In a wild University Athletic Association (UAA) game in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday night that included a last-second game-tying goal for Case Western Reserve University, the Emory University men's soccer team dropped a 6-5 double overtime decision to the Spartans.

The contest featured a two-goal comeback for each team.  The 11 combined goals for the two teams are the most ever in an Emory UAA contest.

Emory found itself in a quick hole, as Case took a 2-0 lead in the first half behind goals from Eric Erb in the sixth minute and Patrick O'Day in the 17^th.

However, the Eagles cut the Spartans' lead to a goal in the 33^rd minute of play on junior Andrew Natalino's team-leading fifth goal of the season.  The goal was set up by a Case foul just outside the box, and on the ensuing free kick, the all-American outside back launched a rocket past the keeper and into the back of the net.

Emory would strike again before the end of the frame, this time on junior Charlie Donahue's first goal of the season.  After David Garofalo sent a long pass up the near sideline to Nao Masuda, Masuda was able to cross the ball over the middle of the field and inside the box to Donahue, who was able to hammer home the shot in the 44^th minute, tying the game at 2-2 heading into the second half.

The Eagles took the lead in the 58^th minute, as freshman Dylan Price headed in a long pass from junior Alistair Moore.  It was the fourth goal of the season for the freshman, and the second assist of the year for Moore.

Just under three minutes later, the Eagles would strike again, taking a 4-2 lead on Andrew Jones' fourth goal of the campaign.  The sophomore took a pass from Moore and drove into the box, pulling the Spartans' keeper out of position.  Jones was able to sneak a soft shot past the last defender guarding the line, giving Emory a two-goal lead.

Case Western Reserve wasted little time getting back into the game, with the Spartans' leading scorer Vinny Bell scoring his 15^th of the season in the 64^th minute.  However, once again, a Case foul from just outside the box yielded results for the Eagles, with senior Zach Samuels scoring on a free kick, tying him with Natalino for the team lead with five goals this season, and giving the Eagles a 5-3 lead. 

The Spartans began a comeback of their own in the 79^th minute, as Kostis Theoharides scored to pull Case back within a goal of the Eagles.

Then, with nine seconds remaining and the game seemingly in hand for Emory, a yellow card issued to Javier Puga well outside the box, stopping the clock, and allowing Case to pull their goalkeeper forward to the attacking third on the ensuing free kick.  The move paid off, as Bell tied the game with his second goal of the game, scoring with six seconds left in regulation.

After a scoreless first overtime frame, Case received a corner kick in the 102^nd minute.  Fittingly, the man who started all the scoring, Eric Erb, ended the game with a header goal, giving the Spartans the victory.

With the loss the Eagles dropped to 6-6-0 on the season and to 1-2-0 in conference play.  Case Western Reserve raised its conference ledger to 2-1-0, and its overall record to 10-3-0.

The Eagles will wrap up their UAA road weekend on Sunday at the University of Rochester at 11:00 AM.

Emory Notes
Natalino has now scored in three of the last four Emory games, and in all three UAA games the Eagles have played in this year… Natalino leads all Emory players with 13 points this season… Garofalo picked up his third assist of the season in the game, tying him with four other players for the team lead… This is the third time this season that the Eagles have scored five goals in a game… The five goals are the most scored by Emory in a conference game since November 2^nd, 2008, when the Eagles defeated NYU 6-3... Case outshot Emory 20-14 in the game, including a 13-7 edge in shots on goal… Emory goalkeeper Alex Wong made seven saves in the loss… The Eagles are now 1-1-0 in overtime games this season.