WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A goal in the final minute of overtime gave the No. 22 Northwood women's soccer team (13-4-1) a 2-1 win over eighth-ranked Embry-Riddle in The Sun Conference regular season championship game, Wednesday at Northwood's Arrigo-Vecellio Field. With the loss, the Eagles move to 13-5 on the year and will be the top seed in The Sun Conference tournament.

Northwood grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute off the boot of Elina Landeskog. ERAU goalkeeper Lauren Gallant made an outstanding save to deny Helen Lynskey, but the ball went out of touch for a Northwood corner. After the ball was played into the box, the ERAU defense was unable to clear it out and following a brief scramble Taryn Pardoe tapped a pass to Landeskog who finished the play to give the Seahawks the lead.

The Eagles took three shots in the first half, but despite a couple of near-miss headers by Allison Schultz and Katherine Ebbs, ERAU was unable to find the back of the net and went into the halftime break down a goal.

Five minutes into the second half, it appeared that Embry-Riddle would be able to even the score when a Northwood player was called for a foul inside the 18-yard box. Martine Olsen took the ensuing penalty kick, but Seahawks goalkeeper Mathilda Ojaniemi managed to come up with the save to keep the Northwood lead intact.

As the second half progressed, Northwood seemed to have the game in hand as the Eagles were unable to get on the scoreboard, but with 56 seconds left in regulation, Helena Hansson settled a throw-in and sent the ball forward where it bounced off the last Northwood defender into the path of Krizzy Menez. Menez raced toward the goal where her attempt was stopped by Ojaniemi. Ojaniemi was unable to control the ball and the Eagles' Valerie Obita shook her defenders, pounced on the rebound and volleyed the ball into the upper netting to draw the Eagles level and send the game into overtime.

The overtime period saw the Eagles maintain possession for the majority of the frame. Ojaniemi just managed to get a touch to turn back a header by Olsen and Obita's attempt skidded just wide of the far post to keep the Eagles off the board and Northwood in the game.

With just 46 seconds showing on the clock Northwood mounted a counter attack down the right side. Pardoe lifted a ball into the box where Landeskog managed to get a touch at the last second and push it into the net to give the Lady Seahawks the win.

“This was a championship caliber game” ERAU Head Coach Samantha Bohon said. “Both teams played hard and with a lot of emotion.  I thought we did a good job of creating chances in the second half and overtime but just couldn't finish in front of the goal, partly because of their solid defense.  Matilda [Ojaniemi] made two big-time saves on the penalty kick and the header in overtime.  I really thought we were going to get the result after our ladies battled and finally got the goal in the 89th minute.  But, you have to give credit to Northwood.  We wish them the best of luck at nationals.”

The Eagles will now be the No. 1 seed in The Sun Conference tournament, which gets underway on Thursday. ERAU will receive a first-round bye and will host the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal game between Webber International and Southeastern on Saturday at 6 p.m..