ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's soccer team is set to face Liberty on Saturday, Oct. 12, to conclude its two-match road trip. That match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start time at Osborne Stadium.
 
How to Follow
Saturday's game will be broadcast live through ESPN+ through a paid subscription. Live stats will be available at elonphoenix.com. Updates of the match will be provided on Twitter at the team's handle, @ElonMSoccer.
 
The Matchup
• Elon and Liberty will face each other on the soccer pitch for the 10^th time this Saturday. It's the first meeting between the two programs since 2004 when the teams were members of the Big South Conference.
• The Flames have a 7-1-1 ledger over the Phoenix all-time. Both teams played to a 1-1 draw in 2004 in the most recent contest.
• The Phoenix's lone win in the series came in 2002 by a score of 2-1 at the Big South Tournament.
 
Last Time Out
• The Phoenix fell on the road at William & Mary, 2-1, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, to open its road trip. The setback dropped the maroon and gold to 3-7-1 overall on the year and 0-5 during Colonial Athletic Association play.
• Burl Shepherd scored his team-best fourth goal of the season in the 34^th minute. Shepherd was able to connect off a pass from Mattias Cooper, his fourth assist of the season.
• The Tribe scored two unanswered goals in the second half off free kicks from Alfredo Bozalongo including the golden goal in the 99^th minute of overtime.
• The loss dropped the Phoenix to 2-7-2 all-time versus William & Mary.
 
Matthews Named Senior CLASS Award Candidate
• Senior defender Luke Matthews was named a candidate for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award on Monday, Sept. 23. The award recognizes a NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
• Matthews is among 30 candidates identified for the annual honor for men's soccer. He becomes the fourth member of the program to be selected as a candidate following Matthew Jegier (2018), Clint Irwin (2010) and Steven Kinney (2009).
 
Phoenix Earns Team Academic Award
• For the 11^th time out of the past 12 years, the Phoenix was earned a Team Academic Award for the 2018-19 academic school year from the United Soccer Coaches as announced on Thursday, Oct. 3.
• Elon was one of 345 teams on the men's side to earn the award. The Phoenix posted a cumulative 3.41 grade-point-average during the 2018-19 academic school year. That total was the second-highest among men's programs from the Colonial Athletic Association with UNCW posted a higher average at 3.63.
 
Opening Stanza
• The Phoenix is averaging 1.45 goals per match on 13.3 shots per contest. Elon has seen 59 of those attempts go on frame at .404 percent.
• The maroon and gold have seen nine players find the back of the net this season. Shepherd paces the squad with his four goals and eight points. His four scores are tied for fourth in the league.
• Cooper is tied for first in the CAA in assists this season with four. The Oslo, Norway, native has tallied an assist in three of the team's last five games.
• The Phoenix has seen its first-year class make an immediate impact on the program this season. Eight rookies have been in the team rotation this season with five of them (Kasper Lehm, Cooper, Marco Vesterholm, Vemund Hole Vike and Jeppe Jordoson) seeing time in each game.
• Redshirt sophomore keeper Alex Lorne and redshirt freshman Peter Wentzel have split time in goal this season for the Phoenix. Combined, the team has a 2.03 goals against average on the year with 27 saves and two shutouts.
• The Phoenix is in its third season under head coach Marc Reeves. Through his nine seasons as a head coach, Reeves is 90-62-29 overall.
• Elon welcomes back 22 letterwinners and five starters from last year's team. The Phoenix went 5-8-2 last season, but had a pair of victories against top-25 opponents (No. 20 FIU and No. 25 James Madison) while also defeating another 2018 NCAA Tournament team at High Point.
• Among the notable returners for the Phoenix includes senior defender Luke Matthews. The Swindon, England, native was a first team All-CAA selection a year ago and garnered 2019 Preseason All-CAA accolades.
• Senior striker Iñigo Bronte was also an All-CAA choice in 2018 in his first season with the Phoenix. The Pamplona, Spain, native led the Phoenix in total points (13) and goals (six).
• Elon welcomes 11 new players to its roster in 2019. Of the 11 players, eight are international players.
• Four players will don the captain armband for the Phoenix this season. Matthews returns as one of the captains for the squad while fellow seniors Josh Blank, Caner Snover and John Walden will join him among the leadership group.
• Elon closed out its 2019 exhibition schedule with a 1-0-1 record. The Phoenix earned a 2-1 victory at Davidson on Aug. 19 before closing its its preseason with a 1-1 draw versus Campbell on Aug. 24.
 
Scouting Liberty
• Liberty sits with a 4-8 record on the season after back-to-back setbacks to UMBC and Stetson in its most recent contests. The Flames last victory came against Duquesne on Oct. 1 by a score of 2-1.
• On the season, Liberty has scored nine goals with seven players finding the back of the net for the Flames. Musa Morris and Tyler Welch are tied for the team-lead with two goals each.
• Seth Clark leads the Flames in total points with a goal and three assists, which leads the Atlantic Sun conference.
• Freshman goalkeeper Danny Cordero enters the weekend with a 1.67 goals-against average and a .605 save percentage in nine games.
 
Up Next
The Phoenix is back on the home pitch to face Duke on home on Tuesday, Oct. 15. That match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.