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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Joyce 081822 DSC_0201
Alison Smalling
1
Embry-Riddle ERAUM (2-3-1, 0-1-0)
5
Winner Tampa TPA (3-3-0, 1-0-0)
Embry-Riddle ERAUM
(2-3-1, 0-1-0)
1
Final
5
Tampa TPA
(3-3-0, 1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Embry-Riddle ERAUM 0 1 1
Tampa TPA 0 5 5

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

Men’s Soccer Drops Rain-Soaked Match to Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. - In Embry-Riddle men's soccer's opening match of Sunshine State Conference play, the Eagles (2-3-1, 0-1-0 SSC) battled Tampa hard to a stalemate in the first half but fell behind in the second 45-minute period to lose 5-1 to the Spartans (3-2-0, 1-0-0 SSC) at Pepin Stadium. 

Thomas Loesel made a brilliant save early on in the fifth minute. A few precise passes set a Spartan up inside the box on the right side with just the keeper to beat, but Loesel dove to his right to push the rolling shot wide.

The goaltender isn't the only Eagle that made a brilliant save, though, as Louis Walker displayed his defensive prowess in the 19th minute. Loesel came out of the box to knock away a cross from a corner kick out of the air, but the ball bounced to a Spartan. However, Walker rushed to the goal line and used his left leg to deflect the shot. 

The saves kept coming for the Eagles when Loesel faced a rushing Spartan on the right side of the box. The Tampa player got as close as he could to the net when he unloaded on the ball from just a few feet out, but the sophomore goalie dropped to the ground to block the shot with his outstretched right leg. 

With 20 seconds remaining in the half, Tampa rushed a throw-in on the right side of the field. Quick passes brought the ball to an open Spartan inside the left of the box. He shot with one tick left on the clock, but Loesel swiftly denied the scoring chance. 

The Embry-Riddle defense held up strong in the first half by saving all eight shots on goal and preventing Tampa from receiving a clean look on any of its seven corner kicks aside from the one mentioned above. 

At the start of the second half, the skies opened up as heavy rain and strong gusts battered the two teams on the pitch. Unfortunately, these conditions caused cracks within the Eagles' defense as the Spartans scored four times within a nine-minute span.

Tampa added another goal in the 64th minute, but Embry-Riddle got the goose egg off the scoreboard nine minutes later thanks to Tom Shepherd's first score as an Eagle on a bottom-shelf shot in the middle of the net. 

Shepherd also was the lone member of the Blue and Gold to record multiple shots (2) on the night while Eden Bokobza was the only other Eagle to get off a strike. In the net, Loesel picked up seven saves.

Embry-Riddle continues on the road with a trip to Miami Shores to face Barry on Saturday. Play is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. 
The 2022 Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.
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