ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's soccer team will look to build on its 2-0 start as the Phoenix competes this weekend, Sept. 4-6, at its second early-season tournament of the year, the UNCW hosted Courtyard by Marriott Wrightsville Beach Classic in Wilmington, N.C.
The maroon and gold opens the tournament against Campbell on Friday, Sept. 4, at 5 p.m. before closing out the weekend versus North Florida on Sunday, Sept. 6, at noon. All games will be played at UNCW Soccer Stadium.
Follow the PhoenixFans can follow the Phoenix this weekend 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. In-game updates will also be provided on Twitter at @elonscores or the program's handle @elonmenssoccer.
Series HistoriesElon and Campbell have met 19 times on the soccer pitch in a series that dates back to 1978. Both programs are deadlocked at 9-9-1 in the all-time meetings, but the Phoenix won the most recent contest over the Camels, 1-0, in 2013 in Buies Creek, N.C.
The Phoenix and the Ospreys will meet for only the second time all-time on Sunday. Elon defeated North Florida 5-0 in the last meeting between the two programs in 2011.
About ElonThe Phoenix opened its 2015 campaign with a perfect 2-0 mark at the John Rennie/Nike Invitational last weekend, Aug. 28-30, at Duke. Elon defeated Big East foe DePaul, 4-0, in its opener before earning a 1-0 win over Saint Mary's to close out the weekend. It is the first time that Elon has begun the season 2-0 since 2006 and first with consecutive shutouts since 2005.
Senior midfielder
Eduardo Alvarez was named the Most Valuable Player of the John Rennie/Nike Invitational after scoring a goal in each contest. Those scores were also the first two of his Elon career. Alvarez, seniors
Miguel Salazar and
Sam McBride and sophomore
Jonathan Coleby all made the All-Tournament team.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper
Matthew Jegier was selected as the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week on Monday, Aug. 31, for his performance last weekend. The Charlotte, N.C., native had seven saves during the two clean sheets to open the year.
Scouting Campbell (0-1)The Camels, who were selected to finish sixth in the 2015 Big South Preseason poll, opened the year with a 2-1 loss at Davidson last Friday. Former Elon assistant coach Dustin Fonder begins his first year at Campbell, who had a 5-13 ledger in 2014.
Campbell returns every player who found the back of the net last season, including 2014 Big South Freshman of the Year Bradley Farias. The sophomore, who led the squad with nine goals and four assists and ranked second in the Big South in points with 22.
Scouting North Florida (1-1)North Florida split both of its matches at its home tournament, the Mike Gibbs Memorial Tournament last weekend. The Ospreys opened with a 3-2 win over Appalachian State before falling to Georgia State, 2-1, on Sunday.
Head coach Derek Marinatos leads UNF, who was 8-7-1 in 2014 and was chosen to finish second in the 2015 Atlantic Sun Preseason Poll. The fifth-year head coach returns his top six goal scorers from last year including the 2015 Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Player of the Year, Helge Pietschmann.
Up NextAfter the tournament in Wilmington this weekend, the Phoenix has its home-opener on Saturday, Sept. 12, against former conference rival Davidson at Rudd Field. That match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
-- ELON --
