In a season with more downs than ups, Georgia Southern University men’s soccer team will take on one of its toughest opponents of the season as it plays Elon University tonight.

The Eagles are coming off a loss at home to Georgia State University by a score of 2-1. GSU is currently on a three-game losing streak, and during this streak it has been outscored 7-2.

The Phoenix on the other hand are 9-2-1 and coming off an in-conference loss to Wofford College by a tally of 2-1.

Elon has had success at home this year as it has gone 4-1 and outscored opponents by a 6-2 margin.

On the flip side, GSU has struggled away from Eagle Field going 2-3 despite outscoring opponents by a 5-4 goal total.

The Phoenix has bested the Eagles as of late, winning six of the last eight matchups with the most recent matchup being in the Southern Conference semifinals last season, which resulted in a 1-0 win for Elon.

The Phoenix, as a team, has scored 21 goals this season while averaging 1.75 goals. The offense runs through three players for Elon: junior forward Jason Waterman, who has six goals and five assists, sophomore midfielder James Brace, who has six goals and 12 points and senior midfielder Matt Wescoe, with three goals and seven assists.

In the two games against the Eagles last season, Waterman was able to score two of the team’s five total goals, while Wescoe added a goal of his own and one assist in route to the Phoenix sweeping GSU last season.

For the Eagles, senior forward Witt Carlisle has provided the scoring spark for GSU as he leads the team with four goals and two assists. Last season, Carlisle scored against the Phoenix in a 4-3 Eagle loss.

GSU will have a challenge on its hands as Elon has only given up nine goals this season, which averages out to 0.75 goals per game. GSU is struggling offensively as it scores a meager 1.18 goals a game.

Both keepers have had stellar seasons so far as Phoenix junior goalkeeper Nathan Dean has recorded 52 saves this year for a .852 save percentage.  Comparable to Eagle senior goalkeeper Neal Bates with 67 saves and a .807 save percentage.

GSU will take on Elon on the road at 7 p.m. in a SoCon matchup.