DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Three goals within a 12-minute stretch in the second half lifted the Embry-Riddle women's soccer team to 3-1 victory over Valdosta State. The Eagles handed the Blazers (2-1) their first loss of the season while improving to 2-1 on the year.
The Eagles enjoyed most of the possession in the first 45 minutes, but it was the Blazers who created the better scoring opportunities, outshooting the Eagles 3-2. The visitors registered the first shot on goal of the game in 11th minute, forcing ERAU netminder
Oona Jokinen to make a save. The Blazers threatened again in the 32nd minute when Hunter St. Wallace got a shot by Jokinen, but the Eagles were saved by the post as the ball bounced harmlessly back into play to start an Eagle counterattack. The counter led to an ERAU free kick but
Berglind Thrastardottir's attempt was saved by VSU goalkeeper Emma Pruett and the half ended in a scoreless tie.
The Eagles continued to control the possession to start the second half and they were finally able to convert in the 52nd minute. Thrastardottir's attempt from the edge of the box was blocked but the ball fell to
Wilma Bergman and the freshman fended off her defender and struck a shot that hit the underside of the cross bar before bouncing into the goal to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
That first goal opened things up for the Eagles who took eight shots in the second half. Less than six minutes after Bergman's goal,
Grace Foyer doubled the Eagle lead with her second goal of the season. The play started in the Eagles defensive third with a ball played to
Lauryn Mateo who raced downfield and got the ball to
Ida Zetterberg. Zetterberg's shot was blocked but Foyer collected the rebound and rifled a shot into the far side netting to make it 2-0 in favor of the Eagles.
Zetterberg scored a goal of her own in the 64th minute amidst a torrential downpour. Mateo held onto a ball played into the box by
Olivia Gallo and tapped a short pass to Zetterberg who hit a low shot into the left corner for the first goal of her college career and a 3-0 Eagle lead.
The Blazers managed to get a goal back in the 74th minute but they were unable to get any closer as the Eagle defense, led by a key save by Jokinen kept Valdosta State at bay.
The Eagles return to the pitch at noon on Saturday to host No. 17 Columbus State.
