DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For the second time in as many meetings, the Embry-Riddle and Florida Tech women's soccer teams played to a 1-1 draw, but unlike the previous game, Wednesday's contest counted toward both teams' Sunshine State Conference ledger. For the fifth-ranked Eagles it was their third tie of the season and moved their overall record to 6-0-3 and their conference record to 3-0-1. Florida Tech is now 6-1-3 and 3-1-1 in the SSC.
The box score showed an evenly played match with Florida Tech holding a 9-8 edge in shots and Embry-Riddle besting the Panthers 6-3 in shots on goal. Both goalkeepers came up with clutch saves to keep the score level as
Oona Jokinen recorded two stops and her Panther counterpart Ayana Aoyagi collected five saves.
The Eagles had the first shot on goal of the game but spent much of the next 20 minutes in the Panthers' half of the field. The Panthers outshot the Eagles 4-2 in the first half and three of those attempts came during that 20-minute stretch.
In the 25th minute,
Isabelle Navren earned the first corner kick of the game.
Berglind Thrastardottir took the set piece and her ball to the near post was headed away by a Panther defender but right back to Thrastadottir's feet. The freshman took a few touches to get around the oncoming Panther defenders and rifled a shot into the lower left corner of the goal to put the Eagles up 1-0.
The Panthers put together a few chances late in the half, including a shot saved by Jokinen and a late scramble that saw the ball go in the back of the net right after time expired signaling the end of the first half. After 45 minutes, Thrastardottir's goal stood as the difference between the sides.
The second half started the way the first half ended, with the ball in the Eagles' half of the pitch. The Panthers' persistence resulted in a goal in the 50th minute as Maryem Ndiongue and Savannah Oxley combined to level the score at 1-1.
Much of the next 10 minutes were played between the 18-yard boxes as both teams fought to maintain possession. In the 60th minute, the Eagles managed to get the ball down the field to
Lauryn Mateo just outside the six-yard box. Mateo got a shot off, but Aoyagi's quick reaction kick save turned Mateo's attempt away and kept the Eagles from adding to their tally.
Despite an 11-shot second half, neither team was able to score again, resulting in the 1-1 final.
The Eagles play the first of a three-game road swing on Saturday when they travel across the state to face Tampa at 7 p.m.
The 2023 Embry-Riddle women's soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.
