ELON, N.C. – A goal by freshman Vemund Hole Vik in the 88th minute lifted the Elon University men's soccer team to a 3-2 thrilling victory over Duke on Tuesday night, Oct. 15, in a nonconference matchup at Rudd Field.
 
Elon (5-7-1) earned its second victory all-time against the Blue Devils (6-5-1) while picking up its second consecutive victory. The Phoenix also moved to 5-2-1 on the season during nonconference play.
 
The Rundown
Elon nearly got on the board near the 16^th minute of action. Kasper Lehm played a through ball from the left side to John Walden, who got his foot on it near the six-yard area. The ball sailed and hit the bottom of the crossbar before Elon was whistled for a foul.
 
Duke also found itself knocking on the door for the first goal of the match in the 28^th minute. The Blue Devils' Daniele Proch took a shot off a breakaway that was saved by the Phoenix's Peter Wentzel before the carom found the foot of Max Moser. His shot would deflect off a Phoenix defender before also hitting the crossbar and falling out of play.
 
The Phoenix would break the scoreless stalemate with a goal in the 39^th minute. Elon's Burl Shepherd intercepted a pass and took a few steps inside the box before firing a strike that found the back left corner to put the Phoenix ahead 1-0 before going into the half. It was his team-best fifth goal of the season for the Highland Village, Texas, native.
 
Elon continued the attack to open the second half. The Phoenix peppered Duke's netminder Will Pulisic and the Blue Devil defense with four shots in the first 15 minutes of action, but could not increase its advantage.
 
Duke finally found the equalizer off a counterattack in the 64^th minute. Proch added his ninth score of the year off a great sequence with Daniel Wright and Colby Agu to tie the game at one-all.
 
Just 10 minutes later however, Elon retook the lead. The Phoenix drew a foul against the Blue Devils inside the box, leading to a penalty kick opportunity. Iñigo Bronte took the assignment and converted from the spot to put Elon ahead 2-1.
 
The Blue Devils would not go away however. Proch leveled the match at 2-2 with his brace in the 82^nd minute. The late goal seemed to put the match in danger into going into an extra session as time continued to tick away.
 
Elon and Hole Vik would have other plans. With just under two minutes remaining, the drew a foul against the Blue Devils near the top corner of the box and was able to set up a free kick. Lehm sent the ball in towards the goal in which a flying Hole Vik was able to get a leg on it and flick it into the goal for the game-winner.
 
Elon outshot the Blue Devils, 16-6, and had a 7-4 advantage in attempts on target. Duke dominated in corners, 12-3, while both teams were whistled for 13 fouls each.
 
Wentzel made a pair of saves in goal for the Phoenix while his counterpart Pulisic had four stops.
 
Up Next
The Phoenix is back on its home pitch, hosting Colonial Athletic Association foe Northeastern on Saturday, Oct. 19. That match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.