DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Embry-Riddle (9-1-3, 5-1-2) defeated Saint Leo (5-5-4, 1-4-3) 1-0 on Saturday at Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium. With this win the Eagles clinch a postseason birth for the Sunshine State Conference tournament. This will mark the first time that the Embry-Riddle squad has made the SSC tournament since joining in 2015.
The difference in the game was the right footed strike of
Jonas Banouas in the 60th minute of the contest.
Marcos da Silva recorded his third consecutive shutout in net and fourth of the last five games. From 71:02 to 81:14 the Eagles managed to hold their 1-0 lead while withstanding six Saint Leo shots during that time frame without conceding. The Blue and Gold recorded the shutout despite being outshot 11-9, with both sides putting two shots on goal.
First Half
- Embry-Riddle had an early shot from
Chris Kin at 4:44, while Saint Leo was called offside twice before putting a shot on goal at 11:58.
- The Lions generated pressure through the middle of the half with a corner kick at 19:50, shots by Pietro Botasso and Hayata Kobayashi, and another corner at 33:33; the Eagles answered in that stretch with a
Louis Dolcini shot at 32:41.
- The closing stretch featured five fouls from 34:51 to 43:52 before
Kaden Stoddard sent a shot out right at 44:17, and the half ended without a goal.
Second Half
- ERAU generated early pressure with four corner kicks and two shots before the 60th minute, while da Silva made a save on Saint Leo's attempt at 52:27.
- Banouas scored at 60:14 off an assist from Dolcini, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The Blue and Gold followed with shots from Banouas and Stoddard over the next four minutes.
- Saint Leo answered with six shots and five corner kicks from 71:02 to 81:14, but da Silva made a save at 77:58 and another attempt was blocked as the score stayed 1-0.
- The closing stretch included six fouls after 82:30 and one Saint Leo shot that went high at 87:17, and ERAU finished the match with a 1-0 win.
Inside the Stats
-Banouas scored the game-winning goal and led Embry-Riddle with three shots, including two on goal.
-Banouas added his fourth game-winning goal of the season.
-da Silva made two saves and recorded his third consecutive shutout.
-Dolcini tallied the assist, his second of the season, and added two shots.
Up next
The Eagles soccer team hosts No. 19 Flagler on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. at Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla.
