DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Top-seeded and NAIA No. 13 Embry-Riddle had little trouble with eighth-seeded Florida Memorial on Saturday night in Daytona Beach, earning a 4-0 decision, a drastic difference from the regular season meeting in which the Eagles won 3-2 in overtime. Embry-Riddle (13-2) advances to the conference tournament semifinals with the win, and they will host the semifinals and finals next Friday and Saturday. The Lions end their 2013 season at 4-11 overall.
The match was a rough one as 40 fouls (27 FMU, 13 ERAU) and five yellow cards were issued in the contest.
The two teams combined for four corner kicks and just one shot in the first 15 minutes of play until Martin Irusta Magni's try went wide left at the 15:24 mark.
The Eagles possessed the ball for the majority of the match and in the 22nd minute took advantage, pushing forward and senior
Ally MacDonald tried his luck from distance and while his shot hit off the crossbar, fellow senior
Nicklas Petersson was the only player around and headed the rebound into the goal for a 1-0 Embry-Riddle lead.
The teams only managed four more shots in the half, as the fouls piled up and the match went to the break with ERAU in front by a goal.
It took 10 minutes for the Blue and Gold to double its lead in the second period when a corner kick from Petersson found MacDonald at the near post and the Eagles' captain headed home his ninth score of the year for a 2-0 lead.
FMU earned three consecutive corners in the 62nd through 63rd mintues of play, but time after time Eagle goalkeeper
Nils Carlson and his defense were up to the task.
A Lion foul in their half of the field at the 66:10 mark allowed the Eagles to start a semi-fast break as Petersson took the free kick and found a streaking MacDonald down the left side of the pitch before the Inverness, Scotland native crossed the ball to freshman
Magnus Magnusson who's header shot marked the third header goal for the Eagles in the match.
Substitutions and fouls scattered the final 25 minutes of play, and
Viktor Gudnason concluded the scoring with an 81st minute goal when
Veit Couturier wisely played the senior forward as the FMU keeper was out of position and Gudnason did the rest to account for the 4-0 final.
Florida Memorial managed 14 shots, including six on goal, but Carlson made five saves en route to his eighth shutout of 2013 and the 20th of his career.
Petersson, who ended with a goal and two assists, broke the Embry-Riddle single-season program record with his 20th assist of the year.
The Eagles will take on SCAD Savannah on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in one semifinal of the league tournament. Visit the
tournament headquarters for all the information pertaining to the tournament.
