ELON — Two newcomers took the story and the scoreline for the Elon University men's soccer team on Tuesday night against Davidson.
In the 6th minute, redshirt sophomore midfielder Dominik Renz drew a penalty, and junior midfielder
Martin Kozak stayed calm at the line, tucking the ball into the bottom left for his first Elon goal and a 1–0 lead. With :27 seconds left on the first-half clock, redshirt freshman midfielder
Oscar Tonidandel met senior midfielder
Connor Mucchetti's lifted cut-back on the volley to double the advantage. Elon closed out a 2–0 win from there, producing its fourth straight shutout to cap a 3–0 homestand.
"Starting the game strong is key," Kozak said. "We've been doing that very good lately. I've got to stay calm in that moment to give the team the advantage and to keep us going."
Tonidandel's first strike came just before halftime, and he kept his approach simple.
"I saw the ball coming, saw the goal, so I just tried to put some contact on it, and it went in," Tonidandel said.
The pair's fast start fits the theme through the first six matches: new faces, quick chemistry.
"Every day in practice, getting to know each other a little bit better, it just allows us to play off each other and get better," Tonidandel said.
Kozak shifted between central and wide roles to match Davidson's wingbacks, giving Elon flexibility in transition.
"I can play in different spots," Kozak said. "I want to win championships. If the coaches think I can do it, I also think I can do it."
Jackson Leavitt made three saves to extend the Phoenix's scoreless streak. The back line limited Davidson to four shots while Elon produced nine and put six on frame. The match turned physical with 30 fouls, but the Phoenix controlled the key moments and protected the box late.
The goals also carried context. Kozak's conversion was Elon's first successful penalty since Oct. 26, 2024. Tonidandel's strike, his first as a Phoenix, continued a balanced attack that has seen newcomers contribute to big minutes.
"It's not only me, it's about my teammates," Kozak said. "Sometimes I'm the guy that puts the last ball or takes the pen, but it's a team effort. At the end of the day, we're a team, we're a family."
Tonidandel echoed the culture within the locker room.
"[Coach Reeves] is a really personable guy. He checks on us a lot, and that only helps us feel accepted and valued, which helps our confidence."
The Phoenix will resume CAA play against William & Mary on Saturday at 7 p.m.
"The goal is just to keep the momentum going," Tonidandel said. "It really doesn't matter who scores, just as long as we get the win."
'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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