DURHAM, N.C. – The Elon University men's soccer team suffered a 2-1 setback at the hand of the Furman Paladins in its season-opener at the John Rennie/Nike Invitational on Friday evening, Aug. 25, at Koskinen Stadium on the campus of Duke University.
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The Phoenix (0-1) suffered its first loss in its season-opener since 2018 when the maroon and gold fell 2-0 against Vermont also at the John Rennie/Nike Invitational. Furman (1-0) also avenged its 2-0 loss to the Phoenix last season and snapped a two-match winless streak versus its former league opponent.
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The Rundown
The Paladins were on the attack early as Furman had three shots on target within the first three minutes of the match. Each chance was turned away by Phoenix netminder
Tomasz Wroblewski as Elon kept the match scoreless.
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Elon earned its first shot on goal with a
Scott Vatne chance in the 23
rd minute, but the Paladins were able to corral the ball for a save. Furman kept the pressure on the Phoenix defense, eventually breaking through on a goal by Caleb Johnson, who took a bending shot outside the 18-yard box past Wroblewski to put Furman ahead 1-0 in the 31
st minute.
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The Phoenix leveled the match at one-all nearly 10 minutes later. Elon drew a foul about 25 yards on the left side of the box, setting up a free kick for Vatne. The junior was able to connect a shot into the upper 90 of the goal, tying the match before both teams went into the locker room.
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Late in the second stanza, the Phoenix had a couple of close opportunities for the go-ahead goal.
Victor Stromsten was able to corral the ball versus the Furman keeper and fired a shot that the netminder was able to get a foot on to deflect it away in the 83
rd minute. Stromsten however gathered the carom and took another chance, but was stopped again by Paladins' keeper Cameron Maung-Maung.
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Furman capitalized a few seconds later to break the tie. The Paladins' Conor Dowler got a good look just above the box and snuck a shot past the Phoenix defense to put Elon in a 2-1 deficit. Elon chased after the equalizer for the remaining seven minutes of the match, but could not convert on a shot opportunity as Furman held on for the 2-1 win.
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Notes
• Furman outshot the Phoenix, 17-11, in the game including a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal.
• Wroblewski made eight saves in the match, which is the most for a Phoenix netminder in goal since
Cam Pelle also had eight saves at Northeastern in 2021.
• Vatne led the Phoenix in total shots with three with two coming on target. The Klepp, Norway, native has scored a goal in each of the Phoenix's last three season-openers at the John Rennie/Nike Invitational.
• Elon had three newcomers in the starting lineup in their Phoenix debut in Wroblewski,
Joachim Blomsterberg and
Luca Erhardt.
• The Phoenix won the corner kick battle, 5-2.
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Up Next
The Phoenix finishes its portion of the tournament hosting Jacksonville on Sunday, Aug. 27, for its home opener at Rudd Field. That match is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start and will air on FloFC.
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-- ELON --
