By Mikael DeSanto
Sports Assignment Editor
In the first of a two game road trip to North Carolina, the St. Bonaventure University Men’s soccer team lost to the Elon University Phoenix 6-0 Friday. The Bonnies were out shot by the Phoenix by a total of 30 to four, including a 20 shot second half, during which the Bonnies had two.
The Phoenix opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a goal from junior midfielder/forward Elijah Agu on the team’s fifth shot of the game, while the defense continued to shut down the Bonnies, as they did not have at shot recorded at the time.
The Bonnies countered their offensive issues by subbing in their leading scorer from last season, sophomore midfielder/forward Kosi Nwafornso, and then team captain, and senior midfielder Eddie Keen.
This marked Nwafornso’s return to the field after being injured during the preseason.
The Bonnies were able to record their first shot in the 33rd minute, and followed with their second, and final of the half, in the 36th. However, shortly before the end of the half, freshman defender Luke Matthews added a second goal for the Phoenix, giving them a 2-0 lead at the half.
The game would stay deadlocked to start the second half, with the Phoenix generating chances and being denied by sophomore goalkeeper Luke Iacobellis. But they would break through with goals by freshman midfielder Austin Hill in the 69th minute and another from Agu in the 76th to double the lead.
As the Bonnies struggled to get their offense together, managing one shot in the last 28 minutes of the game, the Phoenix picked up another two goals, both by Agu, to end the scoring. The final goal came on an own goal from the Bonnies.
The Bonnies will next play against the Highpoint University Panthers at Highpoint on September 4 at 2 p.m.
