COLUMBIA, S.C. — Behind stingy defense and a penalty kick forward James Brace, the Elon University men’s soccer team beat the University of South Carolina 1-0 in an exhibition Aug. 19 at Eugene Stone III Stadium.
It was the perfect debut for new Elon head coach Chris Little, who served three seasons as an assistant from 2010-12. He took the helm after Darren Powell, accepted a position with Major League Soccer’s Orlando City Soccer Club after last season.
Two minutes into the second of three 30-minute periods, Brace converted a penalty kick after sophomore midfielder Alex Kowalski was fouled in the Gamecocks penalty area.
The Phoenix then anchored down and held the Gamecocks off the scoreboard, thanks in large part to senior goalkeeper Nathan Dean’s five saves on 12 shots.
Elon will be back in action with its second and last exhibition contest against North Carolina State University on Aug. 23 at Rudd Field.
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