ELON — When the Phoenix needed its leaders most, they delivered.
In a 10-goal thriller that swung with every set piece and counter, junior midfielder Martin Kozak set a single-game program record with four assists and added a penalty goal as Elon outlasted Campbell 6-4 in the CAA semifinal Sunday night at Rudd Field.
Six different players scored, the most in Elon's Division I era. The result sends the Phoenix to its first CAA men's championship appearance since 2022, hosting Stony Brook next Sunday at 2 p.m.
The tone was set early.
Junior winger Jordin Wilson broke behind Campbell's high line in the 17th minute, bursting down the right side before slotting home after a goalkeeping error at the near post. It was the same formula that carried Elon all season with the right vertical speed and timing.
From there, the match became a storm. Kozak became the conductor in the 39th, threading a ball through midfield to junior striker Einar Ness, who unselfishly squared across the goal for junior winger
Jahmir Flowers to tap in.
The first twist came with an unlucky deflection off a set piece that slid past graduate goalkeeper Jackson Leavitt just before halftime. 2-1. The myth of the two-goal lead was set to live again.
"Halftime was about composure," Kozak said. "We knew the game would open up, so we wanted to keep our structure and take advantage of every set piece."
That structure was tested immediately.
Campbell equalized at the 55 minute mark after a misplayed header, but Elon answered within minutes. Redshirt sophomore striker Dominik Renz earned a penalty, and Kozak buried it low with calm precision for the 3-2 advantage.
The Camels countered with a penalty of their own to level 3-3 at the 63rd minute, but Elon refused to blink. Four minutes later, Kozak bent a free kick into the chaos between keeper and line; Renz flicked it, and freshman center back Magnus Jacobsen crashed home his first career goal. 4-3.
In the 68th, Kozak provided a looping pass over the top that found Renz in stride. One touch, one chip, two-goal cushion. 5-3.
"I saw the keeper rushing, so I just lifted it," Renz said. "Martin's service makes it easy. We've built that chemistry all season; we just trust each other."
Campbell's late surge made sure the night never settled. Junior defender Charlie Kitch's 83rd minute header stretched the lead to 6-3, and though the visitors pulled one back in the 88th minute', the Phoenix held firm to close out a 6-4 thriller.
"It's our work rate and belief," Renz said. "Everyone stayed together even when it got messy. That's what defines us."
The performance represented this season's plot, from an unbeaten home regular season to a wild semifinal that tested every layer of Elon's tactics. The Phoenix, known this season for defensive dominance, found another gear in attack when it mattered most.
Kozak, now sitting on four goals and eight assists, smiled when asked what fueled his record night.
"Just focus," Kozak said. "When moments get big, you've got to stay calm and trust your work. We've trained these plays all year. To see them pay off, and to send us to a final, that's special."
Elon meets Stony Brook on Sunday with everything on the line: the championship, a potential NCAA berth and a chance to finish what this group started.
As Renz put it simply: "One more. We're not finished yet."
'Rising Phoenix' is a student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department's various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on X (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Sydney Spencer at sspencer9@elon.edu.
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