Tritons Earn SSC Win at Embry-Riddle, 1-0

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A strong defensive performance played a key role as the Eckerd men's soccer team earned its first Sunshine State Conference win of the season, edging SSC newcomer Embry-Riddle on the road, 1-0, on Wednesday.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 1, Embry-Riddle 0
Records: Eckerd 3-3 (1-2 SSC); Embry-Riddle 1-4 (0-3 SSC)
All-Time Series: Eckerd leads, 13-3-2

HOW IT HAPPENED
* The Tritons controlled possession early and created two chances in the match's first few minutes, but both were turned away by ERAU keeper Richard Dearle.  Eckerd kept the pressure on for 10 straight minutes earning four corner kicks, but none resulted in a goal.
* The remainder of the first half was more evenly-played.  EC had another chance off a Juan David Tejada corner in the 30th minute but Westleigh Rush's shot was stopped by Dearle.  Meanwhile, Alex Gott saved the only shot that Embry-Riddle placed on frame as the teams went into halftime scoreless.
* After an early shot by Rush in the second half was turned back, Gott stopped two more ERAU attempts with a pair of fantastic saves.
* Eckerd finally broke the tie in the 75th minute on a sequence set up by a Rush corner kick.  ERAU attempted to clear the ball, but Nick Reinauer won it out of the air and headed it to Robert Carter who in turn headed the ball past Dearle for his first career goal.
* Embry-Riddle made a late effort but couldn't notch the equalizer, missing a chance when a header by Ryan Sitler sailed over the crossbar in the 89th minute.

NOTABLE
* Tonight's contest marked the return of Matheus Assumpcao, who missed the last two matches with a minor injury.  The senior played 36 minutes.
* Gott saved four shots and posted his second full clean sheet of the season, giving him 13.5 for his career.  He is now two away from tying Bob Kovack (1992-95) for third place on the program's career list.
* Shots were nearly equal with ERAU holding an 11-10 edge, while the Tritons placed one more on goal (5-4).

QUOTABLE
"While injuries remain part of the equation, I still expect us to be better than we were tonight.  Maybe a little fear crept in our game based on the last two games, a little desperation that led to poor decisions in possession.  Sure, we won the game.  This is always the aim.  But I'd rather we do it with more control than we did tonight." - EC head coach Ian Cameron

UP NEXT
The Tritons face a tough test on Saturday at Johnson Field, hosting No. 5 Lynn University at 7:00 PM.