Rudd Field’s full crowd erupted in cheers as confetti rained from above. Elon University men’s soccer lifted the Coastal Athletic Association championship trophy, winning for the first time on Nov. 16.
But the celebration didn’t last long. The Phoenix quickly shifted their focus to the next obstacle: a high-stakes NCAA tournament matchup against in-state opponent University North Carolina, Greensboro.
Head coach Marc Reeves said the team is energized but remaining calm after the win.
“Only 48 teams left playing in the country, so we’re excited to get over to UNCG on Thursday night,” Reeves said. “They’re an incredibly talented team and I think our focus is on ourselves, resetting our energy levels, making sure our emotional control and discipline is there, because it will be a supercharged game.”
For senior Colin Veltri he said the championship win was a great achievement, but he said he still feels there's more to accomplish.
“That was our main goal coming into the season,” he said. “But we don’t really want to end there.”
Their momentum now carries them against a UNCG team Elon has faced before. Their last meeting on Sept. 30 ended in a scoreless draw, with tough defense dominating the game. This time, Veltri expects something similar.
“They have a really strong attack,” Veltri said. “And we have a great defense. So it’s gonna be one of those matches that’s going to be very physical.”
Reeves said their defensive scheme is what has carried Elon through the postseason.
“Our defensive structures are what’s got us here and need to continue against their talented attacking team,” he said. “But we scored nine goals in the last two games, so that’s a real positive.”
UNCG also plays on a larger field than Elon, a factor the team will have to prepare for. Elon’s compact defensive structure thrived on Rudd’s smaller field, but the bigger space in Greensboro will require new adjustments. However, Veltri said he doesn’t seem worried.
“With that bigger field, we can also utilize a lot of our quick players,” Veltri said. “Jordan, Jimmy, Alex, we have a lot of guys who could stretch the field with their pace.”
That speed has been a major contributor to Elon’s surge to the CAA championship. After a slow scoring start to the season, the Phoenix scored nine goals over the course of two playoff games. The timing couldn’t be better. Veltri points to team chemistry as a driving factor in this hot streak.
“Our attack is flowing a lot better than it was before,” Veltri said. “As the season’s gone on, we’ve grown together more as a family. You start realizing everyone’s tendencies - knowing where people are going to be before they’re actually there.”
Reeves said the team is also healthier since the last time they played against UNCG, giving Elon a deeper and more flexible bench.
“We’ve got a little healthier since that game, which has allowed us to have more depth and maybe have a little more energy or more quality in the attacking side,” Reeves said.
Veltri said preparation for the NCAA Tournament hasn't just been tactical, it’s also been mental and staying composed and focusing on fundamentals will be essential against a UNCG team that is sharp.
“In a lot of these big games, I feel like people overthink,” Veltri said. “You start to get nervous, you hear fans chirping, and you start to overthink. But the main thing is to rely on what you’ve been working on your whole life,fundamentals and basics.”
Veltri believes that the Phoenix can beat UNCG and push through the tournament.
“I feel like we can really make a push,” Veltri said. “And everyone does too.”