COLUMBUS, Ga. – A goal in each half of play, as well as a stout defensive effort for 90 minutes propelled the 10th-ranked Embry-Riddle women's soccer team to a 2-0 upset of third-ranked Columbus State at the Cougars' Walden Soccer Complex on Saturday morning. The Eagles closed out their two-game trip with a 2-0 record, includng their first win on CSU's home field, while the Cougars move to 0-1 on the year.
The Eagles' first chance of the game came early in the first half when a dummy pass by
Savanna Sheahan put
Marie Myhrvold Seim in a one-v-one situation with the Cougars' last defender. Myhrvold Seim took a shot but CSU goalkeeper Lizzie Hedrick came up with a save to keep the Eagles off the board. The next 15 minutes saw the Eagles maintain much of the possession, but they only tested Hedrick two more times until the 19:35 mark.
The Eagles won a free kick just inside their half of the field and was taken by
Olivia Gallo. The ball bounced off several players just outside the box before falling to Myhrvold Seim. Myhrvold Seim played a short pass to
Berglind Thrastardottir who dribbled through a pair of defenders and struck a low ball toward the goal. Her strike deflected off a defender and into the back of the net giving the freshman the first goal of her career and the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Embry-Riddle bested the Cougars 4-1 in shots on goal, but Thrastardottir's score stood as the only separator between the two teams at the halftime break.
The Eagles were on the front foot to start the second frame with two dangerous attempts within the first 90 seconds. Both teams looked to find the game's next goal over the next 15 minutes, but it was the Eagles who struck again.
After threatening throughout the match, Myhrvold Seim finally got into the scoring column in the 60th minute. A ball crossed in from the right side slipped through a crowd of players to the senior at the top of the 18-yard box. Myrhvold Seim took full advantage of being unmarked and drilled a low strike into the right corner to put the Eagles up 2-0.
The ERAU defense recorded its second clean sheet of the season, including holding All-American Emma Beddow, who led the Cougars with 19 goals and nine assists in 2022, to just two shots on the day.
Oona Jokinen went the distance in goal for the Blue and Gold, turning back all four shots on frame from CSU.
The Eagles continue their four-game road swing on Wednesday when they return to Georgia to face Valdosta State at 6 p.m.
The 2023 Embry-Riddle women's soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.
