The Elon University men’s soccer team is beginning to earn a reputation for two things: winning home games against ranked or high-profile opponents, and having a loud, vocal crowd circling the perimeter of Rudd field, creating a definite home field advantage.
“We really harnessed the energy that the fans brought, they were great tonight,” junior forward Jason Waterman said. “We were really happy with the fan turnout and we really wanted to reward them. Not everyone is a huge fan of soccer but we appreciate everyone who comes out and watches us for ninety minutes. When there’s that sort of audience watching you really can’t disappoint.”
The Phoenix used that crowd as a springboard to beat the University of North Carolina at Wilmington 3-1 in their home opener Saturday Sept. 14. It was yet another upset victory over a highly regarded in-state rival. Last season, the Phoenix beat the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who was ranked sixth in the country, in arguably the biggest win in program history.
“It gives me goosebumps, just thinking about [the crowd],” said senior midfielder Daniel Lovitz. “Before the game, after the game, it was an incredible atmosphere. We’re so lucky to have fans like the ones we have and the support that we have. It’s grown each year since my freshman year. It’s a dream come true seeing all your classmates and your buddies from other sports or class come out and support you. You just want to work your hardest.”
It was only fitting then that one of the Phoenix’s stars from the Charlotte game, forward Chris Thomas, was watching from behind the Phoenix’s bench as the team exploded for three goals, two in the first half, to shock the Seahawks and move to 4-0-1 on the season.
“We knew Wilmington from coach having watched them play and just their reputation as a team,” Lovitz said. “They’re hard working and they come out of the gate fast, and if you can match them in those first few minutes, that first chunk of the game, and you’re able to not concede a goal, you’re going to be in a decent spot and be able to build off of that. Finally the tide kind of switched in our favor and we were able to capitalize right away with two quick goals.”
It was the Seahawks who had the first opportunity to put the ball in the net. In the 20th minute, UNCW midfielder Michael Mecham took a through ball down the left hand side and aimed a shot low and toward the far right corner of the goal that Phoenix junior goalkeeper Nathan Dean was able to deflect over the goal.
In the 29th minute, the Phoenix was able to break through. Senior midfielder Daniel Lovitz crossed a ball from the left side toward the center of the box that Waterman pounded past Seahawks' goalkeeper Sean Melvin. The goal gave the Phoenix an early 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Lovitz was rewarded for his earlier assist with a goal of his own, extending the Phoenix lead to 2-0.
The Phoenix took their 2-0 lead into halftime. It would have been easy to let up and sit on their lead, but instead of taking their foot off the gas, the Phoenix came out and scored three minutes into the second half which all but sealed a victory.
“It’s a game of two halves, and we were lucky enough to win the fist half with the proper application, concentration and work rate,” Lovitz said. “But we knew the second half was going to be a whole different ball game. Goals change games, and had it been them who scored that first goal the momentum would’ve been in their favor. So, in order to combat that, we wanted to put our mark on the second half and we were able to do that and that was really the nail in [UNCW’s] coffin.”
However, it was in the last 20 minutes the Phoenix began to have several defensive lapses, leading to the Seahawks' lone goal of the night. Mateo Cardona took a pass from teammate Jose Garcia, took a touch to his right and fired a bullet past Dean and into the top right corner of the net.
“Overall, I felt for 70 minutes that we executed quite well,” said Phoenix head coach Darren Powell. “We’re always looking for a 90 minute performance and today I was quite pleased with all components of the game for 70 minutes, but the last 20 minutes we need to learn to do better at.”
It was his team’s inability to add to their three goals that bothered Powell the most.
“We [tell] the guys that it’s very important that we execute,” Powell said. “Every opportunity you have, take that opportunity. It’s very important that we take the opportunities because it’s the name of the game to score those goals.”
The Phoenix will not have long to celebrate their victory. They will host nationally ranked Wake Forest University on Tuesday at Rudd Field in a game Waterman considers the toughest his team has played thus far. He knows, though, that his team will have plenty of confidence heading into Tuesday’s game.
“We know Wake Forest is a terrific team, so any confidence we have going in means a lot,” Waterman said. “We think going into every game that we can win it, so winning all these games before and going into that game undefeated means a lot for our confidence.”