PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Elon University men's soccer team closed out its three-match road swing with a 1-0 setback at Drexel on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Vidas Field.
 
The defeat moves the Phoenix to 1-4-2 overall on the year and 0-2-1 during CAA play. Drexel improved to 4-1-2 on the season and moved to 2-1-1 in league play.
 
The Rundown
Both teams were in a defensive battle during the opening stanza with both squads taking three shots each. Drexel got one of those attempts in the seventh minute of the match as Antonio Illuminato tried a sliding shot inside the near post, but he was met by Tomasz Wroblewski for the save.
 
Elon got a good look at the first goal in the 28^th minute. Michael Clow sent a cross into the box where it found the head of Sam Durand. The Cary, N.C., native's shot just went wide of the post for a Drexel goal kick. Scott Vatne was also off target to the left of the post as the junior was free of a look from about 30 yards away in the 35^th minute as the match went into the break scoreless.
 
Both teams were even in shots in the second period at 4-4. The Dragons' Stephen Appiah was turned away by Wroblewski for his second save in the 55^th minute as the Phoenix continued the scoring stalemate.
 
Just over a minute later, Elon got its first look on goal. Jack Dolk received a feed from Victor Stromsten just inside the center of the box and was able to get off a shot against a pair of defenders. Drexel however was able to corral the ball for the save.
 
Four minutes later, Dolk tried again to get the Phoenix on the scoreboard as the senior sent in a cross from the left side that was initially stopped by the keeper. The ball briefly got away from the netminder with the carom almost finding the foot of Stromsten for a possible tap-in, but Drexel was able to secure the ball.
 
Drexel broke the scoring stalemate with a goal in the 75^th minute. The Dragons took advantage of the Phoenix on a counterattack with Giancarlo Vaccaro putting Drexel ahead 1-0 with a low shot to the left side of the goal.
 
The Phoenix would get one final shot during the remainder of the game, which came from Ben Rosenblatt in the 76^th minute. Elon however could not find the equalizer as the Dragons held on for the 1-0 victory.
 
Notes
• Prior to today's game, Elon was unbeaten against the Dragons in the past three games (2-0-1). The Phoenix also held Drexel without a goal during those games with the Dragons breaking that streak with their goal today.
• Both teams were even in shots at 7-7, but the Dragons had five on goal compared to one for the Phoenix. Both teams were also deadlocked in corners at 2-2.
• Petro Klishch played a season-high 63 minutes for the Phoenix while recording a shot off the bench.
• Wroblewski had four saves for the Phoenix in goal.
 
Up Next
The Phoenix is back on the home pitch at Rudd Field, hosting defending CAA tournament champion Hofstra on Saturday, Sept. 30. That match is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start time.