The Emory University men's soccer team recorded its highest goal total in more than two years, defeating Methodist University 7-0 in Fayetteville, NC on Saturday afternoon.

The seven goals scored marked the highest offensive output for the Eagles since they recorded an 8-0 win on August 31, 2008, also against Methodist.  It was also Emory's second highest goal total ever on the road, one short of the school record set during an 8-0 win at Piedmont College on September 18, 2007.

Emory capitalized off six different goal scorers who scored a goal each in the contest, including three from reserves off the bench.  The seventh goal came from a Methodist own goal in the second half.

After going scoreless for nearly the first 40 minutes of the match, Emory sophomore defender Andrew Natalino broke through with his third goal of the season, after Alex Scott found him with a pass following a throw in.  The Eagles would extend their lead to 2-0 heading into the half, as freshman Ben Dhiman scored his first collegiate goal in the 44^th minute, with an assist from junior Kamron Zia.  

Ten minutes into the second half, Emory leading scorer Zach Samuels extended the team's lead to 3-0 with his third goal of the season off a pass from freshman Dehmeh Smith.  Junior Nao Masuda notched his team-best fourth goal of the season in the 72^nd minute, helped by Natalino's second assist of the season.

After the own goal in the 77^th minute, the Eagles would tack on a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes.  Zia scored his second of the season unassisted at the 81:17 mark, and freshman Jan Gundersen scored his first collegiate goal at 85:05, with an assist credited to freshman Andrew Jones.

Emory's offense was incredibly accurate during the match.  Of the team's 16 total shots during the game, 14 ended up on goal.

Not to be overlooked in the outpouring of offense, the Emory defense held Methodist University to eight shots, just four of which were on goal.  The backline recorded its fourth-consecutive shutout, and its fifth total through six games this season.  Emory's defense has allowed just one goal this year, good for a 0.17 goals against average.

Junior Trenton Spindler earned his sixth win of the season, making one save in 74 minutes before giving way to sophomore Aram Keteyian, who made three addition saves to complete the shutout.

The win was also the 50th with the Eagles for Emory head coach Sonny Travis.  Travis became the quickest coach in school history to reach the mark, doing so in just 62 games with an overall record 50-9-3.  Of Emory's other two coaches to reach the 50-win plateau, it took Mike Rubesch 69 contests, and Tom Johnson 74.

Emory remained perfect on the season with the win, improving to 6-0-0 overall, while Methodist dropped to 3-4-0 with the loss.  The Eagles will return to action tomorrow, rounding out their two-game swing in Fayetteville with a 2:00 PM match against Averett University.