GAMEDAY CENTRAL
NAIA #6 Embry-Riddle (0-0) at NCAA I Stetson (0-0)
DATE: Friday, Aug. 23, 2013
CITY: DeLand, Fla.
SITE: Athletic Training Center
START: 7 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 5 GAMES: 4-1
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 10 GAMES: 8-2
EMBRY-RIDDLE ON THE ROAD IN 2012: 4-3
STETSON AT HOME IN 2012: 2-5-1
AT A GLANCE
Coming off back-to-back Elite Eight finishes at the NAIA National Championship, the expectations for the 2013 version of Embry-Riddle's women's soccer team continue to be at an all-time high. Head Coach
Samantha Bohon has her team poised to once again make a run at a national title and that run begins Friday night in DeLand, Fla. against NCAA I Stetson. The Eagles and Hatters will meet for the ninth time since 2000 with all but two of those matches occurring in DeLand.
ABOUT THE HATTERS
Stetson begins the 2013 season under new leadership as Head Coach Manoj Khettry takes over the Hatter program from Julie Orlowski (now Sun Conference member Thomas' coach) after 12 seasons. SU is coming off a 2012 campaign that saw the Hatters manage just three wins in a 3-13-1 overall record, including losses in their final five contests.
Stetson returns nearly all 11 starters from last season, including netminder Victoria Troccoli and leading scorers Alyssa Welsh and Mara Keomanivane.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
The Embry-Riddle women's soccer team suffered its first defeat of the season, a 2-1 overtime loss to Stetson at the Hatters home field on Aug. 25, 2012.
The Eagles held with the Hatters of the Atlantic Sun Conference for much of the game, however, in overtime, Stetson's depth proved to be too much.
After a scoreless first half, which saw the Eagles outshoot the Hatters 11-7, Alyssa Welsh scored the first goal in the 61st minute, scoring on a header just over the outstretched arm of
Lauren Gallant.
The Eagles didn't quit, despite being outshot 9-3 in the second half, and were able to even the score thanks to
Valerie Obita's third goal of the season, which she scored by powering a shot into the back of the net after beating three defenders.
The deciding goal came just three minutes into the overtime period. Following a failed corner kick, the Eagles were unable to clear the ball and a defensive miscue allowed Colleen O'Kennedy an open cross, leading to Welsh's second header of the game.
ERAU's defense was solid for 90 minutes and on the offense, the Eagles had numerous chances in the first half, but were unable to capitalize, resulting in the loss.
SEASON OPENERS
The Eagles are 9-6 in season openers in 15 seasons, including a 3-3 mark under Bohon. The Eagles have played the Hatters twice in season openers. Both games ended in Stetson victories, including a 2-1 win in 2012. The Blue and Gold has won its last two season openers, a 5-0 win over Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and an 8-0 victory over Southeastern.
RECORD CHASERS
A pair of Eagle seniors are on the verge of several career milestones for the Blue and Gold as
Valerie Obita and
Martine Olsen look towards the 2013 season. Olsen and Obita are chasing Elina Johansson (2007-10) in points, points per game, goals and goals per game. The trio ranks 1-2-3 in all four of those categories.
ERAU Women's Soccer Individual Records
PRESEASON FAVORITES
The Blue and Gold topped The Sun Conference preseason poll for the fourth consecutive season after advancing to the NAIA National Tournament quarterfinals in 2012 and claiming the 2012 Sun Conference Tournament Crown, the squad's fourth straight tournament title.
Â
The Eagles, coached by 2012 conference Coach of the Yea
r Bohon received five first-place votes and 115 total points in the poll, never placing below second on any ballot. Embry-Riddle returns five All-Conference performers from a 17-6 (8-1) team a year ago, including second team All-America honoree
Valerie Obita and third team All-America selection
Tova Torstensson.
2013 Sun Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Embry-Riddle - 115 (5)
2. Northwood - 113 (6)
3. SCAD Savannah - 92
4. St. Thomas - 91 (1)
5. Thomas - 74
6. Webber International - 65
7. Southeastern - 62
8. USCB - 52
9. Johnson & Wales - 46
10. Warner - 33
11. Florida Memorial - 27
12. Ave Maria – 22
TOP 10 RANKING
The NAIA released the 2013 Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll on Tuesday, and the Eagles found themselves once again in the top 10, checking in at No. 6.
|
1 |
1 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (20) |
20-4-1 |
591 |
|
2 |
3 |
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) (1) |
19-4-1 |
566 |
|
3 |
4 |
Spring Arbor (Mich.) |
20-3-2 |
543 |
|
4 |
5 |
Vanguard (Calif.) |
18-2-1 |
532 |
|
5 |
6 |
Concordia (Ore.) |
17-3-2 |
527 |
|
6 |
7 |
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) |
17-6-0 |
499 |
|
7 |
8 |
Mobile (Ala.) |
15-4-2 |
468 |
|
8 |
10 |
Oklahoma City |
20-2-0 |
451 |
|
9 |
9 |
Texas at Brownsville |
16-4-1 |
437 |
|
10 |
12 |
Northwood (Fla.) |
14-5-1 |
412 |
|
11 |
11 |
Kansas Wesleyan |
20-2-0 |
390 |
|
12 |
13 |
Martin Methodist (Tenn.) |
15-4-0 |
381 |
|
13 |
14 |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
19-3-0 |
374 |
|
14 |
15 |
William Carey (Miss.) |
14-5-1 |
338 |
|
15 |
16 |
Robert Morris (Ill.) |
16-7-0 |
330 |
|
16 |
18 |
Graceland (Iowa) |
17-3-1 |
307 |
|
17 |
17 |
Cal State San Marcos |
11-6-3 |
293 |
|
18 |
19 |
Westmont (Calif.) |
12-6-1 |
282 |
|
19 |
21 |
Benedictine (Kan.) |
15-3-3 |
235 |
|
20 |
20 |
Ashford (Iowa) |
14-5-2 |
211 |
|
21 |
22 |
Davenport (Mich.) |
17-3-1 |
191 |
|
22 |
23 |
Brenau (Ga.) |
13-5-0 |
173 |
|
23 |
24 |
Baker (Kan.) |
13-7-1 |
171 |
|
24 |
25 |
Rocky Mountain (Mont.) |
14-2-2 |
139 |
|
25 |
RV |
Judson (Ill.) |
19-6-0 |
120 |
TOUGH SLATE
Bohon has put together one of the best schedules in the country for the Eagles in 2013, including Friday's contest against Stetson. All but one of the Eagles' non-conference NAIA opponents made the NAIA National Championship last season, including defending champion and preseason No. 1 Lindsey Wilson, No. 5 Concordia (Ore.), No. 7 Mobile, No. 11 Kansas Wesleyan, No. 14 William Carey and (RV) Auburn Montgomery.
