ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – A record-breaking season came to an end for the Embry-Riddle women's soccer team on Wednesday as a goal in the 107th minute ousted the Eagles from the 31st Annual NAIA National Tournament on Friday. The Eagles (19-2), who posted a program-record 19 wins in the 2014 campaign, lost 1-0 to fifth-seeded Northwestern Ohio (22-1) on a Laura Stone goal in the second overtime period.
In addition to setting the mark for most single-season wins, the Eagles also advanced to the national semifinals, were ranked No. 1 in the final NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll, and were the No. 1 national seed, all of which were program firsts.
"I couldn't be more proud of our team today," ERAU Head Coach
Samantha Bohon said following the match. "We executed our game plan and played well. Truthfully, we completely outplayed and dominated a pretty talented team in UNOH. I'm sad for our players to not get the result because they certainly deserved it. But soccer is a tricky game and we just didn't put it in the back of the net. The team should be proud to have done so well today despite the disappointment of the result. I know I am!"
The Eagles had the better of the offense throughout the contest. They out shot the Racers 19-5 and bested UNOH 10-2 in corner kick opportunities, but it was the Racers who capitalized on one of their two shots on frame for the win.
At the beginning of the game, a stout Racer defense, that has surrendered just seven goals this season, allowed the Eagles some play through the midfield but closed down the offense pretty quickly in the final third. Late in the first half, however, the Eagles began to find cracks in the UNOH armor and had a couple of dangerous chances, including a play constructed through the midfield that ended with an
Isabelle Haaranen shot that whistled past the left post with under three minutes remaining in the first half.
The second half saw the Blue and Gold threaten more on the offense. The first chance of the frame came on a 55th-minute
Katherine Ebbs corner kick that went off the post after a header by
Julia Karlernas. Much of the play in the final 45 minutes of regulation took place in the UNOH defensive half, but although they out shot the Racers 9-1 in the period, they were unable to find the back of the net, sending the game into overtime.
Just 26 seconds into the first overtime period,
Andrea Froshaug rocketed a strike toward the goal, but UNOH goalkeeper Nadine Stonjek came up with a save to keep her team in the contest. ERAU had three more shots in that 10-minute stretch but a couple of Stonjek saves and a defensive block helped keep the Eagles off the board.
Five minutes into the second overtime period, the Racers won their second corner of the game. Alice Coyne took the set piece and her cross was met by Hannah Baines who took a shot on frame. ERAU's
Olivia Lynch got hand to the shot to keep the ball from finding the back of the net, but the rebound fell to Laura Stone who volleyed home the game-winner.