ELON – A
Dominik Renz goal in the 60th minute proved to be the game winner for the Elon University men's soccer team (3-0-1, 2-0-0 CAA) Saturday afternoon in a 1-0 victory over College of Charleston (1-4-0, 0-1-0 CAA) at Rudd Field.
The reigning CAA Rookie of the Week scored his second game-winning goal in as many conference games this season, converting on a feed from
Colin Veltri. Renz also netted the winning tally in last Saturday's road victory at UNCW.
Jackson Leavitt, the CAA Defensive Player of the Week, recorded his third clean sheet in four starts this season, making three saves to anchor an Elon shutout.
With the victory, Elon moves to 2-0-0 in CAA play for the second straight season.
How It Happened
- Elon created a premium scoring chance in the fifth minute. Veltri made a run down the right wing before cutting across the end line and finding Oscar Tonidandel in the middle of the box. Tonidandel fired a rising shot that forced Charleston goalkeeper Jourdan Schumacher to make a one-handed stop.
- Leavitt saw his first action in the 10th minute, denying a shot from Charleston's Ben Bagshaw.
- The Phoenix created three corner kick chances in quick succession beginning in the 28th minute. On the second attempt, Magnus Jacobsen headed a ball toward the goal that was just off target.
- Neither team found the scoresheet in the closing minutes of the first half.
- Charleston generated its best scoring chance of the day in the 48th minute, with Leavitt denying a piercing low shot from Ben Baldwin.
- Elon finally broke the scoreless tie in the 61st minute. Veltri won the ball from Charleston and threaded it through the opposing backline to a sprinting Renz. After a few touches, Renz sent a low shot toward the goal that bounced through Schumacher and began rolling toward the goal line. The ball trickled across the goal line before the Cougars could recover for Elon's first goal of the contest.
- Leavitt made another stop in the 67th minute to maintain Elon's one-goal advantage.
- Charleston attempted its final shot in the 81st minute. The Cougars earned two corner kicks in the closing minutes but could not generate a shot, as the Phoenix held on for the 1-0 victory.
Notes & Numbers
- Renz has scored two of Elon's three game-winning goals this season, both coming in CAA contests. He is the first Elon player to net multiple goals on the season and leads the Phoenix with five points through four games.
- Veltri's assist was his first point of the campaign. He led the Phoenix with four shot attempts in 76 minutes of action.
- The Phoenix outshot the Cougars, 12-9, on the day. Both teams recorded three shots on target. Martin Kozak (2) and Jacobsen (2) joined Veltri with multiple shot attempts.
- Four position players went the full 90 minutes for Elon – August Guinle, Carlos Levy, Majaliwa Msabaha and Jacobsen.
- Leavitt's shutout was his third of the campaign, as he is up to 3.5 career clean sheets.
- The Phoenix is off to a 2-0-0 start in CAA matches for the second consecutive season. Elon won its first three conference games a season ago.
- Elon is now 2-0-0 this season in games decided by a single goal.
- The victory gives Elon a slight 13-12-2 edge in the all-time series between the conference rivals. The teams will face off again on Oct. 18 in Charleston.
Up Next
Elon continues its three-game homestand at Rudd next Saturday with a non-conference clash against USC Upstate. The contest is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
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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