MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's soccer team was looking for its fourth win of the season on Saturday night as the Eagles went up against Sunshine State Conference foe, the Florida Tech Panthers. Instead, the Eagles played their fourth straight overtime game and picked up their second straight tie as well, with the teams playing to a 0-0 draw.
The Eagles are now 3-4-2 overall and 1-3-2 in the SSC while Florida Tech moved to 5-3-2 and 2-2-1 in conference play.
"This is s frustrating stretch for us as we feel we're creating so many quality chances and they just aren't falling," ERAU Head Coach
Samantha Bohon commented. "We are working hard and staying positive because once that first goal comes, we feel like the flood gates will open. This is a talented group with great resiliency. We've shown a lot of heart and will continue to come out fighting on Wednesday."
Both teams were extremely aggressive offensively in the first half with each team tallying four shots on goal. Embry-Riddle had two opportunities midway through the first half with a shot on goal by
Emmie Johansson in the 25th minute and another by
Julia Olsson in the 28th minute. The Eagles' best scoring opportunity came in the 36th minute when
Elizabeth Allen had an open look in the Florida Tech box but could not convert as Karlyn Prisco's diving save kept the ball out of the goal.
The second half was similar to the first as neither team could gain any momentum offensively. The Eagles were able to put up three shots on goal but could not convert on those chances as
Ragnheidur Gardarsdottir and
Maria Schmiedhofer had their shots either blocked or saved, while the Eagles defense held the Panthers to just one shot on goal in the half. With neither team able to score in regulation, the game went into overtime.
The Eagles had the better of the offense and the only shot of the first overtime period, but once again, neither ERAU nor FIT was able to score and the game would go to a second overtime.
The last Eagles attack came in the 105th minute with
Sophie Brundin header getting blocked. The Panthers had one more chance in the 109th minute but would have a header of their own hit the post, ending the game in a scoreless draw.
Danna Ruchti was solid for the Eagles between the posts as she tallied four saves in the first half and finished with six in the contest.
The Eagles return to the pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in a matchup with Tampa. The game will take place at Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium with first touch set to come at 7 p.m.
