PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The sixth-ranked Embry-Riddle women's soccer team rallied from two goals down to top fifth-ranked Concordia (Calif.) 4-3, Friday at the ERAU Soccer Field on Embry-Riddle's Prescott, Ariz. campus.
"That was one of the most bizarre games I've ever seen," ERAU Head Coach
Samantha Bohon said. "I don't really know exactly what to say. I've always rated Chris' [Gould] program very highly so I knew it would be a good match-up. I thought we were a bit unlucky in the first half to be down 2-0, but the mood at halftime was positive. I think the players knew we were still in it despite the deficit. We needed some of our attacking players to be more aggressive, and they responded with four goals in the second half. We had to change up the lineup several times and were encouraged to see players respond. Our final pass was off tonight, but we did a good job of sticking with it. This was only our second game of the season, so while we are glad to get the result, we're more focused on the big picture of developing our team. Concordia is a great side, and they'll certainly be in the picture at the end of this season."
Concordia took control of the game early, netting the first goal of the night in the fifth minute. Lauren Nanez took the ball through the heart of the ERAU defense and capitalized on a defensive miscue to put CUI up 1-0.
ERAU had a couple of chances to equalize, including a shot by
Katherine Ebbs that was blocked, and a combination play between
Andrea Frøshaug and
Julia Karlernas that was turned back by CUI goalkeeper Jazmin Alvarez. However, ERAU was unable to match the CUI effort on the scoreboard, and on the other side of the ball, Val Barrios extended the Concordia advantage with an unassisted goal in the 40th minute to give the fifth-ranked Eagles from California a 2-0 lead at the half.
Coming out of the break, ERAU continued to work to create scoring chances and that effort paid off in the 59th minute. Ebbs won the ball in the midfield and completed pass to Froshaug running down the left side. Froshaug outpaced her marker and dribbled into the box where slipped a shot through the legs of an advancing Alvarez to make it a 2-1.
The goal appeared to give ERAU new life, but Elizabeth Abt temporarily dampened the ERAU spirits with her unassisted score just seven minutes later.
With 21 minutes remaining in the contest, the complexion of the game changed when the referee issued a red card to the Concordia Eagles, forcing them to go the rest of the way with just 10 players.
In the 75th minute, ERAU capitalized on the one-man advantage.
Julia Karlernas played a long ball out to
Isabelle Haaranen on the left side. Haaranen took the ball all the way to the touch line before lifting a cross into the box where it was met by Froshaug who recorded her second goal of the night to make the score 3-2.
Five minutes, later ERAU struck again. This time it was Haaranen who headed home an Ebbs corner kick to knot the score at 3-3.
Over the next seven minutes, Embry-Riddle continued to put pressure on the CUI defense, including attempts by Haaranen and Karlernas that tested Alvarez and force the CUI sophomore to come up with a couple of saves.
The game appeared destined for overtime, but with less than three minutes left in regulation ERAU seized a golden opportunity to take over the lead. Froshaug was on the receiving end of a long cross into the box by Ebbs. While attempting to bring the ball under control, Froshaug was brought down by the keeper, resulting in a penalty kick. Ebbs stepped up to the spot and converted on the second penalty attempt of her ERAU career to secure the win for the Blue and Gold.
Oliva Lynch had four saves for the Eagles, who are now 2-0 on the year, while Alvarez finished with eight saves for CUI who moved to 1-1 with the loss.
ERAU will have a one-day break before returning to action on Sunday evening when they will face the team from Embry-Riddle's Prescott campus at 7 p.m. (Pacific).
