ELON, N.C. – Nathan Dean became Elon University's all-time leader in career shutouts as the Phoenix men's soccer team routed the Northeastern Huskies, 5-0, in Colonial Athletic Association action at Rudd Field.
 
Dean earned his 23rd career clean sheet in the victory, passing former Phoenix great Clint Irwin, now with the Colorado Rapids of the MLS, for the top spot in Elon men's soccer history.
 
Elon (5-4-3, 1-1-1 CAA) exploded for three first-half goals in the victory, while Dean and the Phoenix defense limited Northeastern (5-8, 2-1 CAA) to very few dangerous chances and handed the Huskies their first league loss.
 
James Brace began the first-half scoring flurry in the 16th minute when Caue Da Silva fed a ball into Brace near the left post for an easy score, putting Elon ahead, 1-0.
 
Da Silva put the maroon and gold ahead by two goals eight minutes later when Jason Waterman chipped a beautiful ball over the heads of the Northeastern defense in front of a charging Da Silva for the score, giving the Phoenix a 2-0 lead.
 
Five minutes later, the maroon and gold took a three-goal lead when Luis Argudo blasted a 24-yard strike from the left side into the upper right corner of the goal for the first-half team hat trick.
 
Elon controlled the pace of play for the majority of the opening frame, holding a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks and a 5-1 edge in shots on frame.
 
Waterman got in on the scoring action in the 54th minute when he and defender Nathan Diehl broke through the Huskies defense for a two-on-one opportunity, allowing Waterman to notch his first goal of the season to put Elon ahead, 4-0.
 
Eliot Browarsky made the most of a Phoenix corner kick with about six seconds remaining in regulation, heading in a Chad Craig set piece for his first goal of the year to make it a 5-0 game.
 
Elon ended the match with a 7-2 edge in shots on goal and an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Dean played all 90 minutes and finished the match with two saves.
 
The Phoenix returns to action on Oct. 15 at UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m.