ELON, NC Thomas Campbell had a part in all three goals, two goals less than five minutes apart midway through the first half and a late insurance tally, as UNC Greensboro secured the No. 3 seed in the Southern Conference Tournament with a 3-0 win over backyard rival Elon at Rudd Field on Saturday night.
Home field in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament was already wrapped-up for both teams when Elon and UNCG took the field. UNCG was going to be no worse than fourth after Davidson had lost to
College of Charleston earlier in the day Saturday. However, Elon and UNCG were playing for their first round opponents Davidson or Appalachian State.
By virtue of Appalachian State's win over UNCG earlier this year, the Mountaineers win a tiebreaker over Davidson, sending Davidson to UNCG Soccer Stadium and Appalachian State to Elon. The Spartans will host Davidson at 7 pm on Saturday. Elon will host Appalachian State at 2 pm on Sunday.
Campbell assisted on Jokull Elisabetarson's goal at 25:56 off a free kick to open the scoring, touching the ball to the Icelander before a blast for the tally. It was Elisabetarson's sixth goal of the season and was his first this year not scored in a penalty kick situation. Just 4:56 later, Elisabetarson returned the favor as Campbell scored his ninth goal of the season off helpers from Elisabetarson and Strine.
Campbell, a junior from Middletown,NJ closed the scoring with 1:29 left in the match when he scored off a direct kick for his team-leading 10th goal of the season from 20 yards out.
The Spartans (8-7-2, 4-3-0) got five saves from Chad Janda in recording his second straight shutout. Elon (7-6-4, 4-3-0) outshot UNCG, 12-10, and corner kicks, 5-4.
The match-up with the third in the series of teacher and pupil UNCG coach Michael Parker and Elon coach and former UNCG player and assistant coach Darren Powell. Parker, the winningest coach in Division I, now leads the series over his good friend Powell, 2-1.
UNCG closes out its regular season on Wednesday with a non-conference match at Campbell.
AGATE
SCORE BY PERIODS
UNCG..2..1..- 3
ELON..0..0..- 0
Scoring: UNCG Elisabetarson (Campbell), 25:56; UNCG Campbell (Elisabetarson, Strine), 30:52; UNCG Campbell (unassisted) 88:31. Shots: UNCG 10, Elon 12. Saves: UNCG 5 (Janda 5), Elon 3 (Irwin 3). Corner kicks: UNCG 4, Elon 5. Fouls: Elon 11, UNCG 7.
