Rookies Pace No. 13 Elon Men’s Soccer to 2-1 Win Over Northeastern

ELON, N.C. – Rookie Amir Berkane’s goal at the 72nd minute off an assist from fellow first-year player Nick Adamczyk helped the 13th-ranked Elon University men’s soccer team to a 2-1 comeback victory over Northeastern on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in a Colonial Athletic Association match at Rudd Field.

Elon (9-2, 3-1 CAA) rebounded from its first league setback last Wednesday, Sept. 30, at William & Mary while handing the Huskies (0-7-2, 0-3 CAA) its fifth consecutive loss. The Phoenix’s Jonathan Wenger also had a goal in the contest for Elon just before the end of the opening half to tie the game after Northeastern took an early 1-0 lead.

“Just delighted to get three points in this league,” said Elon head coach Chris Little. “To get three points is huge because every team is tough and competitive. To go a goal down, you’re up against it, but I thought that the response from the players was great.”

The Rundown
Northeastern struck first early in the match after the Huskies’ Frantzdy Pierrot headed in a goal off a corner kick. Pierrot played the ball off the foot of Daniel Arvidsson and headed in the first score of the match to the back left corner as Northeastern took a 1-0 advantage at the 10th minute.

The Phoenix shifted the momentum back in its favor near the end of the opening stanza. The Huskies were issued a pair of yellow cards and caused the clock to stop briefly with only six seconds left in the first period. Keeper Matthew Jegier took the free kick from just beyond midfield and sent the ball into the box before Wenger headed home the equalizer as both teams went into the break tied at 1-1.

At the 72nd minute, Berkane scored the game-winner with his second goal in as many games. The Kelvedon, United Kingdom, native played a cross off the right wing from Adamczyk and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to put Elon up 2-1.

Elon would hold the Huskies without a shot the remainder of the match to pull out with the 2-1 victory.

Match Notes
• Elon had more the twice as many shots than Northeastern, 15-7, while holding a 6-2 advantage in shots on target.
• The victory improved the Phoenix to 2-1-1 all-time versus the Huskies.
• The Phoenix slightly won the battle in corners, 5-4.
• Wenger becomes the 11th player to score a goal this season for Elon, the program’s highest total since the 2011 season.
• Wenger’s goal was also the first of his career, while the points for Jegier and Adamczyk were the first in their careers with Adamczyk making his collegiate debut.
• Jegier corralled only one save in the contest. His counterpart Jonathan Thuresson had four stops in the game.
• Senior Myles Mansfield made his first start of the season for the Phoenix and played 46 minutes in the match.

Up Next
Elon takes a step outside of conference play and hosts Lipscomb for a 7 p.m. match against the Bison on Saturday, Oct. 10.