DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer team opened its 2013 home slate on Saturday against NCAA II powerhouse and the preseason No. 9 Rollins Tars, dropping a 5-1 decision while playing the entire second half with 10 men. The Eagles (1-1-0) allowed five goals for the first time since Sept. 8 of last season as the Tars overpowered the undermanned hosts to the tune of a 24-5 shot advantage and 12-3 edge in shots on goal. The Tars (1-0-0) opened their 2013 season with an impressive offensive and defensive display, holding the Blue and Gold to few opportunities to find the back of the net.
Magnus Magnusson was denied a goal in the opening moments when Keneil Baker made a stop of the midfielder's shot, keeping the game at 0-0. Baker made the save of the night in the 14th minute of play when a corner kick wasn't cleared properly by the Tars' defense and
Sigurbergur Elisson made a fantastic volley just outside the penalty area into the left-corner of the goal. The senior netminder needed all 6-3 of his frame to fully extend and push the ball out for another Eagle corner, again keeping the match level.
Rob Crowley got the scoring started for the visitors in the 25th minute, converting on a penalty kick against
Nils Carlson to give Rollins a 1-0 advantage.
Both teams battled back and forth over the first 40 minutes of play, with neither team gaining an advantage in possession, but the home team had several chances to equalize.
A crucial call would go the Tars' way in the 39th minute when Eagle forward
Veit Couturier was given a red card for a phantom foul on a Rollins' defender, putting the Eagles down to 10 men for the remainder of the contest.
The Tars took advantage of the man-advantage, getting a second goal just a minute later when Phillipp Schad put home his first goal of the season on a bad clearance by the Embry-Riddle defense.
The Eagles managed just one more shot before half when
Nicklas Petersson's shot in the 41st minute went just right, and Rollins took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Carlson made a save two minutes into the second period on a Schad shot, but the Tars would find their third tally of the game in the 59th minute as Skyler Russell and Brett Durrance teamed up to push the Eagles three goals down.
Senior
Viktor Gudnason answered quickly for the Blue and Gold in the 60th minute, working with
Jacob Stevenback (who earned his first collegiate assist) down the right side of the pitch and eventually slotting home his first goal of the 2013 season to bring the hosts to within 3-1.
The Eagles' hope was short-lived however when Schad beat Carlson for the second time in the match just 67 seconds later and Rafa Faria accounted for the final score of the contest in the 83rd minute as Russell collected his second assist of the night.
Carlson (1-1-0) finished with six saves while Baker (1-0-0) ended the evening with a pair of stops.
Embry-Riddle will look to make a quick turnaround with a trip to NCAA II Florida Southern on Tuesday. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. in Lakeland, Fla.
