ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Heading into play Wednesday, the match up between the No. 9-ranked Raven Women's Soccer team and the No. 1-ranked Embry-Riddle (Fla.) Eagles was a statistical dead lock.
The quarterfinal match between Benedictine (19-2-1) and Embry-Riddle (19-1-0) proved it as the Ravens scored late to make things interesting against the Eagles only to have ERAU hold off a last-minute push to earn a 2-1 win.
Embry-Riddle scored two goals in a five-minute stretch of the first half to take a 2-0 advantage in halftime. ERAU struck first off a cross during the 30th minute and then extended their advantage on a free kick during the 35th minute.
At the half, Embry-Riddle held a 7-6 advantage in shots with the two teams deadlocked in shots on goal at three.
With ball possession at nearly 50-50 through the first 45 minutes of the match, the difference at halftime proved to be the play of Embry-Riddle keeper Olivia Lynch. Lynch recorded three saves in the first half and finished the match with five.
The halftime deficit was Benedictine's first since trailing Missouri Valley College 1-0 during their match on Oct. 5, 2013.
Embry-Riddle came out in the second half and put the pressure on Benedictine offensively but could only manage one shot on goal over the final 45 minutes of play.
Benedictine pulled within a goal during the 81st minute when the Ravens put several shots on frame, the last of which banged off the right post to Kara Hines, who headed it in past Lynch.
The Ravens continued to apply pressure offensively but could only manage one more shot over the final five minutes of the match.
Benedictine keeper Ashley Holland finished with two saves – one in each half.
Offensively, the Ravens late push allowed them to finish the match with a 13-11 advantage in shots while also holding a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal.
The Raven Senior class wraps up their Benedictine careers with an overall mark of 56-17-9 with two Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships, one Heart Postseason Tournament title and two NAIA postseason berths.
