COLUMBUS, Ga. – Playing in their first contest in a year and a half, the Embry-Riddle women's soccer team was unable to get by 20th-ranked Columbus State on Friday. The Eagles fell to the Cougars 2-1 in the first game of the 2021 season for both teams in the first round of the CSU Cougar Invitational.
"It felt so good to be back playing after 18 months away from this environment," ERAU Head Coach
Samantha Bohon said." Jay [Entlich] and his Columbus State group are always well-organized, so it was a fun challenge for us to embrace to start our season. Our team is walking away with a hard lesson that a game can be lost in the opening 15-20 minutes of a game. Once we went down 2-0, it's like we woke up and started playing. We were happy with some of the build-ups and must give CSU credit as they put on a blocked shots clinic tonight in the box. There were some good things from our group, but we know we're capable of more. I know the players are anxious to get back on the field Sunday vs a talented Queens team."
The Cougars got on the board first courtesy of a Morgan Parker score in the sixth minute. The advantage doubled in the 22nd minute when Rachael Swiegard's first shot of the evening found the back of the net to make it 2-0 for the home team.
The Blue and Gold got on the board less than a minute later.
Isabelle Navren played the ball into the box from the right side of the field where
Ragnheidur Gardarsdottir was able to get a foot on it. Gardarsdottir was unable to control the pass, but the ball fell to
Marie Myhrvold Seim who knocked in her first shot attempt of the year to pull the Eagles within a goal.
An even second half saw both teams combine for 11 shots, but neither team was able to capitalize, resulting in the 2-1 final score.
The Eagles face Queens-Charlotte in their final game of the CSU Cougar Invitational at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The 2021 Embry-Riddle women's soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates
