Under the North Carolina sun, a new Coastal Athletic Association Champion emerged on Elon University’s Rudd Field. Maroon and gold confetti flew as Elon’s men’s soccer team won the CAA Championship.
Elon’s 3-0 shutout win over Stony Brook University Nov. 16 was a defensive slog to remember.
At the cornerstone of the defense was Elon’s goalkeeper, graduate student Jackson Leavitt, who said this game meant a lot to him.
“It was like a bow tie for my Elon career,” Leavitt said. “It meant a ton to me and the guys before me and the team we have now.”
Elon started the game with the opening kickoff and never lost focus after that. An early corner kick from Stony Brook was knocked away by Elon’s defense. But Stony Brook was able to regain control and in the seventh minute, sent a tough shot rocketing at Elon’s net. Leavitt was able to make the save, and the defense was able to come in and get the ball upfield to the attackers. Junior Martin Kozak got control and was able to get the first Elon shot off, but it was saved by Stony Brook.
Elon’s head coach Marc Reeves said the work the team has done in practice in order to create opportunities like this.
“We’ve just stayed with it,” Reeves said. “We’ve got a little bit more energy, maybe a little more decisiveness. Yeah, we work on these things all the time.”
In the middle of the ninth minute, Elon got a corner kick opportunity. The ball was threaded into a sea of players but emerged in the Stony Brook net. Officially, the first goal was scored as an own goal by Stony Brook. Nonetheless, Elon scored first blood and celebrated as much.
Elon proceeded to lock down their defense and prevent anything from getting close to the goal. It wouldn’t be until the 19th minute that Stony Brook would get close with a corner kick that would get punched away by Leavitt and cleared by the defense.
Leavitt credits his ability from game to game to his routine before the game.
“I just do a lot of handling, honestly, the day before games,” Leavitt said. “I’ve done the same warm up for 5 years now. So, yeah, just kind of get into my rhythm.”
Leavitt’s rhythm would get tested throughout the rest of the game. Despite him only having three official saves, his presence was felt around the box as he helped organize the defense and prevent any loose balls from falling into Stony Brook’s lap.
As the game progressed, so did the tension of a championship match. In the 25th minute, Elon’s captain senior Majaliwa Msabaha went in for a dangerous challenge on a Stony Brook attacker and ended up getting the game’s first yellow card. Msabaha was subbed off shortly after by Reeves.
The Phoenix were able to rally shortly after, as junior forward Einar Ness found the back of the goal on a quick attack by Elon just before the 27-minute mark. Ness’ goal put Elon up 2-0, which would remain for the rest of the half.
After the second goal was scored, tensions grew after 18 minutes of no scoring. During which junior forward Jordin Wilson and a Stony Brook player got tangled up. A brief shouting match ensued, but things were handled by the head referee and the teammates of both players.
Roars from the crowd were heard as the game progressed and got physical. Every time a foul was called, there would be cheers or loud arguments by the fans. Reeves said the crowd helped boost a home-field advantage for the Phoenix.
“They definitely play a part,” Reeves said, “Emotionally as a player, when you turn around, and the crowd’s loud and they’re cheering you on. You know, you just give that 1% more.”
In the second half, the crowd got louder as Elon was 45 minutes away from a championship. Tensions on the field would grow as Stony Brook got more and more physical after the break. Elon kept up their physical lockdown defense as well though, which led to multiple foul calls in the second half.
Elon was able to keep a level head with the referees however throughout the match. Reeves said this is something they talk about a lot as a team.
“We preach emotional control and discipline an awful lot,” Reeves said. “The game is chaotic. The game is hectic. There’s a lot of emotion in there. You have to make sure you’re competing, but with control and show discipline the entire time.”
Elon’s discipline would prevail as they tactically waste time and pass the ball around the field. They also kept a secure defense as they knocked away multiple Stony Brook opportunities. In the 87th minute, Elon would seal the game with a goal by Kozak.
Elon will now advance to the National Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with an automatic bid. The full tournament standings and bracket will be announced on Nov. 17 on ESPN.