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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Libgot 081822 DSC_0137
Alison Smalling
1
Embry-Riddle ERAUM (2-7-3, 0-5-2)
2
Winner Palm Beach Atl. PBA (7-2-1, 3-2-1)
Embry-Riddle ERAUM
(2-7-3, 0-5-2)
1
Final
2
Palm Beach Atl. PBA
(7-2-1, 3-2-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Embry-Riddle ERAUM 0 1 1
Palm Beach Atl. PBA 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Kyrin Mayfield | @k_mayfield97

Men’s Soccer Edged by Sailfish 2-1

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A goal with seven minutes left gave the Embry-Riddle men's soccer team some hope at making a comeback, but the Eagles fell just short and lost 2-1 to Palm Beach Atlantic at the PBA Soccer/Lacrosse Field on Wednesday. It was Embry-Riddle's final road match of the season. 

For the second contest in a row, the Eagles (2-7-3, 0-5-2 Sunshine State Conference) outshot the opposition with a 10-9 edge over the Sailfish (7-2-1, 3-2-1 SSC) in that category. Embry-Riddle also registered more shots on goal (7-5), a first for the team in 2022.

However, It was a sluggish start to the match as the two squads combined for just two shots in the first 17:59, none of which were on goal. Both defensives prevented either of the offenses from earning any up-close looks. Seth Conway, who made his first start of the season, showcased his defensive ability with a pair of clean tackles early on and made it difficult for the Sailfish to move the ball up the left side of the field.

At the start of the 19th minute, a Palm Beach Atlantic midfielder launched a pass ahead on the right side to an open Sailfish who sprinted past the Eagles' back line and reached the ball in time to send a rainbow shot over the keeper and into the back of the net. 

Palm Beach Atlantic continued to maintain a majority of the possession, which forced Embry-Riddle to play defensively and limited the Eagles' opportunities for an attack. 

Embry-Riddle had a chance to score in the 39th minute when Stefano Grimaldi found Anthony Velez unguarded up the right side. The speedy sophomore pressed onward until a defender approached him at the back right corner of the box. Velez tried to get his shot off unimpeded, but the Sailfish defender blocked it with his leg. 

As time continued to tick off the clock, a drizzle turned into a downpour in the final minutes of the first half. Hundreds of raindrops could be seen falling every second in front of the stadium lights, which made playing conditions difficult. 

The two squads went into the locker room with six combined shots, only two of which were on goal. Out of the break, the rain ceased, but the action on the pitch increased.

Following an interception, Jano Baxmann received a pass in the middle of the field and hustled down the field before passing it to Eden Bokobza on the right. The Omer, Israel, native was swarmed by multiple defenders, but he attempted a shot anyway. The ball was blocked, but it deflected back to Baxmann. From about 15 feet out, Baxmann ripped a shot on goal, but the keeper was able to drop to the ground and save it with his outstretched left leg.

Despite the offensive pressure, the deficit grew for Embry-Riddle when Palm Beach Atlantic scored on a free kick that curled into the top right corner of the goal in the 57th minute.

In the 67th minute, the Eagles used a set piece to send the ball into the box to the six-foot tall Yali Shiray. The sophomore was able to get his head on the cross but was unable to put enough power on it, and the ball took a high bounce into the hands of Palm Beach Atlantic's goalie. 

The Sailfish quickly mounted a counter attack and attempted a strong shot at the top of the box 40 seconds later, but Thomas Loesel, the Eagles' netminder, corralled the skipping shot. 

Another scoring chance for Embry-Riddle occured on a shot from Amit Libgot in the 79th minute. Louis Walker crossed the ball in from the left side, but the low-arcing pass was interrupted by the defense. The ball bounced out to the center of the box where Libgot used a one-touch shot to try and send the ball just below the crossbar, but Palm Beach Atlantic's keeper reached up and grabbed it out of the air with his fingertips. 

Libgot and the Eagle offense continued to fight, though, and the Blue and Gold finally broke into the scoring column four minutes later. Shiray intercepted a pass at midfield and immediately dribbled up the pitch. With a defender closing in, Shiray sent the ball ahead to an unguarded Libgot inside the box. Libgot took a few touches and then launched the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal to bring the Eagles within one of the Sailfish. 

Andy Paterson nearly found an equalizer with 67 seconds remaining, but his header was barely grabbed in time by the opposing goalie just in front of the left side of the goal line. Unfortunately, that was the final opportunity Embry-Riddle had to tie the score.

Libgot became the ninth different Eagle to score in a match in 2022, the most in a single season since 2016. Shiray notched his first career assist on the play. Libgot and Mattia Dabala lead the team in shots with a pair each while the former also led in shots on goal with two as well. In the net, Loesel increased his SSC lead in total saves by accumulating three more on the night to give him 58 so far this year and 72 for his career, tied for the ninth most in program history. 

Embry-Riddle starts a three-match home streak on Saturday against Lynn at 7 p.m.
The 2022 Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.
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