DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It was a cool night in Daytona Beach, but the Embry-Riddle women's soccer team got off to a hot start, scoring two goals in the first 10 minutes of play on the way to a 3-0 win over Palm Beach Atlantic on Wednesday. The Eagles (7-3-1) notched their third Sunshine State Conference win of the year to improve to 3-1-1 in the league, while the Sailfish (4-5-1) dropped to 1-4 in SSC play.
 
Lauryn Mateo figured in all three goals scoring the first two and assisting on the third for a five-point performance. Embry-Riddle outshot PBA 18-10, but only one Sailfish shot tested ERAU goalkeeper Oona Jonkinen, while 10 of the Eagles attempts were on frame.
 
The Eagles asserted their dominance early, moving the ball around the pitch and keeping the Sailfish pinned deep in their half of the field. It didn't take long for the Eagles to break down the Sailfish defense. Less than three minutes into the game Agnes Vigholm's shot was blocked by a Sailfish defender but the ricochet made its way to Berglind Thrastardottir on the left side. Mateo finished Thrastardottir's cross into the box with a diving header to give the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead.
 
Mateo's second goal of the night came a scant six minutes later. This time the sophomore picked up a ball chested down to her by Vigholm and rifled a shot from 25 yards away to double the Eagle advantage to 2-0. The Eagles bested the Sailfish 12-6 in shots in the first half, including a shot by Wilma Bergman that forced a PBA save and Samantha longed that hit the cross bar. But at halftime, the advantage remained at 2-0 for the Eagles.
 
The Sailfish were more aggressive to start the second half and they enjoyed more possession in the Eagles' half of the field than they did in the first period. But the Eagles remained steady in their approach and two minutes after the first Sailfish shot of the period sailed above the cross bar, the home team struck again. After being on the receiving end of two goal-creating chances, Mateo registered an assist of her own as her pass beat four PBA defenders and found Grace Foyer on the right side. The senior's first touch was a strike that went across the face of goal and into the far side netting to seal the 3-0 win.
 
The Eagles close out their four-game homestand at 7 p.m. on Saturday against Tampa.
 
The 2024 Embry-Riddle women's soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.