Box Score Prescott, Ariz. – Facing off against a preseason top-10 opponent for a second straight time to open the 2021 season, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Universities (Ariz.) women's soccer team dropped a hard fought, 1-0, decision to No. 10 Eastern Oregon.
It did not take long for the lone goal of the game to be scored. In the third minute Natalie Goeth got to a ball in the right corner of the field and put it through the box to Lindsay Balkenbush who slipped into the EARU goal from the left side.
Embry-Riddle (0-1-1) came right back with several quality chances at a score, getting five shots off in an eight-minute span. Katy Hyde (JR/Denton, Texas), Ellie Neal (SO/Gilbert, Ariz.), and Morgan Hodges (SR/Flagstaff, Ariz.) all saw their shots go on target only to see the Eastern Oregon (1-1) goalie, Madeline Baker, make the save. Baker made her fourth save of the half on another shot by Hyde in the 22nd minute and the Mountaineers held on to their 1-0 lead going into the half.
In the first 30 minutes of the second half Embry-Riddle again had some quality looks, getting off seven shots, five of which were on goal. But the Eagles could not get one past Baker, who finished the game with nine saves.
Neal led the ERAU offense with four shots on goal, while Mackenzie Osther (SR/San Diego, Calif.) made a pair of save in goal for the Eagles.
