Saturday, October 2, 2004

Contact: Stan Cole

Campbell Defeats Elon 2-1 In Homecoming Match

BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- Josh Elliott and Willy Guadaramma scored to lead Campbell to a 2-1 men's soccer victory over Elon Saturday in the Fighting Camels' annual Homecoming match at the Eakes Athletic Complex.

After taking a two-goal lead, the Camels (1-6-1) held off Elon (3-4-3) despite a man disadvantage for the final 13:15 after Jason Kirk received his second yellow card of the match.

For the sixth-straight year, the home team won the annual battle between the Phoenix and the Camels. Campbell also improved to 18-7-3 in Homecoming Day games since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1977.

Both teams had clear chances throughout the match. Campbell's Chad About clanged a shot off the left post in the 13th minute. Just over two minutes later, Elon midfielder Tim Sullivan's shot beat keeper Brandon Kirksey, but was cleared off the line by Camel freshman K.K. Lima.

After 19 minutes, Elon freshman Douglas Boateng broke free in the box, only to have the ball tackled away by Camel back David Comito. Just over two minutes later, Elon midfielder Brandon Hayes' shot beat Kirksey, but not the right post.

The Camels took the lead for the third-straight match after Elliott came on in the 28th minute. Less than two minutes later, the freshman forward from Salisbury, Md., was celebrating his first career goal.

In the 30th minute, Lima and Jason Kirk linked on passes through the midfield, then Kirk put the ball through to Elliott's feet. His shot from 15 yards sailed inside the right corner for a 1-0 Camel lead. Kirk's assist marked the third time in four career Homecoming games that he had produced at least one point in the annual contest.

The Camel lead nearly doubled just after the half, but Elon keeper Taylor Saxe's foot save denied a header from Julian Fulton in the 46th minute.

Guadarrama then scored his third goal of the year and in as many games after 57 minutes. He stole the ball near midfield, then dribbled past a defender in the box before ripping a right-footed shot into the side netting just inside the left post. The freshman from Cedar Park, Texas scored twice in a mid-week loss to East Carolina.

The Phoenix cut the margin in half in the 66th minute on a counter attack down the left flank. Douglas Boateng controlled the ball in the Camel end, scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season on a shot from just inside the area.

Kirk's challenge on Saxe in the box was whistled in the 77th minute and the senior was sent off following his second booking of the night. Just over nine minutes later, Elon nearly equalized on Anthony Catalano's header, but Lima again cleared inside the left post.

CU narrowly missed adding an insurance goal on a counter with just 2:29 remaining when Alex Bruemmer dribbled around Saxe, but his left-footed shot sailed wide of the top left corner.

The Camels return to Atlantic Sun Conference play Thursday when they host Stetson in a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. [ Box Score ]