ELON, N.C. – Two goals from Gabe Latigue lifted the Elon University men’s soccer team to its first win of the 2012 season on Saturday night, Sept. 1, as the Phoenix knocked off previously unbeaten Campbell 3-1 at Rudd Field.
 
Elon improves to 1-1 with the victory, while Campbell drops to 2-1-1 with the setback.
 
“We’re very excited to get our first win of the season this evening behind some very good goals,” said Phoenix head coach Darren Powell. “Campbell is a very well-coached team and really kept us on our heels all evening. We were very relieved to get the game-winning goal when we did and we look forward to preparing our team for its first tournament of the season in Nashville next week.”
 
Latigue scored his first goal of the season in the 16th minute after a foul from the Fighting Camels led to a free kick from about 25 yards out. Latigue’s strike landed behind Campbell goalie Ethan Hall to give the maroon and gold a 1-0 edge.
 
Campbell hit the equalizer in the 50th minute when Ricki Gaez landed a deep shot from about 40 yards away off the left post and behind Phoenix keeper Nathan Dean for the score, making it a 1-1 game.
 
But Elon answered eight minutes later when James Brace found Chris Thomas running up the right side, allowing Thomas to work past a Campbell defender and blast a shot from inside the 18 into the back of the net to give the Phoenix a 2-1 lead.
 
Campbell nearly tied the game again in the 63rd minute, but Dean made a great diving save to his left to keep the Phoenix’s lead intact. Dean ended the night with four saves in 90 minutes between the posts.
 
Latigue helped put the game out of reach in the 85th minute after Thomas found him from about 12 yards away, allowing Latigue to rip a shot behind Hall for the score, making it a 3-1 game.
 
The Fighting Camels outshot the Phoenix, 17-13, but Elon put seven shots on-goal to Campbell's five.

Elon returns to action Sept. 7 and 9 in Nashville, Tenn., for the Lipscomb Tournament. The Phoenix takes on Lipscomb on Sept. 7 before facing Belmont on Sept. 9.

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