ERAU vs. Rollins: War of Attrition

It's always a war of attrition for the women on these two teams. On Oct. 25, the Eagles fought the Tars in a grueling match of high-octane offense and paralyzing defense. When all was said and done, the game ended in a 1-1 draw, a memorable result given the teams' rivalry. The match celebrated the seniors on the team, and the praise they were given surely acted as a catalyst for their fight in this intense match.

The duel began with intense pressure from the Tars attackers. Multiple shots narrowly missed their intended target. After a brief delay when an Eagle was momentarily injured, Jada Clarke found the perfect opening at the edge of the box. With incredible precision, she passed the ball through two pairs of legs, right at the awaiting foot of Emma Griner. It was a remarkable play. The shot screamed into the far corner of the net with zero chance of saving it. To all of the home-team fans, it felt like the beginning of an early end to this match, and the Eagles knew they had to strike back quickly before all hope seemed lost.

For the entirety of the rest of the first half, the Eagles had nearly complete possession, putting on numerous shots. However, no goal would come in the first half. It was time to reconvene; time to figure out what needs to be done to break the Tars' defense.

The second half commenced with a similar level of pressure from the Eagles. Anna Marisa Lara put on a show in the midfield, passing the ball with perfection and handling it with even greater precision. Only a few minutes into the half, an Eagle fell inside the Tars' box. Penalty. Lauryn Mateo stepped forward and placed the ball on the spot. The silence that ensued was deafening, but the kick rang out like a bell, tolling in the night. It was a masterpiece of a penalty.

The Eagles put on immense pressure for the rest of the game, but in the end, it was a draw. Neither team got the result they wanted, but they both achieved a feeling of accomplishment. Everyone, even if unsatisfied with the result, was pleased with their team's performance. Only one question hung in the air as the lights shut off for the night: Will the superior team finally emerge the next time they face each other?

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