DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In its first match against a ranked opponent this season, the Embry-Riddle men's soccer team once again played strong defensively but could not upset No. 5 Palm Beach Atlantic (10-1, 6-1 Sunshine State Conference) in a 2-0 loss on Wednesday.
 
Despite this being the seventh SSC match for the Eagles, it was the second time facing the top scoring offense in the conference. Back on Sept. 25, Embry-Riddle held Tampa scoreless through regulation. Now facing a surging Sailfish squad on a five-match winning streak and scoring 2.7 goals per game, the Eagles (2-9-1, 1-5-1 SSC) had to execute on the defensive side of the field.
 
Unfortunately, Palm Beach Atlantic struck just two minutes on when a high-arcing shot from outside the box sunk down just under the crossbar and in for a goal.
 
The Eagles almost found the tying goal in the 37th minute when Sandro Henning received a corner kick from Teddy West. Henning sprinted toward the pass and used his momentum to launch a rocket of a shot from 30 feet in front of the net. Despite the velocity, the Sailfish's keeper was able to make the save.
 
Jack Crichton made his own impressive save back in the 25th minute. A Palm Beach Atlantic attacker dribbled through two Eagle defenders on the right side of the box and found himself in a one-on-one situation with Crichton. The goalkeeper dropped to the ground and deflected the shot by sticking out his left hand just in time.
 
Out of the break, the Sailfish tacked on another goal in the 49th minute to go up 2-0, the eventual final score.
 
Sandro Henning and Amit Libgot each recorded a shot in the match for Embry-Riddle, which were also on goal. In the net, Jack Crichton made three saves.
 
The Eagles hit the road one last time to face No. 19 Lynn on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Boca Raton. The 2021 Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.