ELON, N.C. – A brace from junior Jack Dolk and the ninth shutout of the season aided the Elon University men's soccer team to a 3-0 victory over in-state and ACC rival North Carolina on Tuesday night, Oct. 18, at Rudd Field.
 
The win was the Phoenix's (9-3-2) first-ever in the regular season over the Tar Heels (6-4-3), with Elon being 0-14-1 all-time versus UNC prior to tonight's contest. The victory also moved the maroon and gold's unbeaten streak to three games.
 
"Tonight was a fantastic result against a really great team," said Elon head coach Marc Reeves. "I was incredibly impressed with the way we prepared and how we performed and executed. I think we got great performances from a number of guys in the midfield while also limiting their chances in the attacking spaces.
 
"Overall, I was really pleased with the result. We scored three fantastic goals in open play and now our attention turns back to CAA play this weekend against College of Charleston."
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Elon had the first great look at the start of the match. Kasper Lehm laid off a pass to Scott Vatne who was positioned about 25 yards away from the goal near the top of the box. The sophomore took a couple of steps before firing a shot that was easily caught by the netminder.
• The Tar Heels had a few chances inside the 13^th after earning a corner kick. North Carolina played the ball short before sending a cross into the box to create a few frantic moments for the maroon and gold defense. The Tar Heels peppered the Phoenix with three shots all within 10 seconds before clearing the ball out of harm's way.
• The Phoenix was able to break through on the scoreboard in the 28^th minute with Michael Clow syncing with Mason Duval. Clow sent a through ball down the left side of the field, finding Duval who was able to hold off his man to position himself in the box. The George Town, Cayman Island, native played the ball off the bounce and sent a left-footed strike into the bottom right corner of the goal for his team-best sixth goal of the year.
• In the 80^th minute, Dolk joined Duval in the scoring column to double the Phoenix's lead. The Stockholm, Sweden, native headed in a cross from Vatne that snuck inside the post for his first goal of the year and put Elon in front 2-0.
• A couple of minutes later, Dolk would earn the brace to fully secure the Phoenix win. Vemund Hole Vik sent a through ball to Vatne, who drew the defense in the box near the six-yard area. The Klepp, Norway, native laid the ball off to Dolk, who one-touched it past the keeper to deflect it off the right post and into the goal.
 
NOTES
• The win was the Phoenix's first against an ACC opponent since defeating Duke 3-2 in 2019 at Rudd Field.
• The setback was also North Carolina's largest regular-season nonconference defeat since losing to Akron 3-0 in 2010.
• Elon has nine clean sheets on the season, leading the NCAA in that category. The Phoenix is just one shutout away from tying its single-season record of 10, which was set in both 2009 and 2017.
• Elon keeper Ryan Bilichuk moved into the program's top-10 career records in shutouts. He is just one shutout away from tying the program's single-season clean sheet record held by Clint Irwin '11 and Matthew Jegier '18.
• The Phoenix's three goals tied its season-high tally and were the most scored on North Carolina this season. Elon outshot the Tar Heels, 5-3, and held the visitors to just one shot in the second half.
• Vatne added his team-leading fourth and fifth assists of the year. Earlier in the day, Vatne was recognized on the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week, earning honorable mention laurels.
• Dolk became the first Phoenix player with a brace since Iñigo Bronte scored a pair against Delaware in 2019.
 
UP NEXT
Elon hosts College of Charleston on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. The program will host Senior Day and honor its graduating class prior to its 1 p.m. kickoff against the Cougars.