ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The sixth-seeded Embry-Riddle women's soccer team put forth a valiant effort but the Eagles were unable to get by Nova Southeastern on Friday, falling to the fifth-seeded Sharks 2-1 in the NCAA II South Region final at Flagler Field. The loss brought the Eagles' 2019 campaign to a close at 12-6-2, while the Sharks improved to 17-3-2 and advanced to the NCAA II national quarterfinals.
 
Both teams came out looking for the early score, but it was NSU who took the lead on an Emma Heikkila free kick in the 15^thminute of play.
 
Following the Shark goal, the offense shifted to the other side of the field as the Eagles recorded the next three shots, one of which was blocked by an NSU defender and another which was saved by the Shark goalkeeper.
 
In the 26^thminute, the Eagle pressure paid off. Ragnheidur Gardarsdottir collected the ball about 15 yards outside the box and played it to Isabelle Navren on the right side. Navren hit a low cross into the box where Marie Myhrvold Seim was able to get a foot on the ball. Myhrvold Seim's touch was just enough that Shannon Heartly wasn't able to hold onto the ball, and Gardarsdottir, who had continued her run into the box, pushed the ball past the NSU goalkeeper to tie things up a 1-1.
 
Coming out of the halftime break, the Eagles continued to pressure the Shark defense and had the better of the offense to start the half, but it was the Sharks who were able to find the game's last goal as Dejah Holman fed Gaby Moreira for the game-winner.
 
The Eagles worked the ball into their offensive third several times throughout the remainder of the match and created chances but were unable produce that final touch that net the equalizer.
 
"Congratulations to John and the Nova Southeastern team," ERAU Head Coach Samantha Bohon said." You have to give them credit because they play a certain style and are incredibly effective and efficient. You know what's coming from them but you still have a tall task to stop it. It took us some time to settle down in the first half but showed that if we could possess and move the ball quickly, we could create chances. You can't give a free kick to Heikkila at that distance because that's right in her wheelhouse. I was happy with our response to going down and we got the equalizer off a hard-working play. In the second half, I thought we were on the front foot for most of the half.  I really thought as the game went on that we were going to get a goal when it was 1-1. Even when they scored to go ahead, I thought we were creating chances and would tie it. We just couldn't find the equalizer but I'm really proud of how hard our team fought until the very end."
 
Embry-Riddle's senior class closed out their careers wearing the Blue and Gold as the most successful in the program's NCAA II history. After finishing regular season play with a fourth-place finish in the Sunshine State Conference standings, the Eagles toppled the top two seeds to win its first conference tournament title and earn the program's first NCAA II tournament berth.
 
"The hardest part of this loss is knowing we won't have this group again," Bohon commented. "Our seniors have invested their heart into this program and set a new standard that our returners want to meet and push even higher. And this extends beyond the field. It's a group that represents the student-person-player package at an incredibly high level. I'm so lucky to have been a part of their story and am incredibly proud of our team and staff."