The Elon University men's soccer team will be looking to snap its current two-game losing streak when the Phoenix begins its Southern Conference schedule at home against Appalachian State University at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at Rudd Field.
The Phoenix is coming off a 5-1 away loss to Radford University on Sept. 24. Elon scored first in the 19th minute when freshman forward Jason Waterman redirected a pass from junior defender Jahan Threeths into the net. The goal was the first of Waterman's Elon career and put the Phoenix ahead 1-0 at halftime.
The scoreline changed quickly and often early in the second half, as Radford scored three goals in a three-minute span starting with a penalty kick in the 47th minute. The early second-half goals changed the course of the game, head coach Darren Powell said.
"They were able to score three goals and really set the tone," Powell said. "We were a little shell-shocked and unable to get back in the game. It's tough to recover when you concede three goals in three minutes. It was a bizarre three minute span that I haven't seen in my coaching career."
Powell said the team has to think ahead to its upcoming conference schedule and not dwell on the loss.
The team's goal is still to win the Southern Conference, which is always very competitive, according to Powell. He said his team has played a harder early non-conference schedule than some other SoCon teams, including two losses against then-ranked No. 21 UNC Charlotte and then-No. 11 Old Dominion University.
"We play some very tough games in preparation for league play," he said. "Hopefully playing that tough schedule will prepare us for the league games."
Elon's first SoCon matchup Saturday, Oct. 1, is against an Appalachian State team that ended the Phoenix's season last year in a SoCon tournament game in Boone.
Threeths said every SoCon game counts if the team hopes to reach its goal of winning the league, but added there is some extra incentive playing Appalachian State.
"They knocked us out so it's one of those games we wish we can get back," he said. "Now we get a chance to make it right and play like we expected."
Elon enters the game with a 2-5-1 record while Appalachian State is now 4-2-1 and riding a four-game unbeaten streak.
"They are a very athletic team and a little bit under the radar," Powell said. "They've gone through some recent adversity and seem to be pulling together. They will be a good opponent."