GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(RV) Embry-Riddle (1-0) vs. Rollins (0-0)
DATE: Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013
CITY: Daytona Beach, Fla.
SITE: Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium
START: 7 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
LIVE AUDIO/VIDEO: Stretch Internet
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 5 GAMES: 4-1
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 10 GAMES: 9-1
EMBRY-RIDDLE AT HOME IN 2012: 4-3
ROLLINS ON THE ROAD IN 2012: 8-3-1
AT A GLANCE
Meeting for the 17th time, the Eagles and Tars will battle in a non-conference match this Saturday in a game that will feature two of the elite programs of their respective divisons. Embry-Riddle is coming off a season opening win on the road at Georgia Gwinnett, getting goals from
Sigurbergur Elisson and
Veit Couturier and a clean sheet from goalkeeper
Nils Carlson. The Tars are opening their 2013 season against ERAU.
ABOUT THE TARS
Rollins opens the 2013 season tonight after a third-round appearance in the 2012 NCAA National Championships where they lost to eventual national champion Lynn. The Tars, ranked No. 9 in the NSCAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, return nearly all of their players from last season, including all but one goal-scorer and top goalkeeper, Keneil Baker.
The Tars averaged 2.76 goals per match last season, led by Grant Blackhurst with 10 goals, seven assists and 27 points. Brett Durrance added nine goals and four assists, while Rob Crowley had eight tallies and two assists.
Baker allowed just 14 goals in 19 starts in 2012, making 63 saves and posting eight shutouts.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
WINTER PARK, Fla. - Two goals by sophomore Veir Couturier were not enough as the 24th-ranked Embry-Riddle men's soccer team lost to Rollins on Friday night at Cahall-Sandspur field in Winter Park, Fla. The 20th-ranked Tars won 4-2 as the Blue and Gold suffered its first loss of the season.
The two teams were evenly matched in the first half, with both teams having several opportunities to score.
Embry-Riddle got the scoring started as Couturier dribbled inside the box and slid the ball past the goalie, from a sharp angle just left of the goal, in the sixth minute.
The Tars were able to score twice in the half with the first coming in the 12th minute as Rollins' Mark Biddinger was able to knock home a rebound off the crossbar, which tied the game at one. The Tars got the second goal on a penalty kick after
Nils Carlson was called for the foul inside the box in the 17th minute.
Couturier knocked home the equalizer in the 40th minute, once again dribbling to the left of goal and scoring from a sharp angle.
Rollins controlled the ball much of the second half and wasted no time breaking the tie. Hume Walker headed home a set piece from just outside the box in the 49th minute, giving the Tars a 3-2 lead.
Rollins' relentless attack netted another goal in the 75
th minute as Carlson was unable to corral a shot and the rebound was knocked home, giving Rollins a 4-2 advantage.
The Eagles were shut out in the second half, as the Tars defense played solid, controlled soccer, leaving Embry-Riddle with their first loss of the season.
Rollins' depth was too much to overcome as the Tars outshot the Eagles 8-2 in the second half and 17-7 in the game.
SHUTOUTS WATNED
Carlson recorded his 13th career shutout in the Eagles' 2-0 season opening victory last Saturday, putting him just four behind Viktor Bergstrand for the all-time program record (17). Carlson recorded 10 shutouts as a freshman in 2011 before adding two last season. Carlson also ranks fifth all-time in goals against average (1.25) and fifth in career saves (141).
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.
