MEN'S SOCCER GAMEDAY: Eckerd at Embry-Riddle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After tying the longest unbeaten streak in program history since 2007, the Eckerd College men's soccer team will now aim to break it when they travel to face Embry-Riddle (Fla.) on Saturday night at 7:00 PM.

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SETTING THE STAGE
The Tritons (4-0-1, 1-0-1), unbeaten through five matches for the first time since 2007, looks to keep the streak alive against provisional Sunshine State Conference member Embry-Riddle.  The Eagles (1-3) have lost their last three matches, including a pair of road losses to SSC members Barry and Nova Southeastern.  Tonight's contest does not count toward the SSC standings.

LAST TIME THEY MET
It's been over 12 years since Eckerd and ERAU have faced off.  The Eagles won the last meeting, 6-1, on September 6, 2003.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Eckerd leads the all-time series over Embry-Riddle, 11-3-1.  The Tritons' last win over ERAU came in 1996.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
It's been a bit of a slow start for Embry-Riddle in its second year of transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II.  The Eagles opened the year with a 3-0 win over Southeastern (Fla.), a former conference mate, but have since dropped three in a row albeit by close margins in two of those losses.  ERAU has allowed at least one goal in all four of its matches this season.  The Eagles have been out-shot by their opponents, 57-26, and have surrendered a significantly higher amount of corner kicks (29) than they have taken (9).  Moriba Ballah has scored two of the team's four goals with both coming in the win over Southeastern.

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
The Tritons have been one of the best defensive teams in the nation so far this season, ranking sixth in NCAA Division II in goals allowed average at 0.38.  Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Gott leads the conference and ranks ninth in the nation in save percentage (.895) and ranks sixth nationally in goals allowed average.  EC has shut out its opponent three times already this year.

SETTING IT UP
Eckerd also ranks in the top 10 nationally in assists per game, coming in at eighth with an average of 3.0 per contest.  Richard Ainscough leads the way with three assists while Jordan Lee, Juan David Tejada and Wyeth Leemon each have two.