Elon, N.C.- The Elon Phoenix (8-5-1) return to Rudd Field Wednesday night as they host the Charlotte 49ers (7-1-4). Elon has the opportunity to bounce back after a difficult loss to Monmouth last Saturday and boost its non-conference resume against the 49ers.
 
Kickoff with the 49ers on Wednesday will be at 7 pm.
 
 
How to Follow

• Wednesday's game with the 49ers will be streamed on FloCollege, and you can watch the game by CLICKING HERE.
• Live stats will be available for the matchup with Charlotte and will be available by CLICKING HERE.
• Live updates will be available on both X and Instagram during the match @ElonMSoccer.

 
The All-Time Series

• This will be the 14^th meeting all-time between the Phoenix and the 49ers.
• Elon trails the all-time series against Charlotte, 3-9-1.  
• The two last met in 2023 as Charlotte prevailed, 1-0 over the Phoenix.

 
Last Time Out

• The Phoenix fell to the Monmouth Hawks on the road in West Long Branch, N.J.    
• Scott Vatne put on Elon's first shot of the game as a curling effort hurled wide of the target.
• The game's first shot on goal came from the Hawks in the 15^th minute, but goalie Tomasz Wroblewski made a crucial save to keep the game scoreless.
• Into the second half, Petro Klishch nearly gave the Phoenix a 1-0 lead, but his attempt was saved by the Monmouth keeper.
• From the run of play, a shot from Vatne sailed just over the crossbar as the Monmouth keeper was rooted to his line.
• The Hawks eventually broke through after the Phoenix dropped down to ten men in the 72^nd minute.
• Elon had a crucial chance turned away when Ryan Manna was brought down just outside the box, but the effort from Vatne was turned away.
• Monmouth would hold on to take the 1-0 over the Phoenix.

 
Preseason Praise

• Senior Scott Vatne and graduate Victor Stromsten were both selected to the All-CAA preseason team while junior Majaliwa Msabaha was an honorable mention. Stromsten makes his first appearance on an All-CAA preseason list following his 13-point season in 2023.
• Vatne makes his second straight appearance on the All-CAA preseason team while Msabaha is featured for a second time on the honorable mention list.
• Stromsten returns to the Phoenix for his fifth season at Elon. The forward came on strong at the end of the season up top for the Phoenix, scoring four goals in his final six conference games. Stromsten saw the Phoenix through to the CAA semifinals with a game-winning goal over the number three seeded Stony Brook Sea Wolves.
• Vatne enters his senior season having amassed a list of preseason and post-season honors over the last year. Following an All-CAA First Team and All-Atlantic Region season in 2023, Vatne returns to the midfield following a 12-point season and leading the Phoenix in assists with four.
• Msabaha makes his second honorable mention side after back-to-back All-CAA Third Team selections. The junior captain led the Phoenix last season in the midfield, making 16 starts in 17 games and picking up an assist in Elon's CAA quarterfinal win.

 
Top Drawer Recognition

• Earlier this season, Elon was ranked in three straight Top Drawer Soccer rankings reaching the top-10 in September.
• Elon has been laced with preseason honors to several players with Scott Vatne and Tomasz Wroblewski being named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Top 100 players list.
• The Phoenix was the lone club in the CAA with multiple players on the Top 100 list with Hofstra being the only other CAA school with a player mentioned.
• This was the first time Elon had two players listed on the preseason list since Elon joined the CAA ten years ago.
• Victor Stromsten was selected to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week this past week for his performances against both Radford and Coastal Carolina.
• Tomasz Wroblewski was named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week after a 13-save performance against Wake Forest.

 
Scouting Charlotte

• Charlotte was picked first in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll receiving six first-place votes.
• Ian Pilcher was selected by the conference as the Preseason Defender of the Year and to preseason all-conference. Brigham Larson joined Pilcher on the preseason all-conference team.
• Charlotte enters the match with the Phoenix with a 7-1-4 record and a 3-1-1 record in American Conference play.
• Filip Jauk leads the Hawks in goals and points with four goals and eight points. Ben Fisher leads the 49ers in assists with four.  
• Leonard Stritter has started and played in all 12 matches. He has allowed just six goals all season and has been a part of eight shutouts.

 
New Faces Making Impact

• Colin Veltri, Connor Mucchetti, and Charlie Kitch all join the Phoenix after playing elsewhere in the 2023 season.
• Veltri has scored in five straight matches and has secured at least a point in all seven matches. Veltri becomes the first player under Marc Reeves to secure a 15-point season.
• Connnor Mucchetti and Charlie Kitch both secured their first goals as Phoenix in the 5-0 victory against Radford.
• Both Veltri and Mucchetti joined the Phoenix in the spring with Kitch joining Elon this fall.
• Jack Donlan transferred in from Indian Hills Community College. Donlan has been a fixture at the back, securing a full 90 minutes four times so far this season.