Box Score Game Stats
ELON, N.C. – The Terrier’s men soccer team traveled to Elon University Saturday evening in search of their first conference win. The Phoenix took a two goal lead early in the second half, and despite a late goal and a few teasing opportunities, the Terriers lost to Elon, 2-1. Blake Gardner scored the goal for Wofford in the 79th minute, giving the freshman his first goal as a Terrier. Wofford falls to a 1-8-2 record on the season, and is still looking for their first win in the Southern Conference (0-4). Elon improves to a 6-3-4 regular season record, with a 3-1 standing in the Southern Conference.
Elon entered the match hot off a 1-0 win against Clemson University, but Wofford quickly diffused their momentum in the first half, having three threatening opportunities in the first twenty minutes of play.
Armin Kinigadner started things off in the 13th minute, forcing Elon’s goalkeeper, Reed Dillard, to make a save of the senior midfielder’s header directed toward the net. Wofford had two other shot attempts miss wide in the 17th and 21st minute taken by Scott Redding and Kentrel Owens. Andrew Drennan displayed a solid first half, stopping two shots taken by the Phoenix. The Terriers had a close call in the 25th minute as a shot by Elon’s Chris Thomas nicked off the post and away from danger.
Wofford and Elon went into the locker rooms after the first 45 minutes of play even at a 0-0 score.
Elon took over the match in the opening moments of the second half. In the fifth minute of play Elon’s Austen King accounted for his first goal of the season, giving the Phoneix a one goal lead. Jahan Threets took advantage of an awarded free kick toward the right side of the field, pressing the ball toward the middle of the box. King took the ball off the head and pushed it past Drennan in the center of the net.
The Phoenix improved their lead four minutes later, with a goal by Elon’s Nick Millington. Millington took a ball off the foot and directed into the far corner of the net, marking his first goal of the season for the Phoenix and putting the score at 2-0.
With time dwindling down, Wofford looked to get on the board with a couple of shots by Logan Threadgill, but one shot was saved and the other missed the target high. Blake Gardner put the Terriers back into the match with a goal near the 80th minute. Gardner streamed a shot through the hands of the Elon keeper with a shot directed toward the near post. Gardner set the goal up at the top of the box and his score tallies the freshman’s first goal of his career at Wofford.
The goal sparked a late push toward the end of the match, but Coach Polson’s program was unable to score the equalizer as the end of regulation was called.
Wofford was forced to play the match without two key starters at defender, Taylor Grim and Randy McLeod. Grim and McLeod suffered injuries in the latest match against Appalachian State and were unable to get off the injury reserve list before traveling to Elon. Coach Polson moved around personnel at the start of the match, moving center midfielder Paulo Bonfim to central back and starting freshman defender Ryan Hurst.
Wofford will continue conference play this Tuesday against UNC Greensboro. The match will be held in Greensboro and is set to start at 7:00pm.
