ELON, N.C. – Behind two second-half goals from junior Jason Waterman, the Elon University men's soccer team came back from a 3-1 second half deficit and earned a 4-3 win over UNCG on Saturday night, Nov. 2, on Senior Night at Rudd Field.

The Phoenix improved to 13-4-1 on the year and 4-2 during the Southern Conference play with the win over the Spartans (8-8-2, 3-2-1 SoCon). The 13 regular-season wins are the most for the program at the Division I level and the 92^nd for head coach Darren Powell at the school, one shy of tying the all-time program record.

"UNCG had a great game plan and I felt it was a very entertaining soccer match tonight," said Powell. "I thought both teams were threatening for most of the game and fortunately for us we were able to come out with a victory. To do it on Senior Night is very special and I thought the character of our guys to keep coming back from behind was very special to see and I was very pleased with the outcome." 

The Phoenix closed out the regular-season with its third straight win and second straight at home, but had to really battle after failing behind late in the first half. The Spartans jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 43^rd minute on an Oddur Gudmundsson strike from about 10 yards away. UNCG went into the half with the lead and momentum on its side after outshooting the Phoenix, 7-3, in the first half.

Shortly after the start of the second stanza, Gudmundsson scored again to give UNCG a 2-0 advantage in the 46^th minute. Gudmundsson headed in Lukas Zarges free kick from about 20 yards away and put the Phoenix in a two-score deficit.

Seconds later, the maroon and gold responded as Cauê Da Silva scored the first points of the match for the Phoenix on a bicycle kick inside the box. The sophomore forward lined up the kick off an Nathan Diehl header assist to bring the Phoenix back within one, 2-1.

In the 57^th minute, UNCG added another goal to move back in front by two, 3-1, after Zarges took a bending shot from the top of the box that went over Elon keeper Nathan Dean and into the back of the net.

Elon continued to throw numbers forward to bring the score within reach and did so in the 61^st minute on Waterman breakaway goal. A miscue by UNCG caused the ball to find the feet of the Bloomington, Ind., native, who had broken free of his man and faced Spartan keeper Stephen Moffitt one-on-one down the left side of the box. Waterman was able to maneuver past Moffitt and sent in his eighth goal of the year to bring Elon back within one, 3-2.

Chasing the equalizer, Elon continued to put the pressure on the Spartan's defense and finally evened the score at 3-all as James Brace sent in a rocket from within the box in the 75^th minute. Brace took a rebound off a long cross that Waterman was able to deflect away from the defenders for his ninth score of the year and the first tie of the match.

With the momentum clearly in its favor, the Phoenix did not let up and continued to look for the go-ahead score. The persistence paid off in the 87^th minute as Waterman found the net for his second score of the match on a great sequence involving Brace and Da Silva. Da Silva had the ball deep in Spartans territory and sent a cross over to Brace, who found Waterman streaking down the right side. 

Waterman managed to put a great touch on the ball and delivered a great floater over the keeper and put Elon up 4-3 with the eventual game-winner.

The Phoenix was able to send off its five seniors that were recognized prior to the match – Mark Berlin, Nick Butterly, Charles Howard, Daniel Lovitz and Matt Wescoe – as winners in their final regular-season home match. The quintet earned their 45^th win as a class with the victory over UNCG, the most for any class at the Division I era.

The Phoenix clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Southern Conference as Wofford captured the regular-season title on Saturday with a 2-0 win at Furman. Elon will host Appalachian State in the opening round of the 2013 SoCon Championships next Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m.