Elon's win over Appalachian State Saturday night sends the Phoenix to the Southern Conference Tournament semifinals to face UNC Greensboro Friday, Nov. 11 in Charleston, S.C. Details...
Kiki Willis scored 14 seconds into the second period to break a scoreless tie and lead the third-seeded Elon Phoenix to a 1-0 men’s soccer victory over sixth-seeded Appalachian State in the quarterfinals of the 2005 Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championships on Saturday night in front of 1,050 fans at Rhodes Stadium. The win improved Elon to 9-8-2 on the year and was the first tournament win for the program in its three seasons in the SoCon. The Mountaineers ended their season at 7-10-1.
The Phoenix got the ball to start the second half and quickly moved down the field. Matt Bengston finished his run toward by touching a pass into the box where Willis banged home his 10th goal of the season at 45:14. The freshman’s goal held up to give Elon the win.
“That’s a tremendous win for our program,” stated Elon head coach Darren Powell. “I felt the boys played very well in the second half. It’s good to be catching our form in the postseason.”
In the first half, ASU got off four shots, putting two on frame, to Elon’s two total shots, none of which were on goal. In the second stanza, Elon fired 10 total shots, five on goal, to two total and none on goal for the Mountaineers.
Elon’s Taylor Saxe made two saves while recording his sixth shutout on the year. ASU’s Alec Dufty made four saves, but allowed the one score.
The Phoenix advances to take on second-seeded UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C.