ELON – The Elon men's soccer team (1-1-1, 0-0-1 CAA) continues conference play Saturday with a CAA South road match at UNCW (2-0-1, 0-0-0 CAA). It is the second of three straight CAA contests for the Phoenix.
Elon at UNCW Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 5 | Wilmington, N.C. | UNCW Soccer Stadium | 7 p.m.
The UNCW Series
- Elon holds a 9-6-3 advantage in the head-to-head against the Seahawks following a season sweep of UNCW last fall.
- This will be the 13th meeting between the teams as CAA opponents. The Phoenix is 6-4-2 in their matches as conference rivals.
- Last season, the Phoenix defeated UNCW in a pair of one-goal games. Elon won 2-1 at Wilmington with Dominik Renz scoring the game-winning tally. The Phoenix then scored late at home to beat the Seahawks 1-0 at Rudd Field.
- The Phoenix is 3-5-1 all-time in matches played at Wilmington after winning on UNCW's field last season for the first time since 2015.
- Elon is unbeaten in its last five matches against UNCW. The Phoenix is 4-0-1 in that stretch, with the tie coming in a match that secured the 2022 CAA regular season title for the Phoenix.
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 – Magnus Jacobsen, Weston Jonke, Martin Kozak and Dominik Renz. Additionally, Ben Madore was named a preseason All-CAA honorable mention.
- Give Him His Flowers: Jahmir Flowers became the first Phoenix to score multiple goals this season with his second tally of the campaign last week at Old Dominion. The senior leads the Phoenix with five points (2 goals, 1 assist) and has already matched his point total from last season.
- Goalie Rotation: Elon has rotated its goalies in the first three matches of the season. Drew Hartman got the nod against VMI and William & Mary, with Mikolaj Lenarcik starting against Old Dominion. Both goalkeepers made their first career start this season.
- Newcomers Scoring: Three players have recorded their first Elon points in the opening three matches of the season. Tønnes Daland paced the Phoenix with three points last week against Old Dominion, with Mohamed Kallon and Henry Mertsch each tallying an assist in their Elon debuts.
- Captain Martin: Kozak is second on the Phoenix with four points, trailing only Flowers for the team lead. 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.
Last Time Out
- Elon picked up its first CAA point Sunday in its conference opener against William & Mary after playing the Tribe to a 1-1 tie at Rudd Field.
- The Tribe scored in the second minute of the contest, but Elon equalized in the 74th minute when Jacobsen headed in a corner kick sent into the box by Jonke.
- Jacobsen's goal was the second of his career and the first since Elon's CAA Tournament semifinal against Campbell last season.
- Elon saw 13 different players attempt a shot, with Flowers, Jacobsen, Renz, Kosei Sasaki, Diego Thompson and Jordin Wilson all taking two shots each.
- Hartman started in goal for the Phoenix, making a pair of stops. He made a key save in the 84th minute to maintain the tie for Elon.
- Madore and Joe Taylor both made their first start of the campaign. It was Madore's first Elon start in his second appearance with the Phoenix.
- Elon has now earned at least a point in three straight CAA openers.
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 UNCW
- The Seahawks are unbeaten in three matches this season and enter Saturday with a 2-0-1 record.
- UNCW Is coming off a scoreless draw against Furman, who was ranked No. 3 in the preseason United Soccer Coaches poll.
- Goalkeeper Alex Kron was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week and selected to the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week for his eight-save shutout of the Paladins. Kron has started twice this season, posting a pair of clean sheets with 10 saves.
- UNCW has had three different goal scorers this season – Osei Gyamfi, Ryan Lee and Bryan Miralrio. Benjamin Gooding and Kieran Radke are also on the scoresheet with an assist apiece.
- Gavin Carmichael, Martin Rivera and Jake Roberts have all played every minute this season for the Seahawks.
- The Seahawks were picked to finish second behind Elon in the CAA South preseason poll.
- UNCW is led by head coach Aidan Heaney, who is in his 26th season at the helm of the Seahawks.
Stay Posted
For further coverage of Elon men's soccer, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonMSoccer), Instagram (elonmsoccer) and Facebook (Elon Men's Soccer).
