ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's soccer team returns to Colonial Athletic Association action on Saturday, Oct. 1, hosting Drexel at Rudd Field. Kickoff of the match is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
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
• Since beginning series play in 2014, the Phoenix is 4-2-1 all-time over the Dragons in the battle of mythical creatures.
• Drexel is unbeaten in the past three matches of the series as both teams battled to a 0-0 draw in last year's contest.
• The Phoenix's last win in the series came in 2017 as the Phoenix earned a 1-0 win at Rudd Field.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Phoenix hosted fellow Piedmont Triad rival High Point on Wednesday in a nonconference matchup. Both teams played to a 0-0 draw in the 56^th meeting between the two schools on the soccer pitch.
• The clean sheet was the Phoenix's sixth of the season overall and also for keeper Ryan Bilichuk, who leads the nation in that category. Bilichuk had two saves in the contest.
• The Phoenix outshot the Panthers, 14-9, and were dominant in the battle of corners, 8-2.
• The draw moved the all-time series record to 30-13-13 in favor of the Panthers. This was the first tie in the series since both programs battled to a 1-1 result at High Point in 2016.
 
DOMINANT DEFENSE
• The Elon defense has posted six clean sheets this season, including three in a row in one stretch. The Phoenix is also ranked in the top five of the country in shutout percentage at 0.667.
• Elon has posted a shutout in six of its first nine games so far this season, its best stretch since 2017. The Phoenix also had six shutouts through its first nine games in 2017.
• Three members of the Phoenix have earned three CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors so far this season. Senior outside backs Vemund Hole Vik (Sept. 12) and Kasper Lehm (Sept. 19) along with Bilichuk (Aug. 29) have played key roles in Elon's defensive performance this season.
• Both Lehm and Hole Vik garnered national recognition as well this season. Lehm was named to the College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week on Sept. 20 while Hole Vik received honorable mention honors on Sept. 13.
• Bilichuk is tied for the national lead in shutouts with six and is sixth in the country in GAA at 0.44.
 
OPENING STANZA
• The Phoenix is off to its best start since 2016 at 6-2-1 overall and is atop the CAA standings at 3-1. Elon is also currently second in the Atlantic Regional rankings and was the only CAA team receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll.
• Elon is fourth in the CAA in goals per match (1.444) and has a league-best 1.00 differential margin.
• The Phoenix holds an overall 111-84 advantage in shots over the opposition. Elon also has a 49-28 advantage in shots on goal, hitting the target at a .441 percent clip.
• Mason Duval leads the Phoenix in points (eight) and goals (four). The senior striker is sixth in the CAA with two game-winning goals.
• 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 112-80-34.
 
SCOUTING DREXEL
• Drexel comes into Saturday's match with a 4-2-3 ledger and a 2-1-1 mark in the CAA. The Dragons have won two straight after earning a 5-0 result over College of Charleston last Saturday.
• The Dragons were 8-8-1 in 2021 and went 4-3-1 in league play. Drexel was tabbed to finish fifth in the 2022 CAA Preseason Poll and received one first-place vote.
• Drexel carries the league's best scoring attack with 17 goals to average 1.889 goals per match. The Dragons have also attempted 116 shots, which is also best in the conference.
• Eight players have scored at least one goal for Drexel this season including four with multiple scores. Fifth-year player Harrison Coron leads the Dragons and the CAA with five goals.
• Junior keeper Alessandro Capogna has manned every minute in goal for the Dragons. The Boville Ernica, Italy, native is third in the CAA in GAA at 0.89 and shutouts with four.