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Top-Seeded Elon Advances to Title Game
CARY, N.C. – Chris Thomas scored his nation-leading 23rd goal of the game late in the first half and Elon’s defense made it stand as the top-seeded Phoenix downed No. 4 seed Georgia Southern 1-0 in Thursday’s first semifinal of the Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championship at WakeMed Soccer Park.
With the win, 23rd-ranked Elon (14-4-2) advances to its second straight SoCon tournament title game and will have a chance to defend its 2011 crown. The Phoenix will face either No. 6 seed Appalachian State or No. 7 seed Wofford on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a contest that will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Thomas scored the only goal Elon would need in the 36th minute to put the Phoenix ahead. Matt Wescoe took a nifty pass from Jordan Smith inside the 18-yard box and put a shot on frame. GSU keeper Neal Bates made the diving save but couldn’t corral the ball, and Thomas pounced on the rebound for the score.
The Eagles (6-12-1) nearly took the early lead but couldn’t capitalize on an open net. In the 12th minute, Georgia Southern’s Hunter Norton found Joe Hughes with a through ball just inside the top of the box, setting up Hughes with a one-on-one with Elon keeper Nathan Dean. Hughes drew Dean out and beat him to the left, then sent a slow roller toward the open net. Phoenix defender Mark Berlin came streaking in to save the day, sliding and knocking the ball away to save a sure goal.
Shortly after Thomas scored, GSU had another solid scoring chance that came up empty. After a turnover in the Elon defense, the Eagles’ Witt Carlisle put a close-range shot off the left post in the 39th minute. The rebound went to Seth Prieto, whose shot grazed an Elon defender and sailed high. The Eagles got a Carlisle header on the ensuing corner kick but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Just after halftime, Elon had two excellent chances to increase its lead, but Bates made a pair of spectacular plays to keep it a one-goal game. Thomas ripped a close-range shot that Bates knocked down, but Smith was there for the rebound. Bates made another outstanding save to keep Smith from finding the back of the net, sprawling out to smother the shot inside the 6-yard box.
Carlisle put another shot off the left post in the second half, making a deep run to the touchline and shooting from a tough angle to the left of the goal in the 66th minute.
Bates made another nice stop on a Jason Waterman shot in the 75th minute as he continued to keep the Eagles within reach. He finished with five saves.
Dean finished with a pair of stops for his league-best seventh shutout of the season.
Elon had 14 shots to 11 for Georgia Southern, while the Eagles had an 8-6 advantage in corner kicks.
Nov. 8 (Thursday)
SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship
Semifinals (at Cary, N.C.)
#1 Elon 1, #4 Georgia Southern 0
#7 Wofford vs. #6 Appalachian State 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 (Saturday)
SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship
Championship (at Cary, N.C.) ESPN3 7 p.m.
With the win, 23rd-ranked Elon (14-4-2) advances to its second straight SoCon tournament title game and will have a chance to defend its 2011 crown. The Phoenix will face either No. 6 seed Appalachian State or No. 7 seed Wofford on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a contest that will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Thomas scored the only goal Elon would need in the 36th minute to put the Phoenix ahead. Matt Wescoe took a nifty pass from Jordan Smith inside the 18-yard box and put a shot on frame. GSU keeper Neal Bates made the diving save but couldn’t corral the ball, and Thomas pounced on the rebound for the score.
The Eagles (6-12-1) nearly took the early lead but couldn’t capitalize on an open net. In the 12th minute, Georgia Southern’s Hunter Norton found Joe Hughes with a through ball just inside the top of the box, setting up Hughes with a one-on-one with Elon keeper Nathan Dean. Hughes drew Dean out and beat him to the left, then sent a slow roller toward the open net. Phoenix defender Mark Berlin came streaking in to save the day, sliding and knocking the ball away to save a sure goal.
Shortly after Thomas scored, GSU had another solid scoring chance that came up empty. After a turnover in the Elon defense, the Eagles’ Witt Carlisle put a close-range shot off the left post in the 39th minute. The rebound went to Seth Prieto, whose shot grazed an Elon defender and sailed high. The Eagles got a Carlisle header on the ensuing corner kick but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Just after halftime, Elon had two excellent chances to increase its lead, but Bates made a pair of spectacular plays to keep it a one-goal game. Thomas ripped a close-range shot that Bates knocked down, but Smith was there for the rebound. Bates made another outstanding save to keep Smith from finding the back of the net, sprawling out to smother the shot inside the 6-yard box.
Carlisle put another shot off the left post in the second half, making a deep run to the touchline and shooting from a tough angle to the left of the goal in the 66th minute.
Bates made another nice stop on a Jason Waterman shot in the 75th minute as he continued to keep the Eagles within reach. He finished with five saves.
Dean finished with a pair of stops for his league-best seventh shutout of the season.
Elon had 14 shots to 11 for Georgia Southern, while the Eagles had an 8-6 advantage in corner kicks.
Nov. 8 (Thursday)
SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship
Semifinals (at Cary, N.C.)
#1 Elon 1, #4 Georgia Southern 0
#7 Wofford vs. #6 Appalachian State 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 (Saturday)
SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship
Championship (at Cary, N.C.) ESPN3 7 p.m.
-www.SoConSports.com-