DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle men's soccer team (13-3-2) advanced to the championship match of The Sun Conference tournament with a dramatic win over St. Thomas, Friday at the Embry-Riddle Soccer Complex. The Eagles, who drew the top seed in the tournament after finishing at the top of the regular season standings, will host No. 2 Savannah College of Art and Design next Friday as the Bees advanced with a 3-0 win over Warner. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

From the outset, the game was a physical battle with the referee issuing one of seven cautions in the fifth minute of the first half. The Eagles held a 6-4 edge in shots and both teams took just one corner in the first half, but Embry-Riddle had more of the possession, creating more chances on frame.

The Eagles finally broke through in the 16th minute. Ryan Woods lifted a cross from the left side of the field into the penalty area where it was met by a St. Thomas defender. Despite getting to the ball first, the Bobcat defender was unable to control it and the missed clearance fell to an unmarked Sam Litchfield who rocketed a shot past Bobcat goalkeeper Felipe Londono to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead which they took into the halftime break.

The second half was more evenly contested with each team enjoying possession in the middle of the pitch. Both goalkeepers were tested in the second frame, but both rose to the challenge and as time wore on, the game seemed destined for a 1-0 final score.

With 4:09 left to play, the Eagles were called for a foul in the box. Eran Bello tied the score at 1-1 with the ensuing penalty kick and neither team was able score again, sending the game into overtime.

Saturday's game had a sense of déjà vu as the Eagles and the Bobcats had battled to a 1-1 tie during regular season play. Unlike the regular season, however, the contest could not end in a draw and after a pair of scoreless overtime periods, the focus shifted to the penalty spot to determine the winner.

Embry-Riddle elected to go first in the penalty shootout. Both teams were successful on the first attempt, but goalkeepers Lonondo and ERAU's Viktor Bergstrand each recorded a save to keep the penalty score at one apiece. Each of the next six shooters converted on their respective attempts, but an Eagle miss on the sixth try gave the Bobcats a chance to move ahead. Belo stepped up to the spot to try and beat Bergstrand for the second time on the night, but this time the first team All-Conference goalkeeper got the better of the duel, diving to his left to make the save and keep the Eagles alive.

Litchfield then buried his penalty kick and Miyen Spinelli lifted his attempt over the crossbar, sending the Eagles to the conference title game and bringing the Bobcats' season to a close at 10-5-3. The shootout victory was a program first for the Eagles who were ousted from the tournament in penalties a year ago.