GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Elon University men's soccer team was shut out by UNCG on Wednesday night, Oct. 5, by a score of 2-0 at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.
 
The setback dropped the Phoenix to 7-3-1 overall on the season. The Spartans improved their ledger to 7-1-3.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• UNCG found the scoreboard for the first time in the 18^th minute of action. The Spartans' Ismail El Harchi capitalized on a Phoenix turnover and made a couple of moves to free himself on a shot from 20 yards out that found the bottom right of the frame.
• In the 60^th minute, the Spartans added a goal off a set piece. UNCG earned a free kick just outside the box with JC Ngando sending a short service to Jack Birch on his right. Birch was able to slot the ball past the defensive wall to the low left side of the goal to double UNCG's lead.
• The Phoenix continued to throw numbers up forward to find the evasive equalizer. Elon however was held to only one shot on goal after the 60^th minute as the Spartans earned their fourth shutout of the season.
 
NOTES
• The loss puts Elon's record to 11-14-1 against its longtime Triad rival in a series dating back to 1974. UNCG has taken the previous two regular season contests.
• UNCG won the shot battle, 12-8, with the majority of those coming in the opening stanza as the Spartans outshout the Phoenix, 9-2.
• The two goals allowed ties for the most the Phoenix has conceded in a single game this year. Elon also gave up a pair of goals versus Northeastern on Sept. 3.
• Elon goes to 3-2-1 versus nonconference opponents so far this season. The Phoenix still has out-of-conference slates versus North Carolina (Oct. 18) and Radford (Oct. 26) remaining on its schedule.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix is back on the home confines at Rudd Field on Saturday, Oct. 8, hosting William & Mary. That matchup is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.