Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The fourth-ranked Embry-Riddle women's soccer team closed out the 2013 regular season slate as the North Division champion in The Sun Conference with a 4-2 victory over No. 22 Thomas (10-5, 7-2) on Saturday. Saturday was also the final regular season home game for seniors Rebekka Gisladottir, Valerie Obita, Martine Olsen, Tova Torstensson and Brianna Zangara, who helped the Eagles improve to 13-2-1 overall and 8-1 in league play.

Gisladottir, Torstensson and Zangara anchored an Eagle defense that allowed Thomas just four shots in the game. The two most prolific scorers in ERAU women's soccer history, Obita and Olsen powered the Eagles' offense, with Obita tallying three goals and Olsen adding a goal and an assist. Going into Saturday's game, Olsen held the Eagles' all-time scoring record, but with her first two goals, Obita took over the lead. Olsen's score put the duo level again, but Obita's last goal of the day put her back on top with 70 career goals to Olsen's 69.

The Eagles wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, registering their first goal of the game on their first possession just 1:42 into the game. Isabella Haaranen collected the ball and dribbled down the right side. She squared a short pass to Obita who registered her 14th goal of the year to put the Eagles up 1-0 early.

The Night Hawks responded less than three minutes later by netting their first goal of the night when Emma Hewett collected a pass from Alyssa Denton and chipped ERAU goalkeeper Olivia Lynch to level the score at 1-1.

In the 11th minute, Katherine Ebbs played a ball from the midfield out to Haaranen on the right. Haaranen raced down the right flank and this time took the ball into the box herself. Thomas goalkeeper Deanna Rivet came off her line to bother Haaranen's shot but couldn't hold on to the ball. Gudrun Johnson then attempted a back-heel shot, but it only went as far as a Thomas defender who touched the ball into Obita's path and the senior deposited the ball in the upper netting to reclaim the lead for the Blue and Gold.

After the early flurry of goals, both teams settled into more of a possession game for the rest of the half. The Eagles had an 8-4 advantage in shots and a 4-3 edge in shots on goal, including a Haaranen shot from point-blank range, but Rivet up with a big save to keep the Eagles from adding to their tally. Lynch also turned back a couple of Thomas shots and, as a result, the score remained 2-1 at the intermission.

The start of the second half saw the Eagles have the better of the offense, while the ERAU defense limited the Night Hawks to just two shots in the frame. With just under 12 minutes left in regulation, the Eagles broke through for their third goal of the night. Obita's cross went across the face of the goal toward the far post. A Thomas defender was able to bring the ball down but pushed it into the path of Olsen who took a couple of touches to move the ball onto her left foot and slipped a shot under a diving Rivet to extend the Eagle lead to 3-1.

Moments later, Olsen returned the favor. Playing in the Eagles' defensive half, Olsen seized an opportunity to get in behind a high Thomas defense and released Obita with a ball from the midfield, putting her in a one-v-one situation with Rivet. Obita won the battle and completed the hat trick on her eighth shot of the night to make the score 4-1 in the 80 minute.

With under four minutes left, the Night Hawks managed to capitalize on the Eagles inability to clear the ball out of danger as Hewett found Hannah Claesson for the final goal of the night.

"Tonight was a great send-off for this outstanding senior class and their families that traveled to come watch," ERAU Head Coach Samantha Bohon. "We had to manage the emotion of the occasion because we knew Thomas was a tough match-up. This game had a lot of implications for post-season, so it was vital that we get the result. I thought Thomas did a good job of disrupting our rhythm during some stretches, but I was pleased to see our group keep plugging away.  It wasn't the prettiest soccer we've played but it counts nonetheless. Julie [Orlowski] has done a great job with this Thomas program in such a short time.  Now, we get what we've wanted- a chance to win the regular season title.  We are fired up!"

As the North Division champion, the Eagles will travel to West Palm Beach on Nov. 6 to face South Division champion, No. 2 Northwood for The Sun Conference regular season title. The winner of that game will receive the league's first automatic bid to the 2013 NAIA National Championship.