ERAU Blanks Northwood 2-0 to Win Sun Conference Regular Season Title
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Just one day after moving into the No. 1 spot in the national poll, the Embry-Riddle women's soccer team celebrated winning the 2014 Sun Conference regular season title after the team defeated 14th-ranked Northwood (12-5-2) 2-0, Wednesday at Northwood's Arrigo-Vecellio Field. In addition to giving the Eagles' the program's sixth regular season crown, Tuesday's victory secured a spot in the NAIA National Tournament field for the 16-1 Eagle squad.
Embry-Riddle dominated the possession for the majority of the game. Propelled by good combination play and foraging runs down the flanks, as well as strong midfield play and a stout effort by the back line, the Eagles took 12 shots, including seven on frame, and held a Seahawk team that averages 18.72 shots per contest to just six shots on the day.
The first shot of the afternoon came from the head of Julia Axengren whose attempt sailed over the crossbar. Less than two minutes later, the Eagles got their first chance of the game. The play started with a counter attack and ended with Northwood goalkeeper Mathilda Hjalte grabbing
Katherine Ebbs' diving left-footed shot.
The Eagles, who outshot the Seahawks 6-3 in the first half, netted the first goal of the game in the 11th minute. ERAU won a throw-in on the right side, which was taken by
Janina Helwig. Helwig got the ball to
Andrea Froshaug who spun and lifted a cross into the box.
Emmie Johansson met the cross, flipped the ball to herself to elude a defender and tucked a shot into the far side netting to make the score 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
With two minutes left in the first frame, the Seahawks got a dangerous cross off from the right side, but the serve went just beyond the reach of Grace Wilkinson who ran in trying finish the play. The Blue and Gold had two other chances to add to its tally but came up short and took the one-goal lead into the halftime break.
Just five minutes into the second half, the Eagles struck again. Johansson collected the ball in the middle of the Northwood defensive half, spun and slipped a pass through to
Nina Joergensen making a slicing run. Joergensen turned and took her time to line up a shot, which she rifled past Hjalte to put the Eagles up 2-0.
In the latter part of the of the second half, trailing by two goals, Northwood picked up its offensive intensity and pushed numbers forward, but the Eagle defense stood tall and turned away each attempt to notch the team's seventh shutout of the year.
By securing the automatic bid to the national tournament, the Eagles will have a two-week layoff until their next match. The tournament bracket for the 31st Annual Women's Soccer National Championship will be announced on Nov. 16 at which time the Eagles will learn their opponent for the National Championship Opening Round being played at various campus sites around the country on Nov. 22.
Up next for Northwood is play in The Sun Conference Tournament. As the tournament's No. 1 seed, Northwood will have a first-round bye and will meet the winner of Thursday's game between Southeastern and Webber International in semifinal action on Saturday.