WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Three goals wasn't enough for the 12th-ranked Embry-Riddle women's soccer team as the No. 25 Northwood Seahawks came away with a 6-3 win over ERAU on Sunday afternoon's Sun Conference matchup. Embry-Riddle suffers their first loss since the season opener on Aug. 26, falling to 11-2-2 overall and 4-1-2 in conference play. The Seahawks capture The Sun Conference regular season title with the victory, moving to 13-3 overall and 8-0 in conference action.
It was ERAU who got on the board first as Valerie Obita rocketed her 15th goal of the season past NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week Matilda Ojaniemi just 90 seconds into the game. Menez started the play with a great cross that skipped off a defender's head onto the foot of Obita.
The Seahawks would answer right back, scoring goals in the 11th and 23rd minutes, both off the boot of Helen Lynskey. The Blue and Gold looked to draw the score even in the 36th minute when Martine Olsen had an opportunity to beat Ojaniemi and did so, but the ball found the right post and bounced harmlessly away. The ball would quickly be advanced by a pair of Northwood players and Annika Hogberg would finish the scoring drive by beating Eagle keeper Jennifer Grimes for a 3-1 NU lead.
Coach Samantha Baggett Bohon had her team ready to respond in the second period, as ERAU scored two very quick goals within five minutes of the start of the half. Menez was the benificiary of an Elina Johansson pass and ran past the Seahawk defenders to pull ERAU to within 3-2. Johansson again found a teammate with a great pass just a few moments later, this time Cecilie Henriksen made an unbelievable shot in mid air to knot the score at 3-3 with 40 minutes of game time left.
Neither team would score for 15 minutes, but it was Hogberg again who scored on a rebounded shot, this time in the 66th minute, before putting the Seahawks up 5-3 in the 71st minute on a breakaway.
Sofia Soras concluded the scoring for Northwood, firing in a shot past Grimes for the 6-3 final.
Northwood held the advantage in shots (21-13), shots on goal (15-9), corner kicks (3-2) and the Seahawks were whistled for more fouls (21-8).
Grimes finished the day with nine saves, while her counterpart Ojaniemi made six saves in the win.
The Eagles will return to Daytona Beach to wrap up their regular season and their Sun Conference slate. ERAU hosts Southeastern on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., and Ave Maria on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m.
