MOBILE, Ala. - An 82nd minute goal allowed Mobile (Ala.) to advance past the Embry-Riddle Eagles on Saturday night in one of 16 NAIA National Championship Opening Round games. The Rams improve to 13-6-1 overall and will meet Lee (Tenn.) on Monday, Nov. 29 in Decatur, Ala. The Eagles end their 2010 campaign with a 14-3-3 overall mark, bowing out in the Opening Round for the second consecutive year.
The Eagles twice took a one-goal lead, but were unable to sustain either advantage until the end of the contest. It was freshman Valerie Obita who gave the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. Mobile goalkeeper Samantha Bird had possesion of the ball and kicked it right at Obita's feet who then rocketed a shot past Bird for her 19th score of the season.
The Lady Rams quickly followed with a goal of their own less than two minutes later when Missy Stovall was able to collect a bouncing ball in ERAU's box after a free kick put the ball inside the box.
With the score knotted at 1-1 Martine Olsen recorded a tremendous goal from 45 yards out off a free kick right past the center circle. Olsen's kick was perfectly placed above Bird's head and gave the Blue and Gold a 2-1 lead, an advantage they would take into the halftime break.
The Eagles held a slim 8-6 advantage in shots during the first period, and freshman keeper Jennifer Grimes made two saves in the half to keep ERAU up 2-1.
Six minutes into the second period the Lady Rams climbed even with the Eagles when Rebekah Counce put a shot past Grimes off a UM corner kick for Mobile's fourth goal of the match.
Both teams battled back and forth for the final 40 minutes with Embry-Riddle having the better of the shots and possession. However, Mobile's Christy Lachapelle pushed her team in front in the 82nd minute after beating the Eagle defense for the final score of the game. Lachapelle finished the game with four points on a goal and two assists, as she was involved in all three Mobile goals.
Frenzied pressure from the ERAU offense was not enough to break past the UM defense and the Rams were able to hold on for the 3-2 victory.
ERAU finished with 19 shots (12 on goal) and seven corner kicks, while Mobile ended the game with nine shots (five on goal) and six corners. Grimes made two saves in the loss, and her counterpart Bird finished with 10 saves in the win.
The Eagles ended their 2010 season with 65 goals, 55 assists and 185 points on 417 shots. The 55 assists and 417 shots were program records for a season.
Senior Elina Johansson finished her Embry-Riddle career as the record-holder in 14 offensive categories, adding 11 goals and 17 assists during her senior campaign.
