The questions can finally be put to bed.
Elon University men’s soccer senior forward Jason Waterman, the owner of so many clutch goals in his career in a Phoenix uniform but who scored just once this season, was finally able to find the clutch goal in the game’s waning moments to propel his team to victory.
It was well worth the wait, as his goal in the 84th minute was the difference in Elon’s 2-1 victory against No. 21 University of North Carolina at Wilmington on Oct. 15 in Wilmington.
The Phoenix, which had struggled to score all year before breaking out with five goals against Northeastern University Oct. 11, opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Junior forward James Brace was able to get on the end of a Waterman cross into the box and head it past Seahawk junior goalkeeper Sam Williams to give the Phoenix a 1-0 lead. It was Brace’s sixth goal of the year.
The Seahawks, though, would respond right before halftime, as senior midfielder Mateo Cardona beat Phoenix senior goalkeeper Nathan Dean from 15 yards out to knot the game at 1-1.
Waterman took a long cross over the top of the Seahawks defense and beat Williams from 15 yards out into the left corner of the goal.
With the victory, the Phoenix moves to 6-4-3 overall, 2-1-1 in conference play, while the Seahawks fall to 9-3-2 overall, and 2-2-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play.
The Phoenix will return home for a game against conference foe Drexel University Saturday Oct. 18 at Rudd Field. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.