ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's soccer team continues its road trip this weekend as the Phoenix treks north to Delaware on Saturday, Sept. 16, for a Colonial Athletic Association matchup. The contest is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start at Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
• Saturday's match will be streamed live on FloFC via a paid subscription.
• Links for the broadcast and live stats can be found on the Elon men's soccer schedule page at elonphoenix.com.
• Other in-game updates will be provided on Twitter by following @ElonMSoccer.
 
THE MATCHUP
• The Phoenix and the Blue Hens have squared off versus each other eight times going into Saturday's meeting.
• Delaware holds a 4-3-1 ledger over the maroon and gold in a series dating back to 2014.
• The Phoenix took a 1-0 victory over Delaware in last season's meeting thanks to a goal from Jeppe Jordoson in the 53^rd minute.
• Elon's last victory at Delaware came in 2017 as the Phoenix defeated the Blue Hens, 1-0.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Phoenix began its road trip with a 2-0 victory over former conference rival Furman on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
• After both teams were scoreless in the first 75 minutes of the match, Elon opened the scoring with a pair of late goals by Sam Durand and Mason Duval in the 76^th and 77^th minute, respectively.
• The win was Elon's first over Furman since 2012 and its first at the Paladins since 2005.  
 
HOLE VIK EARNS WEEKLY ACCOLADES
• Senior Vemund Hole Vik was selected as the CAA Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday, Sept. 12.
• Hole Vik helped the Phoenix post its CAA-best third clean sheet of the season with its win over Stony Brook with his play from the backline.
• The Aalesund, Norway, native also contributed offensively, adding the assist on the lone goal of the match.
• Hole Vik is the second Phoenix player to be recognized with the CAA Defensive weekly honor. Keeper Ryan Bilichuk also was honored on Aug. 29.
• On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Hole Vik was also honored on the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week, earning honorable mention recognition.
 
OPENING STANZA
• The Phoenix heads into the match on Saturday ranking second in the nation in shutout percentage at .800.
• Bilichuk is tied for first in the country in total shutouts with four clean sheets. The Greenville, S.C., native has played every minute in goal for the Phoenix and has a 0.40 goals-against average with 14 saves including a season-best six versus Furman.
• Elon is currently ranked second in the CAA in goals per match (1.80) and has a league-best 1.40 differential margin.
• The Phoenix outshot an opponent for the third straight game after Tuesday and holds an overall 67-48 advantage in shots over the opposition. Elon also has a 31-17 advantage in shots on goal, hitting the target at a .463 percent clip.
• Duval scored his third goal in as many games versus Furman on Tuesday. The senior striker leads the Phoenix in points (six) and the CAA in points per match (1.50).
• Scott Vatne is second on the Phoenix in total points (five) and has attempted a CAA-best 20 shots this season.
• The Phoenix is coming off a 9-8-2 ledger during the 2021 fall season and advanced to the CAA Championship final for the first time in school history.
• Elon returns 21 players and seven starters in 2022 including All-CAA performers Kasper Lehm and Jannik Videbaek. The maroon and gold also welcomes back a pair of CAA All-Rookie team players in Calle Edelstam and Scott Vatne.
• Both Lehm and Videbaek were selected to the 2022 Preseason All-CAA team. The Phoenix as a team was tabbed third by the league's head coaches in the 2022 CAA Preseason Poll.
• Three players will don the captain armband for the Phoenix this season. Videbaek joins returning captains Jeppe Jordoson and Marco Vesterholm as the team captains for the 2022 season.
• Elon welcomes eight newcomers to its roster for 2022 – Gustavo Atencio, Ryan Bilichuk, Michael Clow, Myson Darden, Carlos Levy, Majaliwa Msabaha, Sumner Nenninger and Franc Gamiz Quer.
• Marc Reeves is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Phoenix. Through his 12 seasons overall as a head coach, Reeves has posted a career record of 110-79-33.
 
SCOUTING DELAWARE
• The Blue Hens head into the match with a 2-3-1 record overall and is 0-2 during CAA play. Delaware is coming off a 2-0 victory over George Washington on Tuesday.
• Delaware was selected ninth in the 2022 CAA Preseason Poll after going 2-12-1 in 2021 and 0-8 in league play.
• In its six matches so far, Delaware has scored six total goals while conceding eight. Rookie striker Sam Donnellan has accounted for four of the Blue Hens' scoring total, currently best in the CAA.
• Redshirt freshman Adam Vik has played every minute between the posts for the Blue Hens. The Nesoddtangen, Norway, native has a 1.33 GAA with 25 saves and a pair of shutouts.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix is back home to host in-state rival Duke at Rudd Field on Tuesday, Sept. 20. That match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.