GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(RV) Embry-Riddle (0-0) at Georgia Gwinnett (2-0)
DATE: Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013
CITY: Lawrenceville, Ga.
SITE: Grizzly Soccer Complex
START: 7 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
LIVE AUDIO/VIDEO: Stretch Internet
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 5 GAMES: 3-2
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 10 GAMES: 8-2
EMBRY-RIDDLE ON ROAD IN 2012: 4-4
GEORGIA GWINNETT AT HOME IN 2012: 7-1-1
AT A GLANCE
Meeting for the first time, the Embry-Riddle Eagles and Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies will square off on Saturday evening in NAIA non-conference action. The Blue and Gold will be competing for the first time officially in 2013 while GGC has two games already under its belt.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES
Georgia Gwinnett (2-0) is in its second year of athletic competition after opening university doors in 2006 and the men's soccer squad posted a 14-2-2 overall record last season. The Grizzlies are under the direction of Steve DeCou who came to GGC from NAIA powerhouse Belhaven. DeCou's squad features eight seniors that have posted two wins already in 2013, including one over Sun Conference member Thomas (2-1) and a 3-0 shutout of Milligan.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
First Meeting
SEASON OPENERS
The Eagles are 17-7 in season openers, including a string of six straight victories from 1996-2000.
PICKED TO WIN CONFERENCE TITLE
The Sun Conference coaches picked the Eagles to come away with the 2013 league title in their preseason poll. The Eagles garnered three first-place votes and 90 total points to claim the top billing.
2013 Sun Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Embry-Riddle - 90 (3)
2. St. Thomas - 78 (4)
3. Florida Memorial - 76 (1)
4. Thomas - 73 (2)
5. SCAD Savannah - 72 (1)
6. Northwood - 67
7. Southeastern - 47
8. Warner - 38
9. Webber International - 30
10. Johnson & Wales - 19
11. Ave Maria - 15
ONE OF THE ELITE COACHES
Entering his 20th season at the helm of Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer, Dave Gregson ranks 13th in the NAIA on the active winningest coaching list. Gregson's 219-118-25 record through 19 seasons of play gives him a .639 winning percentage.
RETURNING FIREPOWER
Embry-Riddle returns nearly 90-percent of its offense from the 2012 season, including scoring leader
Veit Couturier and assists leader
Nicklas Petersson. Also returning for the Eagles is goalkeeper
Nils Carlson who has 141 saves in two seasons as the ERAU netminder, as well as 10 shutouts.
