ELON, N.C. – Elon University men's soccer opened its 2020-21 season with a win after defeating Shaw, 3-1, at Rudd Field on Tuesday, Feb. 23.
 
"It felt great just to be back playing," head coach Marc Reeves began. "We're really thankful that we got to finally play, that was the most important piece just to get going again. I thought we started the game very well, and created a lot of chances, but our timing, final ball and finishing as to expected was just a little off. The goal against we for sure need to do better as team to not allow this opportunity but I though the group responded correctly and did the right things to continue creating chances. With quite a few guys out for various reasons, I thought our depth was a big deal in being able to rotate in some players and keep the level up. A ton of guys got to play their first college game tonight and that will certainly benefit their development and our group going forward. Tonight was a good starting point for us, but now we'll turn around quickly and start preparing for a good UNCG team this Sunday."

THE RUNDOWN
- With the Phoenix trailing at the 38' mark in the first half, Mattias Cooper found some space on the left side of the box following a good ball from Jake Kelly and lay off from Victor Stromsten. Mattias fired a rocket past the goalie and into the back of the net. The score tied the match at 1-1 with just over seven minutes to play before the half.
- Elon followed that quickly by going ahead at the  39' minute mark in the opening half. Jack Dolk's well timed run and ball from Christian Lauenborg saw Dolk in behind and on goal, the Shaw defender, trying to prevent Dolk from scoring, fouled in the box to give the Phoneix its first PK of the year. Lauenborg smashed the ball into the goal from the spot to give the Phoenix a 2-1 lead.
- Minutes later more good work from Kelly down the right led to Victor Stromsten extending Elon's lead to 3-1 when he scored off a rebound from his own shot. Stromsten's goal capped a spurt in which Elon scored three goals in less than four minutes.
- Shaw scored its lone goal early in the match following Zedy Adlam's shot that gave the Bears a 1-0 advantage.

NOTES
- Cameron Pelle earned the win for the Phoenix, finishing the night with seven saves in his first collegiate start.
- Mattias Cooper led the way for the Phoenix, finishing with one goal on three shots.
- Christian Lauenburg chipped in his first goal of the season that gave Elon its first lead of the night.
- Victor Stromsten scored his first career goal in his first collegiate game tonight.
- Elon held advantages in shots (25-8), shots on goal (14-8) and corners (10-2) in the win.
 
UP NEXT
Elon returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 28, for its first road match of the season against UNCG. That matchup is slated for 6 p.m. in Greensboro, N.C.