DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A little over a week after the NAIA No. 9 Embry-Riddle Eagles saw a one-goal lead evaporate with a last-second equalizer against NCAA II Flagler, the Eagles reversed the narrative with a last gasp goal of their own as
Veit Couturier's 90th minute score led to an eventual 2-2 draw with NCAA II Barry on Saturday evening. Embry-Riddle (0-0-2) scored in the first and last minutes of regulation against the Buccaneers (2-1-1) in the two teams' first-ever meeting, as the 110-minute double-overtime match served as a precursor of a future Sunshine State Conference matchup starting in 2015.
ERAU will take on another future SSC opponent on Wednesday, Sept. 17 when they travel to Winter Park, Fla. to take on NCAA II No. 3 Rollins at 7 p.m.
Trailing 2-1 after a pair of second half scores from the Buccaneers, Embry-Riddle threw everyone forward when
Nils Carlson served up a free kick with 30 seconds left in regulation. The ball eventually got to
Daniel Gylfason on the right side of the box and Gylfason rocketed a shot at BU's goalie Robby Shearer who made a great effort to save it, but Couturier was there to corral the rebound and slot in the game-tying score with just nine seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime.
Couturier's second goal of the season almost went for naught when
Ryan Davison was whistled for a foul in the penalty box and Nico Gercke stepped to the spot just 25 seconds into the first overtime period. However, Carlson would come up big, diving to his right to stop Gercke's effort and extend the contest.
Embry-Riddle was forced to play the final three minutes of the first OT and the entire second extra period with only 10 men after
Moriba Ballah received his second yellow card of the night, but the home team remained stout defensively and nearly won the match when
Daniel Gylfason's 103rd minute shot missed wide left.
The final seven minutes of the game featured four Barry shots, but none were on frame and the Eagles and Buccaneers were forced to settle for the 2-2 draw.
A physical match from the start, the two teams combined for 40 fouls and 10 yellow cards were issued by the referee along with a penalty kick for each side.
The Eagles got the game off on the right foot when Ballah scored just 56 seconds into the contest following a cross from
Lewis Blackmore that Ballah was able to control and turn into a goal by beating Buccaneer keeper Shearer for a 1-0 Eagle advantage.
Ryan King recorded the first of his five shots on the night in the 6th minute from 30 yards out, but Carlson was there for the home team to keep the Blue and Gold in front by a score.
Daniel McClintock, earning the first start of his Eagle career, nearly put the Eagles up by two scores at the 11:17 mark, but a Barry defender was able to clear the ball off the line.
Rory Kay made Carlson extend fully to save his shot attempt in the 14th minute of play and the senior from Vastra, Sweden would make two more saves in the half to keep ERAU ahead.
A 2-on-1 for the Eagles appeared promising in the 28th minute, but Couturier's pass to Ballah was too far in front for the sophomore to get a good foot on it and his attempt went wide.
ERAU took a 1-0 cushion into the break, but the lead did not last long when Connor Randel evened the score in the 48th minute and just five minutes later Barry went in front when King's corner met Gercke's head at the far post, beating Carlson for a 2-1 Buccaneer advantage.
The Blue and Gold got shots from Gylfason and Couturier that were both saved by Shearer over the next 20 minutes and freshman
Birgir Baldursson registered a header off a corner from Ballah that just went high as ERAU continued to apply pressure.
Embry-Riddle caught a break in the 80th minute when Ballah was brought down in the box, earning a penalty kick, but Couturier's shot hit the right post and ERAU continued to trail until Couturier's 90th minute score.
Barry outshot the Eagles 25-16, but Embry-Riddle owned a 10-9 advantage in shots on goal. Carlson (0-0-2) notched seven saves while Shearer (2-1-1) also made seven stops for the visitors.