Embry-Riddle vs. Flagler Match Notes

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
NAIA #9 Embry-Riddle (0-0-) NCAA II Flagler (0-0-0)
DATE: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014
CITY: St. Augustine, Fla.
SITE: Saints Field
START: 7:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
LIVE VIDEO: UStream
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 5 GAMES: 3-1-1
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 10 GAMES: 7-2-1
FLAGLER'S LAST 5 GAMES: 1-4
FLAGLER'S LAST 10 GAMES: 5-4-1

EAGLES OPEN 2014 ON THE ROAD
For the second consecutive season the Embry-Riddle Eagles will open their season away from Daytona Beach. This season, the Eagles will take the short trip north to NCAA II Flagler in St. Augustine where both teams will open their 2014 seasons.

Embry-Riddle, winners of seven of its last 10 season openers, will bring 14 newcomers to Saints Field after losing 13 letterwinners from a 2013 squad that won the program's eighth conference regular season title and advanced to the final site of the NAIA National Championship.

The Eagles and Saints have never met before in the first match of the season, despite playing 36 times over the past 25 years.

ABOUT THE SAINTS
Head Coach John Lynch enters his 16th year at the helm of the Flagler men's soccer program where he holds a 154-113-25 mark with the Saints. Last season, Flagler finished 9-7-3 overall and 5-2-2 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Saints qualified for the NCAA II Tournament, but lost in the first round to Lander, 1-0 in overtime.

Flagler is picked to finish third in the PBC in 2014, trailing preseason favorite Young Harris (78 points) and Lander (71 points) with 64 total points, including one first-place vote.

Marco Warren headlines the Saints' returning players, earning 2014 Preseason All-Peach Belt Conference honors after registering seven goals and four assists in 2013.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET
Nov. 1, 2013 - ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The NAIA No. 14 Embry-Riddle Eagles spoiled NCAA II Flagler's senior night on Friday evening, posting a 4-0 shutout of the Saints on the road in St. Augustine. The match marked the final regular season game for both squads. The Eagles wrap up their 2013 regular season slate with a 12-2 overall mark, getting back on the winning track after losing their first game in over a month last Saturday. The Saints fall to 8-5-3 overall.

The Eagles and Saints played an even first 15 minutes, despite a Veit Couturier header that glanced off the crossbar in the 10th minute that would have put Embry-Riddle on top early on. Ally MacDonald had a pair of chances in the 13th and 14th minutes, but the Eagle senior was denied and the game remained deadlocked at 0-0.

A defensive miscue by the Flagler defense in the 18th minute led to the Blue and Gold's first goal. A ball was played by ERAU towards the Flagler goal, but a Saints' defender failed to clear the ball properly and freshman Sigurbergur Elisson was there to pounce on the loose ball, take a couple dribbles and beat Josiah Holtz in goal for his 11th score of the year.

The Saints, who recorded 15 corners in the contest, had a fantastic opportunity to score at the 33:15 mark, but a save by Nils Carlson on Liam O'Brien's point-blank shot kept the visitors in control.

Nicklas Petersson was the recipient of an Elisson pass in the 38th minute, and the Gothenburg, Sweden native's shot was deflected into the net as Embry-Riddle took a 2-0 lead into halftime.

The second half wasn't much different than the first for the Eagles as they controlled most of the possession, and just 10 minutes into the second period the Blue and Gold took a commanding 3-0 advantange thanks to a Couturier goal. MacDonald started the play on the left side of the pitch, playing a pass over the box to Petersson who one touched the ball to Couturier in the middle of FC's penalty area and the junior forward did the rest, recording his eighth goal of 2013.

Embry-Riddle wrapped up the scoring in the 60th minute of action when Elisson headed in a rebound after Couturier's 35-yard shot hit the crossbar, making it a pair of goals for the freshman on the night and 12 for the season.

Carlson made three saves in net for the Blue and Gold to record his seventh clean sheet of the year, the 19th of his career.

Petersson moved into second on the single season assist list with his 18th of the year, needing just one to join Paul Buckley (2003) at the top. He also broke into the top 10 in single season points with 38.

SEASON OPENERS
Embry-Riddle holds an 18-7 all-time mark in season openers, including 7-3 over its' last 10. Last season, the Eagles opened their slate with a 2-0 road win over Georgia Gwinnett.

FINAL NAIA SEASON
The Eagles will close out their NAIA program history in the 2014 season as the Embry-Riddle Athletic Department will begin transitioning to NCAA II and the Sunshine State Conference. 2014-15 marks Candidacy Year One for the Embry-Riddle program, followed by Candidacy Year Two in 2015-16 and Provisional Membership in 2016-17.

If Embry-Riddle continues to meet all of the NCAA and SSC requirements, the Eagles will become full-fledged members of the NCAA II and the Sunshine State Conference in 2017-18.

EAGLES RANKED No. 9 IN PRESEASON POLL
Following a succesful 2013 season, the Eagles received preseason recognition from the NAIA Coaches' Poll as Embry-Riddle was slotted ninth in the preseason poll.

ERAU was also chosen to repeat as Sun Conference regular season champions by the league coaches, earning four first-place votes and 93 total points in the poll.

2014 Sun Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Embry-Riddle - 93 (4)
2. Thomas - 91 (4)
3. Northwood - 77 (2)
4. SCAD Savannah - 76 (1)
5. Florida Memorial - 58
6. St. Thomas - 56
7. Southeastern - 45
8. Webber International - 37
9. Warner - 32
10. Johnson & Wales - 24
11. Ave Maria - 16

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team

NUMBERS TO WATCH
5,025 - Career Minutes played by Nils Carlson, fourth-most all-time in program history.
233 - Wins in Head Coach Dave Gregson's 20-year tenure at Embry-Riddle.
95 - Veit Couturier's career point total. He trails all-time leader Jasmin Kadric by 41 points.
50 - Foals lost from the 2013 roster. Couturier (10) and Magnus Magnusson (3) are the only returners to tally goals last year.
14 - Newcomers on the Eagle roster, including 12 freshmen.

GREGSON REMAINS ONE OF NAIA'S ELITE
Dave Gregson will coach his 21st season at Embry-Riddle in 2014, and the Eagles' manager holds distinction amongst his NAIA peers. Gregson's 233 victories at ERAU rank 14th on the NAIA's active winningest coaching list, while his .649 winning percentage ranks 10th amongst those coaches.