Box Score | Season Statistics | Infographic

ELON, N.C. – With hopes of securing its first-ever victory at Rudd Field on Saturday night, the Northeastern men's soccer team came up short of its mission as Elon netted four goals during the first half to hand the Huskies a 4-0 setback.
 
Northeastern (2-10-2, 1-4-1 CAA) had difficulty slowing Tuki Tayali, who finished with a hat trick, having provided the final touch on the Phoenix's goals during the 12th, 19th, and 24th minutes. John Walden found the back of the net during the 21st minute as Elon (4-3-6, 1-2-3 CAA) leaped ahead of NU by two points in the CAA table.
 
Harry Swartz led the Huskies with four attempts, striking two on goal. As a team, Northeastern tallied 10 attempts, four shy of the Phoenix's 14, but outgained Elon in corners, 4-3.
 
Jonathan Thuresson faced 11 shots on goal from the home side, denying the Phoenix seven times. Elon's Matthew Jegier saved each of the Huskies' four shots on target.
 
GOAL RECAPS
 
• Elon (12th minute): Nick O'Callaghan attempted Elon's first corner of the match from the right flag, placing it towards the far left corner of the Phoenix's six-yard box. There, John Walden headed O'Callaghan's corner towards the center of the box, where the ball deflected off Lewis Aird and forward to Tuki Tayali, who directed it around Jonathan Thuresson from close range.
 
• Elon (19th minute): Gaku Lange's clearance from deep in the Huskies' defensive third was intercepted at the midfield line by Hassan Pinto, who played ahead to O'Callaghan up the right flank. O'Callaghan continued his run towards the top of the box, where he sent a diagonal entry pass to Elijah Agu on the left side. After squaring up opposite Lange, Agu rolled a centering pass through the box to Tayali, who threaded his first touch through the right post for his second goal of the match.
 
• Elon (21st minute): John Walden flirted with the assistant referee's offside flag, sneaking between Edward Okey and Lange at the moment O'Callaghan had volleyed his midfield cross over the Huskies' row of backs. With the flag remaining down, Walden finished his one-on-one battle with Thuresson, making his final touch from seven yards away.
 
• Elon (24th minute): Agu tracked down a long cross from his teammate before it would have rolled over the left end line. With the Huskies trailing the play, Agu centered a pass to Walden, who was challenged immediately by Thuresson. Walden managed to play the ball to Tayali, who slid it into the open net to earn the hat trick.
 
BEST NU CHANCES
 
• Northeastern (48th minute): Making a run up the right side of the pitch, Harry Swartz cut towards the center of the pitch along the edge of Northeastern's 18-yard box. Swartz ripped a left-footed shot towards the bottom of the crossbar, where Matthew Jegier punched it over, making the save.
 
• Northeastern (50th minute): On Lewis Aird's corner from the right flag, Alec Supinski headed a bouncing ball towards the right post, but it too was punched out by Jegier.
 
• Northeastern (90th minute): From 25 yards away, Swartz rolled a right-footed shot towards the left post, where Jegier dove to deny the NU striker.
 
UP NEXT

Northeastern will begin its final home stand of the 2017 regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 17, when the Huskies host their crosstown rival, Boston University, at 6 p.m.