GREENVILLE, S.C. – Elon men's soccer junior Jason Waterman scored the golden goal in the 102^nd minute as the Phoenix won its third straight Southern Conference Men's Soccer Tournament Championship on Sunday, Nov. 17, with a 1-0 victory over Wofford in the league championship match at Stone Soccer Stadium.

The Phoenix (15-4-2) clinched its third straight automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and tied its Division I school-record with its 15^th victory of the season over the Terriers (11-7-1). Elon head coach Darren Powell also became program's all-time winningest coach at the school with his 94^th win, passing the old mark set by Steve Ballard (1978-87).

Waterman, Nick Butterly, Charles Howard and Daniel Lovitz were all selected to the SoCon All-Tournament team. Waterman also took home the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.

In the 31^st minute, Elon nearly had its first goal of the match with a couple of shots from Matt Wescoe and James Brace. Wescoe took a feed on the right side in the box from Brace that hit the bottom of the post. The ball trickled to Brace, who fired a shot towards the right corner of the net, but it sailed wide of the goal.

The Phoenix defense was tested in the 34^th minute. The Terriers sent in a corner kick that was headed by Charlie Keeley, but it was blocked by the maroon and gold defense. Seven minutes later, Wofford threatened again on another header this time by Forrest Lasso that went wide left. Seconds before the half, an attempt by Connor Copeland was turned away and both teams went into the half scoreless.

The Terriers outshot the Phoenix in the opening stanza, 9-4, but both teams had only one shot on frame. Both squads were even in corners at 3-all, but neither converted into points on the scoreboard.

Elon avoided disaster in the 62^nd minute as Wofford beat the maroon and gold defense down the field. The ball found Copeland, who sent a shot from the left side towards the goal, but the through ball traveled too far to the right side.

The rain started to come down after the 63^rd minute of play, but both teams attempted to adjust to the sloppy conditions. Both teams continued to earn ample opportunities late in regulation.

Brace attempted a shot from nearly 20 yards out in the 72^nd minute, but his strike sailed just high of the goal. 

Wofford drew a free kick in the 75^th minute with Nestor Jaramillo drawing the assignment. Elon's keeper Nathan Dean however corralled the ball to preserve the score.

Elon continued to try to find the back of the net in the final 15 minutes before the end of regulation, but its best chance was a Howard attempt that went wide of the goal in the 89^th minute. Both teams then headed into an extra period.

In the second extra session, the Phoenix had the best chance for a goal between both teams. Elon's Miguel Salazar played a ball off a deflection into the box to Waterman who tried to sneak a shot past the keeper in the 99^th minute of action, but the ball sailed wide and Elon and Terriers went into a second overtime period.

Wofford had the first attack early on in the second extra session as Copeland headed a shot towards the goal in the 102^nd minute, but it went wide left to give the Phoenix a chance the other way.
 
The maroon and gold did so and raced down the other end with Cauê Da Silva sending a great through ball to Waterman on the right side of the goal. The striker drew out the keeper and sent a through ball finish underneath him to the bottom left corner of the net to seal the win and the championship for the Phoenix.

Wofford ended the match with a 16-10 advantage in shots over the Phoenix, but only had two shots on frame compared to three for Elon. Elon had a slight 7-4 lead in corners overall.

Dean played every minute between the posts and had two saves for his sixth shutout of the year. Wofford's Garrett Closs also had two saves for the Terriers.
 
Elon will find out where they will play in the upcoming NCAA Tournament tomorrow, Nov. 18, when the selection show airs at noon on ncaa.com.