phoenix's advantage to 2-0.

Georgia Southern continued to push numbers forward in an attempt to trim its deficit. In the 27^th minute, the Eagles' Witt Carlise drew a foul on the Phoenix just near the top of the penalty box to set up a free kick for Reed Norton. Norton's kick went to the far right side of the post, but Elon's keeper Nathan Dean was able to make a great save to preserve the score.

The Phoenix would add to its lead in the 36^th minute as Cauê Da Silva scored on a breakaway goal. The sophomore forward received a great long pass from James Brace and beat the keeper one-on-one to push the Phoenix's lead to 3-0.

Four minutes later, Brace himself found the back of the net on another breakaway to put the Phoenix up 4-0. The sophomore midfielder found himself facing GSU keeper Neal Bates after receiving the long pass from Austin Dunker and sent in a shot underneath him on the left side to give the Phoenix the four-goal cushion heading into the half.

Elon held control of the ball in the opening half, outshooting the Eagles 15-5 with a 9-2 mark on frame. The Phoenix also had a 5-3 advantage on corners in the first period while matching its highest scoring total in a game all season in the opening session.

In the 48^th minute, Dunker drew a foul on the Eagles in the box to set up a penalty kick for Lovitz. The SoCon Player of the Year converted for his fourth goal of the season and the Phoenix moved ahead 5-0, the most goals scored for the Phoenix in a match this season.

Elon prevented the Eagles from making any type of threat until the 84^th minute. Carlisle scored his eighth goal on the year to put GSU on the scoreboard after taking a shot from the middle of the box. 

The would set the final result as the maroon and gold extended its overall unbeaten streak to five matches and has not lost its last eight SoCon tournament games. 

Dean had two saves in goal for the Phoenix, while Bates corralled eight attempts for Georgia Southern.

The championship match is slated for a 1 p.m. start at the Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium with ESPN3.com providing a live broadcast of the game.