HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The ground was wet and the sky was dark but the conditions were perfect for the Embry-Riddle women's soccer team's first win of 2007. Embry-riddle faced Lambuth Saturday night at the William Carey Soccer Complex and left victorious 6-0.
After 18 minutes of play, the referees cleared the field after lightning in the area. After the delay, the skies opened and poured down on the field, making for sloppy conditions. The Eagles adjusted well, setting the pace of the game with their stingy defense and team speed.
Speed was a factor in the first goal of the night, scored by freshman Elina Johansson in the 42nd minute. With the ball deep into Lambuth territory, sophomore Kristen Phelps passed the ball to sophomore Chloe Cowart, who dribbled towards the goal. The ball quickly moved to Johansson after a pass from Cowart and Johansson then sent into the bottom left of the goal, making the score 1-0 in favor of the Eagles.
The ball visited the same corner of the net just over two minutes later, delivered by the same Eagle. Phelps sent a pass to Johansson right in front of the Lambuth goalie Alicia McPherson. The keeper dove to protect the pass but it got past her and Johansson sent it into the net for her second goal of the night with just 14 seconds left in the first half, putting ERAU up 2-0 at the half.
Johansson scored her third goal of the night 10:58 into the second half off of a corner kick from senior Valerie Rogers, putting the Eagles up 3-0 and compiling her first collegiate hat trick.
The scoring continued for Johansson after a long cross serve from Phelps with 28:02 left on the clock.
The ball hit the back of the net once more after an ERAU shot when Phelps knocked a pass from Johansson into the net with 7:06 left on the clock.
Johansson continued her scoring ways with 1:02 left on the clock, scoring her fifth goal of the night and putting the Eagles score up to 6-0.
Junior Brelyn Bingham notched the shutout in goal with help from defenders junior Dena Rozalsky and sophomore Mandy Drummond.
The victory was the first win for Head Coach Samantha Baggett and Assistant Lyndsey Patterson at ERAU.
The Eagles will look for their next win this Wednesday night as they head on the road to in-state rival Flagler at 7 p.m.
