The Emory University Men's Soccer team continued its winning tradition, finishing the 2006 season with a double-digit win total for the fifth-consecutive season. The Eagles finished their 2006 campaign with an 11-6-0 record, including an 8-2 record when playing at home, at the Woodruff P.E. Center.
The Eagles were powered during the year by a mix of veteran leadership on defense and talented young players on offense. Senior defenders Matthew Kaufman, Brandon Rust and Alex Grigalunas led a a stalwart defense that compiled a 0.93 goals against average and seven shutouts, while sophomores Patrick Carver and Patrick McFarland provided an attacking offense, combining for 36 points in 2006.
Emory began the season by winning each of its first nine contests for the second-straight year and for the third time in school history. The Eagles were ranked as high as ninth in the nation according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and second in the south region. The Eagles' year included wins over two NSCAA-ranked opponents. The Eagles defeated the 7th ranked College of New Jersey 4-1 at home on September 9th. Emory also defeated their 22nd-ranked conference opponent, Washington University (Mo.), in St. Louis on September 30th.
The season also featured a late-season 3-0 Emory victory against its longtime rival Greensboro College (N.C.), marking only the second time in the 18-game history of the rivalry that the Eagles have won by a shutout. Carver picked up two assists in the game for Emory, while Goalkeepers Keith Meehan and Daniel Guertin combined for the shutout.
Patrick Carver led the Eagles in all scoring categories in 2006, registering six goals and nine assists for 21 total points. Carver has led Emory in goals scored in each of his first two seasons, and both his 0.6 goals per game and 1.57 points per game over his career are fifth best in school history. The sophomore received all-conference honors for the second-consecutive season, after being named to the 2006 University Athletic Association (UAA) second team.
Four other Eagles were named to all-conference teams, marking
the fourth-straight season the Eagles have had five or more all-UAA
honorees. Co-captain Matthew Kaufman was named to the
all-conference first team for the second consecutive season,
starting all 17 games for the Eagles in 2006, and helping Emory
outscore its opponents 30-16. Kaufman was also named to the
D3Kicks.com all-South Region second team.
The following Emory players received individual post-season honors:
| All-Region (D3Kicks.com) | |||
|
Matthew Kaufman |
Second Team |
San Diego, CA (Rancho Bernardo) | |
|
| |||
|
All-Conference (University Athletic Association) | |||
|
Matthew Kaufman |
First Team |
San Diego, CA (Rancho Bernardo) | |
|
Patrick Carver |
Second Team |
Springfield, MO (Parkview) | |
|
Chad Chambers |
Honorable Mention |
Alpharetta, GA (Chattahoochee) | |
|
Tai Doan |
Honorable Mention |
Madrid, Spain (American School of Madrid) | |
|
Brandon Rust |
Honorable Mention |
West Windsor, NJ (Hopewell Valley Central) | |
| Academic All-District (CoSIDA) | |||
| Alex Grigalunas | First Team | Snellville, GA (South Gwinnett) | |
| Jordan Edelman | Second Team | Roslyn Heights, NY (The Wheatley School) | |
| Patrick McFarland | Second Team | Franklin, TN (Centennial) | |
| Brandon Rust | Second Team | West Windsor, NJ (Hopewell Valley Central) | |
***
Written by Jonathan Schwartz, Emory Assistant Sports
Information Director