NAIA #6 Embry-Riddle (1-1-1) at NAIA RV Auburn Montgomery (2-0)
DATE: Friday, Sept 6, 2013
CITY: Hattiesburg, Miss.
SITE: William Carey Soccer Complex
START: 5 p.m. (CST)
SERIES: Tied 1-1
LAST MEETING: ERAU def. WCU, 2-1 on Sept. 4, 2010
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
TWITTER: @ERAUWSoccer
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ABOUT THE EAGLES
The Eagles are back in action on Friday following a two-games-in two-days tilt that saw the Blue and Gold go 1-1. The Eagles earned a decisive 5-1 win over 14th-ranked William Carey on Sunday, but suffered a tough 2-0 loss to seventh-ranked Mobile.
Valerie Obita and
Katherine Ebbs are the Eagles' points leaders so far this season. Obita has two goals, while Ebbs has a goal and two assists.
ABOUT THE WARHAWKS
Auburn Montgomery brings a 2-0 record into this weekend's action courtesy of shutout victories over Montreat (5-0) and Thomas (Ga.) (2-0). Ranked 26th according to the NAIA Preseason National Coaches' Poll, the Warhawks' offense is led by Nicole Letford, Eyrun R. Agnasdottir and Dagmar Gunnarsdottir, who have two goals apiece in 2013. Junior goalkeeper Chloe Crook has handled the goalkeeping duties so far this season, collecting five saves and a shutout.
THE ERAU-AUM SERIES
The Eagles and the Warhawks have only faced each other on two occasions. The first meeting came in the Opening Round of the NAIA National Tournament on Nov. 21, 2010 when the Warhawks held off the Eagles 5-3 to move on to the Round of 16. The following year, the Eagles earned a 2-1 regular season victory (Sept. 4, 2010) to even the all-time series at 1-1.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
The last meeting between the Eagles and the Warhawks was on Sept. 4, 2010. Ranked 24th at the time, the Embry-Riddle women scored a goal in each half to record a 2-1 upset of the 13th-ranked AUM squad.
The Eagles scored the first goal of the match in the 14th minute off the boot of
Valerie Obita.
Krizzy Menez was the recipient of a throw-in and the sophomore lifted a cross into the box that landed at the back post where Obita was on hand to tap in her fourth goal of the year.
The Eagles took the 1-0 lead into the halftime break and after registering a 10-6 advantage in shots, they appeared to be in control. However, the Senators had an answer in the second half as Jana Yates scored in the 65th minute to pull the Senators level.
The score remained tied until the 78th minute when Bjorg Olafs' long ball went over the AUM defense.
Martine Olsen was able to out-jump AUM goalkeeper on Daisy Burnfield on a high bounce and head home her third goal to give the Eagles the win.
Burnfield finished with six saves, while her ERAU counterpart, Jen Grimes, collected seven saves in the win.
RECORD CHASERS
A pair of Eagle seniors is on the verge of several career milestones for the Blue and Gold.
Valerie Obita and
Martine Olsen are listed among the Eagles' all-time top three in points, points per game, goals and goals per game. The duo is chasing marks set by Elina Johansson in all four categories. Olsen already holds the Eagles' all-time record for game-winning goals with 17. ERAU Women's Soccer Individual Records
EMBRY-RIDDLE BY THE NUMBERS
2 – NAIA National Quarterfinal Appearances
5 – Seniors on the 2013 roster
9 – Home contests for the Eagles this season, including five TSC games
12 – NAIA National Tournament Appearances
16 – Seasons of Embry-Riddle Women's Soccer
64 – Wins amassed by the 2013 senior class
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.
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The Eagles, coached by 2012 Conference Coach of the Year 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.
TOP 10 RANKING
The Eagles opened the 2013 season ranked sixth in the nation according to the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll released on Aug. 20. This marks the second straight year that Eagles have been ranked in the nation's top 10 in the preseason poll.
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.
