DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's soccer team defeated Saint Leo 3-2 in the Sunshine State Conference tournament quarterfinals, Monday at the ERAU Soccer Stadium. The third-seeded Eagles improved to 11-0-5 and advanced to the tournament semifinals with the win, while the sixth-seeded Lions ended their season at 8-6-2. 
 
The game got off to a fast start as Saint Leo tested ERAU goalkeeper Oona Jokinen just 15 seconds after the first whistle. After that initial press, the Eagles turned the tables and put the Lions back on their heels as the first five minutes saw shots by Marie Myhrvold Seim and Isabelle Navren just miss the mark. 
 
After outshooting the Lions 6-1 and besting the visitors 4-0 in corner kicks, the Eagles finally converted on a chance in the 22^nd minute. Navren won the ball in the midfield and raced down the right side of the pitch before sending a cross into the box. The attempt was blocked by Grace Foyer who had made the run in behind Navren, but Foyer was able to collect the ball just inside the box and her cross found an unmarked Myrhvold Seim. The junior volleyed the ball past Saint Leo netminder Maitane Bravo to put the Eagles up 1-0 with her ninth goal of the season. 
 
Despite having an 8-3 shot advantage, the Eagles were unable to add to their tally in the first half and took the one-goal edge into the halftime break. 
 
The second half started much like the first ended with the Eagles pressuring the Saint Leo defense, including shots by Myhrvold Seim and Saba Amiri that forced Bravo to come up with saves. 
 
Just nine minutes into the half, the Eagles doubled their lead. Foyer won the ball in Lions' third of the field and played it to Moa Karlsson who spun and completed a short pass to Navren running down the right side. Navren cut the ball in toward the center of the pitch and rifled a left-footed shot from about 20 yards out into the upper left corner to extend the Eagle lead to 2-0. 
 
Karlsson got into the scoring column herself 10 minutes later. Amiri won the ball after a scramble in the box, dribbled out of pressure to the end line and tapped the ball to Karlsson who turned and slotted home her first goal of the season to increase the Eagle advantage to 3-0. 
 
What appeared to be a comfortable lead quickly turned into anxious moments as the Lions scored twice off set pieces within a 15-minute span to make it a 3-2 game. The final five minutes of the contest finished in a flurry and in the end the Eagles were able to hold on for the win and advance to the tournament semifinals.  
 
The Eagles will travel to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday to take on No. 2 seed Nova Southeastern at 7 p.m. 
  The 2022 Embry-Riddle women's soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.