WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Elon University men's soccer team earned its third straight win in Colonial Athletic Association as the Phoenix earned a 2-1 victory at Monmouth on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 24, at Hesse Field on the Great Lawn.
 
Elon (6-2, 3-1 CAA) became the first team to reach three wins in league play while continuing its best start since 2016. Monmouth fell to 3-4 on the season and 0-4 in CAA play.
 
"A great road win, against a tough team," said Elon head coach Marc Reeves. "We were really pleased with the way we started the first half, but need to improve in some areas going into the second half with that lead. We are pleased with the group's response and we have to turn around and go again (on Wednesday)."
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Phoenix began a dominant opening stanza with a goal in the 18^th minute. Marco Vesterholm took a shot just outside the box that was blocked, but Mason Duval gathered the carom at the six-yard area and fired a low, left-footed shot for his fourth score of the season.
• Five minutes before the first half whistle, the Phoenix doubled its lead. Sam Durand sent a cross from the left side that found Vemund Hole Vik in the top right corner of the six-yard box. Hole Vik's first shot was denied by Monmouth's keeper, but the ball found its way back to the Aalesund, Norway, native who bent a shot just below the crossbar for his first goal of the year.
• Monmouth broke through to make it a one-goal game in the 80^th minute. The Hawks' Luke McBeth sent a cross that found the head of Gabriel Miranda at the six-yard box who sent it towards the far post. The ball found the foot of Chris Morandi, who was able to push the ball just inside the post to bring the score to 2-1.
• That would be the final shot of the game for both teams however as Elon's defense denied the equalizer opportunity for the Hawks and survived the mini rally for the 2-1 win.
 
NOTES
• In a tale of two halves, the Phoenix dominated the first period in shots, 7-3, but Monmouth came back with an 8-4 advantage in the second session. Both squads ended the match deadlocked with 11 shots each, but the Phoenix had a slight 5-4 lead in attempts on target.
• Hole Vik became the ninth different player to score a goal for the Phoenix this season. He is now tied for third on the team in points with four.
• Elon allowed its first goal in league play in the match against the Hawks. Prior to Monmouth's goal, the Phoenix had not conceded a goal in 301 consecutive minutes during CAA play.
• Kasper Lehm returned to the starting lineup for the Phoenix after missing the previous match versus No. 4/7 Duke with an injury. He played 73 minutes against the Hawks.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix welcomes fellow Piedmont Triad rival High Point to Rudd Field for a midweek contest on Wednesday, Sept. 28. That contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.