DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – The Embry-Riddle men's soccer team will open up the 2019 season Saturday with a trip north to the Volunteer State to take on the Lee University Flames. Kick-off for Saturday's game is slated for 7 p.m.
 
Head Coach David Gregson will be entering his 26^thseason in 2019, as the Eagles look to improve on a 2-10-1 campaign last fall, including a 1-8-1 mark in Sunshine State Conference play.
 
The Eagles return the majority of last year's team, while bringing in talented group of freshmen. Leading scorers Teddy West and Tim-Frederik Lange are both back, after recording three goals and a pair of assists each in 2018. Alex O'Brien and Christian Mather return as well, each of them scoring twice last fall.
 
The back line for ERAU will be an experienced one, as starters Garðar Benediktsson, Ryan Kirby and Nelson Andres Pusquin are all returning. Nathan Hubbs will bring additional experience to the group, and newcomer Kyle Tarbox will compete for playing time and provide depth at the position.
 
The Eagles return some experience in goal in the person of Gudmundur Sigurbjornsson, who recorded a 1.66 goals against average as he saw the majority of playing time last season. Jack Crichton and Will Huckaby are the other two keepers on the ERAU roster who will look to compete for playing time as freshmen. 
 
The front line for Embry-Riddle will be led by Lange, who will be joined by returners Roberto Whitley, who started seven contests last fall, and Collins Maude. The group will be bolstered by the arrival of freshmen Konstantin Kosoric and Andy Gonzalez Leyva. 
 
The midfield position will be led by the group of Mather, O'Brien and West. Olav Olsen Aamlid, Afonso Martins and Ross Dickinson all bring starting experience with them into 2019. Toby Cassidy, Diogo Cobos, Brendan Duran, Hampus Rasmussen and Jesse Williams all saw playing time in 2018, and will round out an experienced and deep group.
 
Lee finished 2018 with a 9-7-3 record, including a 6-3-2 tally in Gulf South Conference competition. The Flames made it to the second round of the GSC Championships last year, but wound up on the wrong end of a 3-2 contest to eventual champion Spring Hill.
 
The Flames were picked to finish third in the Gulf South in 2019 and had three players named to the All-GSC Preseason Team. Samir Williams helped anchor a tough backline for Lee that posted a 0.96 goals against average, starting all 17 games he saw action in and recording a pair of assists along the way. Jared McWhorter saw action in all 19 games last year in the Flames' midfield, starting 18 as he recorded three goals and three assists. Daniel Hrenko was a mainstay in goal last season for Lee, starting all 19 matches as he allowed 19 goals against 70 saves, posting seven shutouts along the way. 
 
Saturday's match will be the third meeting all-time between Lee and Embry-Riddle. The Flames have won each of the previous two contests by scores of 1-0.