BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Elon scored twice in the first half and went on to defeat previously unbeaten Campbell 3-1 in men's soccer action Wednesday night at the Eakes Athletic Complex.
The Phoenix (2-3-1) won their second-straight game, while ending a four-match unbeaten string for the Camels (3-1-1), who entered the contest ranked ninth in this week's South Atlantic Region poll.
Elon earned a pair of corner kicks early on and was rewarded with the second. Gabe Latigue's corner was cleared to the top of the area, but Nick Millington struck a left-footed volley that sailed into the top right corner of the net just 9:07 into the contest.
Campbell nearly equalized 10 minutes later when Mitchell Cardenas played a short corner to Ricki Gaez, whose right-footed effort from outside the box grazed the top of the cross bar.
Cardenas drove a 25-yard free kick just wide of the left post in the 33rd minute before the Phoenix doubled the advantage less than two minutes later.
Austin Dunker served a ball into the area that Chris Thomas flicked on inside the far post for a 2-0 Elon lead. The goal was the third of the season (all in the last two games) for the 2010 Southern Conference player of the year.
Trailing by two goals for the first time this season, the Camels cut the margin in half just before intermission. Justin Franz gained possession in the Elon box and played a short pass to J.J. Elder, who struck a low left-footed shot inside the back post for his fifth goal of the year with only 31 seconds remaining in the first period.
Just a minute into the second period, Camel keeper Ethan Hall had to dive to stop Gabe Latigue's dipping shot from 30 yards.
Eduardo Rodriguez nearly brought Campbell level in the 50th minute when he cut back toward the goal from the right flank. The sophomore's left-footed shot beat Elon keeper Nathan Dean, but curled just wide of the left post.
In the 58th minute, Elon again pushed the edge to a pair when Latigue split the Camel defense with a pass and Jordan Smith flipped the ball over a charging Hall for his first goal of the season.
Campbell twice threatened to cut the gap just after the hour mark. The ball fell to Ricki Gaez near the top of the area, but the freshman's effort was deflected just over the bar for a corner kick in the 64th minute.
One minute later, Cardenas struck a heavy shot from 30 yards that banged off the bar, but was cleared before the Camels could get to the rebound.
Campbell's record this season against Southern Conference members leveled at 1-1-1, including an opening draw with Furman and a 1-0 victory last Friday over Wofford.
After a 7:00 p.m. kick-off Saturday at Loyola (Md.), Campbell hosts its fourth and final SoCon opponent of the year, Davidson, next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
Both teams finished with 17 shots on the night, but Elon directed eight on target, compared to four by the Camels.
Dean had three saves in the Elon nets, while Hall finished with five for Campbell.
Elon 3, Campbell 1
Scoring:
ELON (9:07) Nick Millington (unassisted)
ELON (35:13) Chris Thomas (Austin Dunker assist)
CAM (44:29) J.J. Elder (Justin Franz)
ELON (57:29) Jordan Smith (Gabe Latigue)
Shots: Elon 17, Campbell 17
Shots on Goal: Elon 8, Campbell 4
Corner Kicks: Elon 8, Campbell 2
Saves: Elon (Nathan Dean) 3, Campbell (Ethan Hall) 5
Fouls: Elon 13, Campbell 12
Offside: Elon 3, Campbell 1
Yellow Cards: None
Records: Elon 2-3-1, Campbell 3-1-1
