ELON – A historic afternoon at Rudd Field ended with the Elon University men's soccer team hoisting its first-ever Coastal Athletic Association Championship trophy, as the Phoenix defeated Stony Brook 3-0 on Sunday to secure the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Elon (9-3-6) used two first-half goals to seize control early and added a late insurance strike, while a lockdown defensive display and another clean sheet from goalkeeper Jackson Leavitt carried the Phoenix across the finish line.
 
Elon jumped in front in the ninth minute, capitalizing when Joe Taylor's corner kick forced a Stony Brook miscue that resulted in an own goal. The Phoenix doubled the advantage in the 27th minute on a well-crafted sequence when Weston Jonke slipped a pinpoint cross into the box to Einar Ness, who headed home his second goal of the season to send the Phoenix crowd into celebration.
 
Stony Brook (9-5-5) generated a handful of opportunities through its seven corner kicks and held a slight edge in possession, but the Phoenix defense absorbed each push. Leavitt made three saves, including two in the second half, to preserve his 11th shutout.
 
With the Seawolves pushing forward late, Elon put the match away in the 88th minute. Dominik Renz broke free in transition and centered a pass to Martin Kozak, who buried his finish from 12 yards out for his team-leading fifth goal of the year, sealing the championship with a 3-0 margin.
 
Notes & Numbers

• Elon will play in its fifth all-time NCAA Tournament and its third since joining the CAA (2015, 2022).
• The Phoenix secured its first CAA Tournament title with the victory. Elon previously won the regular season conference championship in both 2022 and 2024. 
• Kozak was named the CAA Championship's Most Outstanding Player after totaling eight points (two goals, four assists) in Elon's two tournament matches against Campbell and Stony Brook. His second-half goal was his team-best fifth of the season as he is now up to 18 points overall. 
• Leavitt, Renz and Charlie Kitch joined Kozak on the CAA All-Tournament Team. Renz assisted on Kozak's goal to finish the CAA Tournament with four points (1g, 2a). 
• Leavitt posted his 11th clean sheet of the season, stymieing the Seawolves attack with three stops. He delivered nine shutouts in Elon's 10 home matches this season. 
• Ness' goal was his second of the season and first since Aug. 30 against UNCW. He scored the goal less than two minutes after checking into the game. 
• After recording his first point as a Phoenix in the CAA semifinal last weekend, Jonke added another assist on the Ness goal. 
• Kozak, Kitch and Magnus Jacobsen all logged the full 90 minutes for Elon. In total, 19 Phoenix saw action.  
• The Phoenix completed an undefeated 2025 home season with a 7-0-3 mark at Rudd Field. Elon conceded just four goals in its 10 home contests. 
• Elon improved to 4-1-0 all-time against Stony Brook, including a 2-0-0 mark in postseason play at the CAA Tournament.
• Elon amassed nine goals in its two CAA Tournament matches against Campbell (6-4 win) and Stony Brook after totaling 13 across 16 regular-season matches.
• The Phoenix put seven of its 10 shots on goal and outshot the Seawolves 10-6 overall. 

Up Next
The NCAA Championship bracket will be revealed during a selection show on Monday, live streamed on NCAA.com at 1 p.m. ET.
 
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