ELON – The Elon men's soccer team (3-2-1, 1-1-1 CAA) is set to host a crucial CAA matinee Saturday against College of Charleston (4-1-1, 1-1-0 CAA) at Rudd Field before heading to Davidson (1-1-4) for a nonconference road clash Tuesday. Elon vs. College of Charleston Briefing Match Details: Sept. 19 | Elon, N.C. | Rudd Field | 12 p.m. Watch: FloCollege Live Stats: StatBroadcast Admission: Free Elon Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Game Program
Elon at Davidson Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 22 | Davidson, N.C. | Alumni Soccer Stadium | 7 p.m.
Inside The Matchups
- Saturday will be the 29th all-time meeting between Elon and College of Charleston.
- The Phoenix holds a 13-12-3 lead in the head-to-head series and is 8-1-3 in the last 12 matchups between the teams.
- Elon had won seven straight matches against the Cougars until the teams played to a scoreless draw at Charleston a season ago. The Phoenix won the first regular season matchup between the teams at Rudd last season.
- Elon is 12-3-0 all-time against Davidson and has won the last six matchups between the teams.
- The Phoenix topped the Wildcats at Rudd last season in a 2-0 result. Martin Kozak converted a penalty kick in the sixth minute before Oscar Tonidandel tacked on another goal with 27 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
- Elon is 6-1-0 in road trips to Davidson and has won each of its last six contests at Alumni Soccer Stadium. The most recent win at Davidson for the Phoenix came in 2017.
Elon Storylines
- CAA Praise: Elon was tabbed to finish first in the CAA South Division preseason poll. The Phoenix also had four preseason All-CAA honorees – Kozak, Magnus Jacobsen, Weston Jonke and Dominik Renz. Additionally, Ben Madore was named a preseason All-CAA honorable mention.
- Give Him His Flowers: Jahmir Flowers has already set a career high in goals with four through Elon's first six matches this season. The senior has scored in consecutive matches against Campbell and Radford and leads the Phoenix with nine points.
- Goalie Rotation: Elon has rotated its goalies in the first six matches of the season. Drew Hartman has started four matches, including all three of Elon's CAA contests. Mikolaj Lenarcik has made two starts, including posting his first career shutout in Elon's most recent match against Radford. Lenarcik became the first Phoenix goalkeeper since 2015 to register an assist in the victory over the Highlanders.
- Oscar-Worthy Performances: Tonidandel has racked up four points in Elon's last two matches. The midfielder had a goal and assist against Campbell before adding another assist in the Radford win. Tonidandel's five points are the third most on the Phoenix this season.
- Dom-inating: Like Tonidandel, Renz also has four points in Elon's last two victories. The reigning CAA Rookie of the Year scored a goal against Campbell before producing his first career multi-assist game against Radford. Renz has six points on the campaign, trailing only Flowers for the team lead.
- Home Sweet Home: Elon remains unbeaten at Rudd Field this season with a 2-0-1 record. The Phoenix has won or tied its last 13 home matches, a streak that began with last season's home opener.
- Offensive Production: Elon has scored three goals in four of its six matches this season, winning three of those matches by 3-0 scores. The Phoenix is third in the conference with 2.2 goals per game.
- Captain Martin: Kozak has four points in four appearances this season. The reigning CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player has a goal and a pair of assists on the campaign, highlighted by a three-point effort in Elon's season-opening victory against VMI. He was named to the Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List last month.
Last Time Out
- Elon won its second straight match by a 3-0 result Tuesday night against Radford.
- Flowers scored his fourth goal of the season in the first half before Jonke and Alex Wharton netted their first career goals in the second half.
- Renz had a pair of assists, helping on the first two Phoenix goals. Tonidandel, Lenarcik and Magnus Jacobsen all added assists on the night.
- Lenarcik made his second start of the season in goal, making three saves for his first ever clean sheet.
- Flowers' goal marked Elon's first time scoring in a first half since Aug. 24 at Old Dominion.
Reigning Champs
- Elon earned its first CAA Tournament crown last fall, winning the title on its home field.
- The Phoenix finished atop the CAA South Division in the regular season to receive a bye into the semifinal round of the conference tournament.
- In its semifinal match against Campbell, the Phoenix exploded for six goals in a 6-4 victory, the most goals for Elon in a match since 2018. Six different Phoenix converted a goal in the match.
- Elon netted three more goals in the championship match against Stony Brook at Rudd, blanking the Seawolves 3-0 to secure the title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
- Kozak paced the Phoenix with eight points in the CAA Tournament, netting two goals and adding four assists to earn Most Outstanding Player honors.
- The Phoenix made its sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, going out to UNCG in penalty kicks after the teams played to a scoreless draw in Greensboro.
Scouting Charleston
- The Cougars enter Saturday with a 4-1-1 record on the season, including a 1-1-0 mark in CAA play.
- Charleston is currently fourth in the CAA South standings with three points but is just one point behind Elon and William & Mary, who share second place with four points.
- Charleston has won two straight matches against Winthrop and USC Upstate.
- The Cougars began conference play with a victory over Campbell before falling at William & Mary.
- Matt Lenert leads all CAA scorers with 14 points (6 goals, 2 assists). He was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week on Tuesday.
- No other Cougars have more than four points this season. Stian Bendvold and Michiharu Takanashi have four points each. Lenert has scored six of Charleston's 12 goals on the campaign.
- Marten Brink has started all six of Charleston's matches in goal. He has made 15 saves and boats a .652 save percentage.
- The Cougars are led by head coach Keith Wiggans, who is in his seventh season guiding his alma mater.
Scouting Davidson
- Davidson is 1-1-4 this season, with the loss coming in its most recent outing against High Point.
- The Wildcats tied their first four contests, including against ranked opponents in UNCG and Furman.
- Davidson's first victory came in a conference match against George Mason on Sept. 11.
- Ayman Maadir is pacing the Wildcats in both points (4) and goals (2). Six different Wildcats have scored the team's eight goals this season.
- Lucas Beltran has started all six matches in goal for Davidson, making 20 saves with a .714 save percentage.
- Head coach Mike Babst is in his eighth season at the helm of Davidson.
Stay Posted
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