DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For the second time in the first three matches of Sunshine State Conference play, the Embry-Riddle men's soccer team headed into overtime. Unfortunately, the Eagles were unable to come away victorious this time around and lost 1-0 to Tampa on Saturday.
For a majority of the contest, the Embry-Riddle defense performed impressively. Facing the top offense in the conference - one that scores two and a half goals per match - the Eagles were not intimidated.
Starting goalkeeper
Jack Crichton played a big role in Embry-Riddle's efforts to keep the Spartans off the scoreboard. In the 16th minute, Crichton raced out of the box to intercept a lengthy pass by Tampa. Had he not done so, it would have been a dangerous one-on-one situation.
Eden Bokobza nearly got the Eagles' first score with ten seconds left to go in the first half. The freshman trapped the ball from a high pass and shot from about 40 feet away, which surprised the Spartans' goalie as he had to make a leaping effort to his left to keep the ball from going in.
Then in the 53rd minute, Crichton came up big again. Tampa used a timely pass that allowed Omar Thali to speed past Embry-Riddle's defensive line and run all alone down the left side of the pitch. Thali caught up to the pass and fired a shot in from just outside the goal box. Crichton dropped to his knees and made a save with his legs to preserve the tie.
At the end of regulation, the Eagles held the Spartans to two shots on goal and a zero in the goal column.
No shots were recorded in the first period of overtime. However, the offensive tempo increased for Tampa in the second overtime period. With under two minutes remaining, the Spartans found an opening off of a corner kick. Cody Wells headed the pass in for the golden goal.
Seven different Eagles recorded one shot on the night.
Jack Crichton received a season-high four saves in net.
After playing two matches per week for the past four weeks, Embry-Riddle receives some rest before its next match on Saturday, October 2 at the ERAU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The 2021 Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.
