Elon head coach Chris Little and junior Eduardo Alvarez preview Elon's home-opener versus Florida International. Elon vs. Florida International Date/Time Sept. 10 | 7 p.m. Location Elon, N.C. Facility Rudd Field (1,000) Series History First-ever meeting Live Stats Click Here Live Video     Phoenix All-Access Twitter Updates @elonscores @elonmenssoccer Mobile Alerts Sign up here

ELON, N.C. – After playing in two early-season tournaments on the road in its first four matches, the Elon University men's soccer team returns to the confines of Rudd Field for its first home game of the regular-season versus Florida International on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m.
 
Follow the Phoenix
Fans can follow the Phoenix on Wednesday and throughout the season with live updates on elonphoenix.com. Live stats for every men's soccer match will be available on the team's schedule and home pages on the Elon athletic website as well as an opportunity to sign up text alerts. Wednesday's match will also be streamed online for free through Elon's Phoenix All-Access channel. John Roddey (play-by-play) and Ryan Meizinger (color) will be on the call for the match. In-game updates will also be provided on Twitter at @elonscores or the program's handle @elonmenssoccer.
 
Series History
This is the first-ever meeting between the two programs on the soccer pitch and the third first-time opponent that the Phoenix has faced so far this season. Elon also played Loyola Marymount and Ohio State for the first time in recent weeks.
 
About Elon (2-2)
The Phoenix split both its matches last weekend at the UNC Wilmington Courtyard Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach Classic. Elon opened the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Winthrop on Friday, Sept. 5, before suffering a 1-0 overtime setback at the hands of Ohio State in its finale on Sunday, Sept. 7. Juniors Miguel Salazar and Samuel McBride were selected to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of the tournament.
 
Salazar currently leads the Phoenix in points with four on his team-best two goals. James Brace and Nathan Diehl also have scored a goal this season while newcomers Eduardo Alvarez and Luis Argudo currently have one assist each to lead the team.
 
In goal, senior Nathan Dean posted his 18^th career clean sheet on Friday against the Eagles, moving him closer to second-place all-time in school history in career shutouts. Dean needs one more shutout to tie Kip Rackley, who posted 19 shutouts from 1984-87. Former Elon and current Colorado Rapids keeper Clint Irwin (2007-10) sits atop the school record books in career clean sheets with 22.
 
Since 2005, the Phoenix has posted a record of 6-2-1 in its home openers with both losses and its draw coming against High Point. Last season, Elon opened its home schedule with a 3-1 victory against new Colonial Athletic Association league foe UNCW.
 
Scouting Florida International (1-2)
The Panthers, who compete in Conference USA, are 1-2 in the young season under first-year head coach Scott Calabrese. FIU opened the season with a 1-0 victory at Michigan before dropping its past two matches at Michigan State and versus Stetson at home.
 
Tabbed to finish seventh in the C-USA preseason league poll, the Panthers return nearly 82 percent of its 2013 scoring including leading point producer Quentin Albrecht. The senior forward was selected to the 2014 C-USA Preseason All-Conference team by the league coaches. In 2014, two players have scored a goal for FIU with Juan Benedetty and Donald Tomlinson contributing with one each.
 
Robin Spiegel has seen the most time between the posts for FIU with a GAA of 1.73, four saves and a shutout.
 
Up Next
The Phoenix welcomes West Virginia to Rudd Field on Sunday, Sept. 14. That match is slated to begin at 7 p.m.