DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After a frustrating road trip, the Embry-Riddle men's soccer got back on track at the ERAU Soccer Stadium on Saturday night, earning a 2-2 draw against Eckerd. The tie gives the Eagles (2-4-2, 0-2-1 Sunshine State Conference) their first point in conference play since Oct. 9, 2021, when the Blue and Gold also finished in a draw with the Tritons (3-1-4, 2-0-1 SSC).
 
For the fourth-consecutive match in the all-time series with Eckerd, Embry-Riddle was first on the scoreboard. Jano Baxmann sprinted past a Triton defenseman inside the box. Anthony Velez dribbled up the left side and saw the open area around Baxmann. He passed the sophomore the ball, which set Baxmann up for an easy tap in from about 10 feet out in the 21st minute, his first score of the year.
 
However, six ticks later, Eckerd found a tying strike. The Eagle defense managed to stand firm, holding the Tritons to just three shots in the first half compared to six for the home squad. Embry-Riddle nearly found the go-ahead goal before halftime when Andrew Grossman charged a curving shot from the front left side of the box toward the top right corner of the goal, but it went just wide.
 
Eckerd became more aggressive in the second half, forcing ERAU starting keeper Thomas Loesel to make multiple stops. In the 66th minute, a Triton dribbled past multiple Eagle defenders into the box. He ripped a shot that rolled toward the left side of the goal, but Loesel dove to keep the contest tied.
 
Unfortunately, Eckerd managed to put a shot past the keeper at 73:42, although it did take three tries. The Eagle defense blocked the first shot, which rebounded back out to the Tritons. Loesel saved the second shot, but Eckerd used a second rebound to put the third shot in the back of the net.
 
ERAU never gave up, though, as the Eagles scored on their next offensive attack. With under five minutes remaining, Tom Shepherd crossed the ball toward the far-right post. Grossman headed it toward the goal, but it bounced off the right post. Fortunately, Louis Walker was there to collect the loose ball and send it in for an equalizer, also his first goal of the season and his Eagle career.
 
The Tritons had one more opportunity to regain the lead on a set piece just outside of the box in the 88th minute. The referee paused play for multiple minutes due to a wall of Eagles refusing to take additional steps backward. The eventual shot sailed over the crossbar anyway.
 
Baxmann and Walker picked up goals in the match for ERAU while Velez earned an assist. Four different members of the Blue and Gold tallied two shots (Baxmann, Grossman, Shepherd, and Velez). Loesel, the SSC leader in saves, added four more to his season total (42).
 
The Eagles go on another road trip starting with a match against Florida Southern on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. The 2022 Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.