2013 Men's Soccer Viewbook

ELON, N.C. – Coming off arguably its best season as a program a year ago, the Elon men's soccer team returns to the pitch for the start of its 2013 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30, versus Northeastern at the Duke Classic in Durham, N.C. That match is slated for a 5 p.m. kickoff at Koskinen Stadium followed by the Phoenix closing out the tournament on Sunday, Aug. 31, versus Rutgers at 12 p.m.
 
Scouting the Opponents
Elon's match versus Northeastern will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. The Huskies went 14-3-4 a year ago and are a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). NU joined Elon in the NCAA Tournament after capturing the CAA tournament championship, the first in school history. Brian Ainscough begins his ninth year as the head coach at Northeastern.
 
The Phoenix will also face Rutgers for the first time ever on the pitch on Sunday. The Scarlet Knights went 7-7-1 in 2012 and returns five of its top scorers from a year ago. Kene Eze, a senior forward and midfielder, led RU with eight goals, including four game-winners, and had 17 points total points. After competing in the Big East the past 18 seasons, Rutgers will play this year in the American Athletic Conference.
 
2013 Season Outlook
Elon returns nine starters from a team that earned its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament a year ago. The maroon and gold swept the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in school history in 2012 and has 20 players back from that postseason run.
 
Phoenix head coach Darren Powell enters his ninth season at the helm of the Elon men's soccer program. Powell led the Phoenix to a 15-5-2 record, its first national ranking since 2006 and a 4-1 mark against ranked competition in 2012. For his efforts, Powell was selected as the SoCon's Coach of the Year for the third time.
 
Powell will look to a pair of senior midfielders in Daniel Lovitz and Matt Wescoe to provide leadership and playmaking ability in 2013. The duo was an important cog for the Phoenix offensively, combining for nine goals and nine assists last season. The two were named to the 2012 SoCon All-Tournament team and earned spots on the 2013 Preseason All-SoCon team.
 
The Phoenix backline also returns nearly every key member that posted seven shutouts last season, including three against ranked opponents. Junior keeper Nathan Dean led the SoCon in saves with 84 in 2012 and was a 2013 preseason all-league selection along with Lovitz and Wescoe. The maroon and gold have a wealth of defenders returning in seniors Nick Butterly and Mark Berlin, junior Austin Dunker and sophomore Samuel McBride.
 
Elon faces three teams on its 2013 schedule that made the NCAA Tournament last season. Along with Northeastern, the maroon and gold has dates with Wake Forest (Sept. 17) and Coastal Carolina (Oct. 29) later this season.
 
SoCon Preseason Poll
The Phoenix was tabbed second by the league coaches in the 2013 SoCon Preseason Poll, receiving 29 total points and one first-place vote. Furman was selected as the league favorite with 35 points and five first-place votes.

2013 Men's Soccer Viewbook
The 2013 Elon men's soccer viewbook is now online with interviews, photos and other information to learn about this year's team. To view it click the link at the top of this page or here.
 
Up Next
Elon travels to its second early season tournament in Wilmington, N.C., for the UNCW Classic on Sept. 6-8. The Phoenix will play Mercer on Sept. 6, at 5 p.m. before closing the tournament against Presbyterian on Sept. 8, at 1 p.m.