DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Two goals apiece from freshmen Valerie Obita and Martine Olsen pushed the No. 24 Embry-Riddle women's soccer team past Webber International in a non-conference matchup on Monday. The Eagles improve to 1-1 overall, as the Warriors suffer their first loss of the season, falling to 1-1. The win was the 19th in a row for Embry-Riddle over the Warriors.
All four of ERAU's scores came in the first half, a period that the Blue and Gold dominated from the first whistle. Obita scored her second goal of the season in the 22nd minute of play when she finished off a cross from Krizzy Menez to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Menez beat her defender down the right side of the field and laced a perfect pass to Obita streaking down the left side of the pitch which the Lindome, Sweden took advantage of.
A scant two minutes later, Olsen answered her fellow freshman with her first goal of the season after Madeleine Edbom tapped the ball to her in front of WIU's goal.
Obita's second goal of the contest came at exactly the 28 minute mark. The play started when freshman goalkeeper Jennifer Grimes made a tremendous save off a Warrior free kick. The defelcted ball was kicked forward by Kara Haack and run down by Tova Tortstensson on the right sideline. Torstensson crossed the ball to the middle of the field where Elina Johansson quickly got the ball to Obita as the three natives of Sweden combined for the third goal of the game and Obita's third of the season.
The final goal of the half came at the 35:20 mark when Olsen received a pass from Johansson and hammered the ball past Webber's keeper Makenzie Vance for the 4-0 ERAU advantage.
That assist for Johansson gave her 26 for her career, putting her alone at the top of the Embry-Riddle career assist list. Lisa Lundgren (1999-2002) held the assist record (25) for eight years. Johansson now owns 12 offensive records in ERAU history.
The Eagles attempted 22 shots in the first period to WIU's two, only one of which was on-goal.
In the second half, neither team could capitalize on opportunities, resulting in the 4-0 final. The game featured physical play from both sides, with 36 fouls called and three yellow cards issued.
Vance made several stellar saves in goal for WIU en route to 15 total for the game, her Embry-Riddle counterpart Grimes finished with three.
The Blue and Gold will next travel to Montgomery, Ala. to participate in the Capital City Classic hosted by Auburn University at Montgomery. The Eagles and Lady Senators of AUM will have a rematch of their 2009 NAIA National Championship Opening Round game on Friday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. (CDT) before ERAU faces Mobile (Ala.) on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. (CDT).
