ELON – The Elon University men's soccer team (4-0-1) posted its third consecutive shutout and fourth straight victory Saturday night, defeating USC Upstate (1-4-1) at Rudd Field, 1-0.
Dominik Renz scored the game's lone goal in the 26th minute, converting off a feed from
Colin Veltri. It was Elon's second straight game-winning goal scored by Renz off a Veltri assist, as they also combined to produce Elon's lone goal in a 1-0 victory against College of Charleston last Saturday.
Two-time reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Week
Jackson Leavitt delivered his third straight clean sheet and his fourth of the season in goal. The Phoenix has allowed just one goal this season and has gone 199:07 of game time since conceding.
How It Happened
- Elon peppered the Spartans in the opening minutes with shots and high-quality scoring chances. In the seventh minute, a shot from Veltri forced a brilliant save from USC Upstate goalkeeper Jarrett Wuerslin, who later denied Charlie Kitch in the 12th minute with another spectacular stop.
- Martin Kozak and Connor Mucchetti put shots on target in the 14th and 15th minutes, respectively, that were stopped by Wuerslin before Veltri registered another shot on net in the 16th minute.
- The Phoenix pressure finally resulted in a goal in the 26th minute. Veltri won the ball from an Upstate defender from the top left corner of the box and cut inside toward the middle of the field. After juking left past a defender, he sent a cross that Renz put away with his right foot into the bottom right corner of the goal.
- The Spartans responded with three shots in the final 20 minutes of the first period, but Elon entered halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
- Elon continued to create chances early in the second half, attempting the first four shots out of the locker room.
- The Spartans had their best chance of the night with 24 minutes remaining. Lucas Bergfors took a shot from the right box that Leavitt pushed away. However, the ball continued to roll toward the left goalpost and bounced off the post and back to Leavitt before an Upstate attacker could clean up the rebound.
- Elon's backline helped shut down Upstate's offense in the closing stretch, allowing just two Spartan shot attempts over the final 20 minutes.
Notes & Numbers
- Renz's goal was his team-leading third of the season. The two-time defending CAA Rookie of the Week has scored a goal in two straight games and is now on a four-game point streak. His seven points lead the Phoenix on the season.
- The game-winning goal was the third of the season for Renz, who also netted the deciding marker for Elon against UNCW and College of Charleston.
- Veltri's helper was his second of the season, as he has assisted on each of Elon's last two goals, both of which were scored by Renz.
- Veltri attempted a game-high eight shots, four of which found the target. Renz (3) and Connor Mucchetti (2) also attempted multiple shots for the Phoenix.
- Two Elon players logged the full 90 minutes – Carlos Levy and Majaliwa Msabaha.
- The second half featured five yellow cards and 17 fouls.
- Elon has shut out three consecutive opponents for the first time since its first three matches last season.
- Elon outshot Upstate, 19-8, and bested the Spartans in shots on goal, 11-2. The Phoenix has allowed just one opponent to reach double-digit shot attempts in its first five contests.
- The Phoenix improves to 3-0-0 this season in games decided by one goal.
Up Next
Elon is back at Rudd on Tuesday to close out a three-game homestand versus Davidson. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
Stay Posted
For further coverage of Elon men's soccer, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonMSoccer), Instagram (elonmsoccer) and Facebook (Elon Men's Soccer).
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