DURHAM — Using stingy defense, the Elon University men’s soccer team held off Loyola Marymount University 1-0 Sunday, Aug. 31, in its final game at the John Rennie/Nike Classic. It was the first career win for first-year head coach Chris Little, whose first regular season game at the helm was a 3-2 loss to Stetson University Friday.
In the 35th minute, junior midfielder Miguel Salazar, who scored one of the Phoenix’s two goals Friday night, beat Lions goalkeeper Vince Paldino from 20 yards out to put his team up 1-0.
Facing intense pressure from the Lions throughout the second half, Elon senior goalkeeper Nathan Dean and his back four never faltered, preserving the one goal victory.
The Phoenix leaves Durham with a 1-1 record at the three-day, two-game tournament hosted by Duke University.
The Phoenix will return to play next weekend at the UNCW Courtyard Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach Classic, where it will face Winthrop University to open the tournament on Sept. 5. They will conclude play in Wilmington with a game against Big Ten Conference foe Ohio State University on Sept. 7.