After two straight years of heartbreak in the Coastal Athletic Association semifinals, the streak was over. This year, the emotion will come from the Elon University men’s soccer team playing in the CAA Championship instead of falling just short.
Elon’s 6-4 win over Campbell University in the semifinals Nov. 9 was a chaos-filled and high-scoring affair.
Elon head coach Marc Reeves said he was happy with how the offense played but called the game chaotic.
“It's one of the most chaotic games I've ever been involved in," Reeves said. “The number of goal actions, the number of clear chances, the number of blocks off the line, the number of incredible saves. I mean, 6-4 could have been 10-12,”.
Scrappy and gritty defense defined the opening minutes of the game as both teams were awarded several early fouls. Elon played aggressive defense in the first half, recording eight fouls throughout. Reeves said that playoff games like this tend to have more physicality and fouls.
“We normally don't have many fouls when we play,” Reeves said. “We normally don't have many yellow cards when we play — one of the lowest in the league in both — but again, when it comes to tournament time in the semifinal, the stakes raise a little bit.”
Campbell had an early opportunity but the first shot of the game was blocked. Two consecutive corner kicks followed, but Elon’s defense held firm.
Nine minutes into the game, the Phoenix advanced into Campbell territory for the first time and had a corner kick, but it did not result in a goal. Campbell controlled the possession early on, having gotten three shots off to Elon’s zero 15 minutes in.
However, Elon struck first, at the 17-minute mark, off a goal from junior Jordin Wilson. Wilson’s goal came off his right foot as he kicked it from the far right of the goal. Campbell goalie Max Leviton extended his arms to block it and the ball grazed past his hands to pass into the goal — just far enough for the referees to blow the whistle and count it as a goal. Wilson has found his groove late in the season, having scored his first career goal in the team’s final regular season game.
Reeves said he has seen Wilson’s confidence improve recently.
“He’s been really clear-minded,” Reeves said. “He's using his strengths. He's playing in the right way, and he's got in on goal an awful lot.”
Elon’s offense found its rhythm following Wilson’s goal, and quickly got another promising shot on goal, but it was saved. Soon after, the Phoenix scored again thanks to a goal from junior Jahmir Flowers. Flowers’ goal was aided by a terrific set up from junior Einar Ness, who dribbled down the field and crossed it to the left side, where Flowers was waiting to score.
The goal elicited a rumbling of cheers from a packed Rudd Field crowd that barely had a seat open in the first half. There were almost 1,000 attendees, according to Elon Athletics. Rudd Field has proven to be a dangerous advantage for the Phoenix, as they are unbeaten at Rudd Field this season.
Campbell managed to close the lead to one by scoring a goal late in the first half at the 42-minute mark. It was the first goal Elon had conceded at home all year, but for the most part, Elon had managed to contain Campbell’s high scoring offense. Campbell entered the game with 24 more goals than Elon and was coming off a 4-0 win against the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.
Campbell came out of the half inspired with a pair of promising shots right out of the break, but to no avail. Campbell dominated possession early in the second half, getting three shots off to Elon’s zero 10 minutes into the half. Campbell junior Marco Wright scored the equalizer at the 58-minute mark, tying the game.
Junior Martin Kozak dribbles down the field during Elon's CAA semifinal 6-4 win over Campbell on Nov. 9. Kozak scored a goal and had four assists.
However, a minute later, Elon got the opportunity to steal the lead right back after a Campbell foul inside the box gave Elon a penalty kick. Junior Martin Kozak, who leads the team in points, kicked the ball into the left side of the goal, past the goalie, giving Elon a 3-2 lead. It was the first time Elon had scored three goals in a game all season. Kozak said that the offense’s performance was the result of a lot of hard work throughout the season.
“It's just a work in progress that came to an end tonight, but I think we've been working really hard in the offense,” Kozak said. “I know our games haven't had a lot of goals, but I think tonight was where the work paid off.”
Reeves said he was glad to see the offense’s output but wished the defense hadn’t allowed so many goals. Elon had only allowed seven goals in the first 16 games of the season and let up four in one game.
“It's great to score six goals. I'm hugely disappointed we let in four,” Reeves said. “But at this stage of the year, you have to just find a way to get through to the next round. And I'm proud of our group for doing that.”
Soon after, Campbell found its own penalty kick opportunity and capitalized on it, tying the game again. Fouls became common as both teams dug in and attacked aggressively.
Elon continued its offensive barrage at the 65-minute mark with a goal by freshman Magnus Jacobsen that was set up by a free kick. A little while later, Elon pushed its lead to 5-3 after redshirt sophomore Dominik Renz scored a goal. With 10 minutes left in the game, junior Charlie Kitch piled on and added a goal of his own, effectively clinching the win for the Phoenix. Campbell scored again with two minutes left, but Elon’s lead was too great.
Junior Charlie Kitch hits a header towards the goal in Elon's CAA semifinal 6-4 win over Campbell on Nov. 9.
Elon will host Stony Brook in the championship game Nov. 15. Reeves said the team needs to improve defensively to win next weekend.
“Our discipline was pretty good, but we just got stretched out a little bit and didn't defend well enough,” Reeves said. “So, going back to some of that and having a great week of preparation.”