DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? Four goals from senior AJ Barrett lifted Embry-Riddle to a 5-2 victory over Webber International in The Sun Conference action on Saturday. The Eagles improve to 7-3-3 overall, while the Warriors fall to 3-7-1.
The Eagles played a strong first half, firing 12 total shots with five on goal, while holding Webber International to only three shots. The Eagles first goal was netted in 31st minute off the foot of AJ Barrett. The play started when Barrett put himself in great position by cleaning shielding his defender. Barrett received a pass from Ryan Woods, made a quick turn and then hammered a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that flew past goalkeeper Andres Zwaans and fell into the back of the net.
The Warriors threatened the Eagles with a few strong counter-attacks led by Calixto Lopez and Ivan Arias, but the Blue and Gold were able to keep them off the scoreboard in the first frame.
The second half started with a lot more action, as four goals were scored in the first 15 minutes. WIU netted their first goal at 49:02 after Ivan Arias crossed the ball inside to find Adam Bates on the far post. Bates snuck a shot past the Embry-Riddle defense to tie the game.
Two minutes later, Marco Harleman was taken down inside the Warriors' box resulting in a penalty kick for the Eagles. Barrett drove the shot into the bottom corner of the net for his second goal on the night.
A heated Warriors team quickly evened the score after a foul on Embry-Riddle led to a free kick for WIU. The Eagles cleared the ball from the restart, but it was recovered by Christian Hall, who stood 30 yards off the end line. Hall found himself undefended and so, drove a shot into the top of the net to tie the game once again.
Just three minutes later, Barrett netted goal number three. He dribbled around his defender and lined up for the shot around the 20 yard line. He hit a rocket to the far post and buried the shot in the upper 90 to solidify his hat trick.
The scoring subsided for both teams over the next 25 minutes, but the Eagles continued to pressure and with just two minutes remaining, they increased their lead once again. Phil Middleton dribbled through a few defenders and chipped a pass to Barrett, who then one-touched the ball over Zwaans to put the Eagles up 4-2.
Almost immediately after Barrett's fourth goal, Embry-Riddle scored again off the foot of Joe Yoffe. Yoffe dribbled up the field and sent a ball to Michael Donald, who was standing just a few yards off the post. Donald unselfishly passed the ball back to Yoffe, who finished the play to give the Eagles the 5-2 victory.
The Eagles will now head out for three consecutive road games, starting with a conference match-up against Northwood on Oct. 21st in West Palm Beach, Fla.
