At most schools across the nation, men’s soccer is a secondary sport that attracts only a fraction of the crowds that football, men’s basketball and baseball programs draw. The exceptions to the rule are the elite programs — usually the top 10 to 15 teams in the country — who will play in front of a several hundred fans per game on any given night. What do those teams have that other programs don’t? The answer is sustained success.
These programs have had multiple double-digit win seasons, conference championships and, most importantly, NCAA championships.
That is where the Elon University men’s soccer team wants to be. And they’re getting there.
They’ve seen crowds grow progressively larger during the last two years, which head coach Darren Powell said has given his team a boost in big games of late against ranked opponents.
“It’s like having a 12th man,” Powell said. “It’s always very helpful. I think it helps inspire the guys and encourages them to maybe run that extra yard and give them that extra percentage point to get them over the line and win the game.”
The proof is in the results. The Phoenix had a perfect 3-0 record at Rudd Field against ranked teams in 2012, including a 2-0 win over then sixth-ranked University of North Carolina at Charlotte, arguably the best win in program history.
The Phoenix has won back-to-back Southern Conference tournament championships, thus leading to two straight NCAA tournament berths. Both years, the Phoenix fell victim to Coastal Carolina University in the first round of the tournament.
It’s been a successful two years, but senior midfielder Charles Howard knows they must continue to win big games if they want fans to come out to Rudd Field on a regular basis.
“Winning is a big part of it, and we’ve been blessed enough to be able to win some games and get on a roll and become consistent in our play,” Howard said. “I think that’s played a major part in the fan support that we’ve been seeing lately. Hopefully we can keep the ball rolling and have the same support system we’ve been having over the last few years.”
Last year, the most vocal fans were the players on the baseball team, who would stand behind the goal and heckle the opposing team’s goalkeeper relentlessly. It’s support from other Elon athletes Howard appreciates most.
“It’s great, we always support them during their games, so they always come out and support us,” Howard said. “It pushes us to another level just knowing that we have the support of our fellow athletes. They’re always there talking smack to the other team and just getting them riled up and just seeing them doing that just pushes us to another level.”
It’s not just fellow athletes supporting the team. At last year’s NCAA selection show party at Fat Frogg Bar and Grill, several other Elon coaches were present and offered congratulations to the team. It was a gesture Powell said he greatly appreciated.
“I think all the coaches at Elon have great camaraderie and support of each other,” Powell said. “The coaches coming to the selection show last year meant a lot to myself personally and also to the current players. All the coaches really support each other and want to see each program and each team succeed.”
Howard said the adrenaline of running out of the locker room and seeing a big crowd surrounding the field is enough to motivate the team to play its best.
“When we’re coming out of the locker room and there’s a bunch of fans cheering for you, that just takes you to another level,” Howard said. “Even if you’re not up for the game already, once you see something like that, that’s going to get you riled up and get your adrenaline going.”
That atmosphere is what Powell hopes to show his potential recruits on their visits, since most of them have never seen a game atmosphere quite like the one they’ll see at Elon.
“When you bring recruits on recruiting visits and they see a big crowd and know that they could potentially be a part of an Elon soccer program that is well supported by students, the local community and the Elon staff, I think it’s fair to say that if a recruit sees that, they’d really relish the opportunity to come to Elon,” he said.
The Phoenix hopes to see that big crowd when they come home Sept. 14 to host nationally ranked University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Powell hopes the talented opponent will attract a loud, boisterous crowd reminiscent of the game against Charlotte last year — one in which Elon matched the cheering squad Charlotte brought two hours up the road.
“I think it’s great if we can pack our fence and the stands and everyone cheering the team on,” Powell said. “It can make it quite an intimidating atmosphere for the opposition.”