#10 Elon Travels To Wake Forest Tuesday For Nationally Televised Game – Elon University Athletics

Elon, N.C.- The #10 Elon Phoenix (6-0) look to continue their winning ways this Tuesday night as they travel to in-state, ACC foe Wake Forest (2-2-2). Elon enters the match having won their first six matches of the season and look to continue their best start to a season since 2015.
 
Elon took home a hard-fought win over the Delaware Blue Hens in historic, comeback fashion on the road. Despite being down to ten men, the Phoenix secured a 4-3 win over Delaware to pick up six points from its first two conference games.
 

How to Follow

• Tuesday’s game with Wake Forest will be televised nationally on the ACC Network. Check with your local listings to see where the game can be viewed.
• Live stats will be available for the matchup with the Demon Deacons and will be available by CLICKING HERE.
• Live updates will be available on both X and Instagram during the match @ElonMSoccer.

 
The All-Time Series

• This will be the 16^th meeting all-time between the Phoenix and the Demon Deacons, dating back to their first matchup in 1979.
• The Phoenix and the Deacs last played in 2017 with Wake Forest taking the match 2-0.
• Elon has taken four of the last five matchups against Wake Forest including four straight victories with Wake being ranked in the top ten in two of the games.
• In Elon’s most recent victory in 2015, an Eduardo Alvarez penalty gave #18 Elon a 1-0 win over #7 Wake Forest at Spry Stadium.   

 
 
Last Time Out

• The Phoenix claimed a remarkable 4-3 win over the Delaware Blue Hens in comeback fashion.  
• The Phoenix began the game on the front foot of the action. Colin Veltri put together a minute with three shots and one on target that nearly found the back of the net but was denied by the Blue Hens’ keeper.
• After three substitutions, Delaware found its footing in front of goal with two goals in quick succession to take a 2-0 lead into the break.
• Delaware found another goal early into the second half to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
• After a number of shots from Delaware, a number of substitutes opened the game up for the Phoenix.
• Jahmir Flowers came on and immediately provided a spark before Ryan Manna found Veltri in behind who buried a left-footed shot to cut the lead to two.
• Flowers found the back of the net no more than 90 seconds later but was ruled offside by the side official. The Phoenix would make up for it moments later.
• Scott Vatne was awarded the free kick in a dangerous but difficult angle. Vatne’s low driven cross went through several bodies and legs but found the back of the net without a touch to bring the Phoenix within one.
• Delaware had taken their foot off the gas and Elon continued to roll. Two minutes after Vatne’s goal, Victor Stromsten showcased wonderful skill with a roulette turn and found Flowers with a through-ball in behind. Flowers rounded the goalie and drew the Phoenix even despite being down to ten men.
• Not satisfied with the lone point, Elon continued to jump on the counterattack. After clearing a cross from the Blue Hens, Stromsten found himself behind the Delaware defense. After a showcase of his physicality to hold off a defender, Stromsten laid off a simple pass to Veltri who put the ball into an open goal to give Elon an improbable 4-3 lead.
• Despite being down to ten men, Elon continued to work at the back with nine men behind the ball. Elon allowed just one shot on goal in the final ten minutes, but it was snuffed out by Tomasz Wroblewski.
• The Phoenix held on for the 4-3 win and picked up another crucial three points in CAA play.

 
 
Preseason Praise

• Senior Scott Vatne and graduate Victor Stromsten were both selected to the All-CAA preseason team while junior Majaliwa Msabaha was an honorable mention. Stromsten makes his first appearance on an All-CAA preseason list following his 13-point season in 2023.
• Vatne makes his second straight appearance on the All-CAA preseason team while Msabaha is featured for a second time on the honorable mention list.
• Stromsten returns to the Phoenix for his fifth season at Elon. The forward came on strong at the end of the season up top for the Phoenix, scoring four goals in his final six conference games. Stromsten saw the Phoenix through to the CAA semifinals with a game-winning goal over the number three seeded Stony Brook Sea Wolves.
• Vatne enters his senior season having amassed a list of preseason and post-season honors over the last year. Following an All-CAA First Team and All-Atlantic Region season in 2023, Vatne returns to the midfield following a 12-point season and leading the Phoenix in assists with four.
• Msabaha makes his second honorable mention side after back-to-back All-CAA Third Team selections. The junior captain led the Phoenix last season in the midfield, making 16 starts in 17 games and picking up an assist in Elon’s CAA quarterfinal win.

Top Drawer Recognition

• Elon has been laced with preseason honors to several players with Scott Vatne and Tomasz Wroblewski being named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Top 100 players list.
• The Phoenix were the lone club in the CAA with multiple players on the Top 100 list with Hofstra being the only other CAA school with a player mentioned.
• This was the first time Elon had two players listed on the preseason list since Elon joined the CAA ten years ago.
• Victor Stromsten was selected to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week this past week for his performances against both Radford and Coastal Carolina.

New Faces Making Impact

• Colin Veltri, Connor Mucchetti, and Charlie Kitch all join the Phoenix after playing elsewhere in the 2023 season.
• Veltri claimed the game-tying goal in the first half in the game against Grand Canyon. He enters the matchup with Drexel claiming a point in all four games so far this season.
• Veltri and Mucchetti both scored in the recent matchup against Coastal Carolina with Mucchetti netting his second goal and Veltri netting his first.
• Veltri and Kitch both collected an assist on Scott Vatne’s game-winning goal against Florida Gulf Coast.
• Veltri currently is tied with Vatne for the team lead in assists with three through three games.
• Both Veltri and Mucchetti joined the Phoenix in the spring with Kitch joining Elon this fall.
• Jack Donlan put together a 90-minute performance at center back for the Phoenix against Radford and a 62-minute stint against Coastal Carolina. Donlan joines the Phoenix after a two-year stint at Indian Hills CC.