DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 10th-ranked Embry-Riddle women's soccer team capped off its Senior Night celebration with a 2-0 victory over No. 22 SCAD Savannah in Sun Conference action, Wednesday at the Embry-Riddle Soccer Complex. Wednesday's outcome marked the first regular season victory over the Bees since 2009 for the Eagles who improved to 12-2-1 overall and 7-1 in league play.
Prior to kick-off, the Eagles took time to recognize and thank seniors Kara Haack, Bjorg Olafs, Dina Roper, Gracie Peters, Madeleine Edbom and Cecilie Henriksen. The senior class has combined for 46 wins, two conference tournament titles, a regular season title and four NAIA National Tournament appearances in four seasons.
“We're really excited to come away with a 2-0 win,” ERAU Head Coach Samantha Bohon said. “Once we got through the wind of the first half, we were able to play more possession and play a little bit more of our game. I'm really glad to honor our seniors tonight with a good win against a really competitive SCAD team.”
Both teams had chances to score in the first half with each team registering two shots on frame. The first chance of the game came from SCAD's Sydney Benda whose long range shot seemed destined for the back of the net until ERAU goalkeeper Lauren Gallant got just enough of a hand on the ball to tip it over the crossbar.
Less than three minutes later, the Eagles had an opportunity of their own to score when Valerie Obita played a ball out to Martine Olsen on the right. Olsen outran the Bees' defense and carried the ball into the box, but her attempt was stopped by SCAD netminder Ciara Thomas who came off her line to make a diving save.
Playing with the wind at their backs, the Bees had four corner kick opportunities and tested Gallant again, but the junior was up to the task, keeping the Bees off the scoreboard. Thomas got some help from the woodwork late in the half as Obita's header bounced off the corner of the frame, resulting in a scoreless tie at the half.
Olafs started the play that led to the Eagles' first goal of the night just six minutes into the second half .The senior's long ball made its way across the field to Krizzy Menez on the run. Menez took a touch before getting a cross off into the box where Obita settled the ball and placed a shot into the upper netting to put the Eagles up 1-0.
The Eagles' second goal came in the 10 minutes later. Menez ran onto a short clearance by the SCAD defense and played a ball into the box. The ball took a deflection off the head of the Bees' last defender and fell at the feet of Olsen who rippled the net with her 22nd goal of the season for the 2-0 Eagle win.
ERAU finished with a 15-8 advantage in shots and an 8-5 edge in shots on goal. Gallant finished with five saves on the night, while Thomas pulled in six saves for the Bees who move to 12-3 on the year and 7-2 in league play.
The Eagles will play their final road game of the regular season at 5 p.m. on Oct. 26when they travel to South Carolina to take on league newcomer South Carolina Beaufort.
