DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The third-ranked Embry-Riddle women's soccer team celebrated its 2023 Senior Night with a 4-0 shutout of Sunshine State Conference foe Saint Leo (4-5-5, 1-3-4), Saturday at the Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium. With their third shutout of the season, the Eagles improve to 9-1-3 overall and 6-1-1 in the conference.
The Eagles honored seniors
Alice Eriksson,
Marie Myhrvold Seim,
Isabelle Navren and
Savanna Sheahan for their contributions to ERAU women's soccer's success during their tenures. The senior class combined for a strong outing against the Lions with Myhrvold Seim tallying a goal and an assist, Sheahan recording two assists and Navren wreaking havoc on the Lions' back line. But it was sophomore
Ria Vlachos who headlined the Eagles' performance on Saturday coming off the bench to score her first two goals of the year.
After going scoreless for the first time this season on Wednesday, the Eagles went on the attack almost immediately against the Lions and scored within the first five minutes of the game. Sheahan corralled a Saint Leo goal kick and dribbled into the left corner before sending a low cross into the box which was met by Myhrvold Seim. Myhrvold Seim spun and hit a low shot through traffic into the left corner to put the Blue and Gold up 1-0 at the 4:14 mark.
Embry-Riddle dominated the possession as the first half progressed as evidenced by a 14-1 first half shot advantage. But they weren't able to find the net again until the 32nd minute after the Eagles won their fourth corner kick of the evening. An attempted clearance on Navren's set piece got back to the senior and her ensuing shot bounced off the cross bar and back into play. Sheahan stayed with the play and got the ball to Vlachos who was fresh off the bench. Standing at point blank range in front of the goal Vlachos volleyed the ball over the head of SLU goalkeeper Amit Beilin for her first goal of the season and a 2-0 Eagle lead.
With 5:50 left in the half
Ida Kummel pounced on a missed clearance by the Lions and quickly found Vlachos to her right. Vlachos spun and hit a strike from 30 yards out to beat Beilin again and give the Blue and Gold a 3-0 cushion at the half.
The start of the second half was very similar to the first with the Eagles scoring inside the first four minutes of the period. This time it was
Lauryn Mateo who finished a pass from Myhrvold Seim to extend the Eagle lead to 4-0.
The Lions managed four shots in the second frame, but
Oona Jokinen saved the only one that was on frame. The final stat sheet showed the Eagles with a 22-6 advantage in shots, including an 10-1 advantage in shots on goal.
Beilin finished with six saves in the Saint Leo effort.
The Eagles will step away from conference play on Wednesday to take on 19th-ranked Flagler in St. Augustine at 7 p.m.
The 2023 Embry-Riddle women's soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.
