The Emory University Men's Soccer Team will begin its quest for a second-straight University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship this weekend, when the Eagles welcome 15^th-ranked Washington University (Mo.) to the Woodruff Physical Education Center on Sunday, October 6^th at 11:00 AM.

Coverage
Fans unable to attend Sunday's match can follow the action with live statistics, available at http://www.go.emory.edu/LiveStats/MSocc/XLIVE.HTM, and a live video webcast at http://emoryathletics.com/sports/msoc/live.

UAA Update
Last season, the UAA saw its first-ever four-way tie atop the standings, with Emory, Washington, Carnegie Mellon University and Brandeis University each claiming a share of the conference title with identical 4-2-1 records in UAA matches.  Although all four schools were considered co-champions, Carnegie Mellon received the UAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, based on tiebreakers (the other three teams, and Rochester, would each go on to receive at-large bids to the NCAA Championships).  Following the champions in the standings were the University of Rochester (3-1-3), the University of Chicago (2-3-2), New York University (2-4-1) and Case Western Reserve University (0-7-0).

At the start of UAA play this weekend, four UAA teams are currently ranked in the latest NSCAA D-III Men's Soccer Poll, led by #14 Brandeis (8-1-0).  Other ranked teams include #15 Washington (6-2-1), #17 Carnegie Mellon (7-1-1) and #25 Rochester (7-1-1).  Two other teams - Emory and Chicago (4-2-1) – are ranked in their respective regions, while NYU (6-2-1) and Case Western Reserve (4-1-3) have opened their seasons with winning records as well.

Besides the Emory-Wash U. game on Sunday, the other six UAA teams will each be in action on Saturday.  Games for the first day of conference competition include Brandeis at Case Western Reserve, Chicago at Carnegie Mellon, and NYU at Rochester.

Emory Eagles
Emory will enter the start of conference play as winners of two-straight games and three of their last four contests, and with an overall record of 7-3-0.  Sunday's game will mark the end of a season long four-game home stand for the Eagles, during which they have gone 2-1-0 to improve to 4-2-0 in home games so far this year.  Emory has outscored its opponents 24-12 this season, and will begin the week ranked 72^nd among Division III teams with 2.4 goals scored her game and 158^th with a 1.20 team goals-against average.   The team was also ninth in the latest NSCAA South Atlantic Region Poll.

The Eagles are led by seventh-year head coach Sonny Travis, who has guided the squad to a record of 86-30-7, two UAA Championships and four trips to the NCAA Tournament during his time with the team.  For his 28-year coaching career, he holds an overall record of 380-122-44, the 18th-most victories among Division III coaches all-time.  Travis is assisted by Cory Greiner, goalkeeper coach Clayton Schmitt and volunteer assistant Wesley Lutz.

Washington U. Bears
Washington University, ranked 15^th in the latest NSCAA Division III Poll and receiving votes in this week's D3Soccer.com rankings, stands at 6-2-1 for the 2013 campaign, following the team's 1-0 win over Fontbonne on Monday.  Included in the squad's season ledger is a 3-1-0 mark in road contests this season.  The Bears have outscored their opponents 20-9 this season, and began the week ranked 78^th in Division III in scoring offense and 137^th in goals-against average.  The team's offense has been rejuvenated by the return of senior Jeremy Kirkwood, who has scored two goals and assisted on five others in the Bears' last four games, after missing the first five contests of the year.  Freshman Jake Shapiro has added four goals and one assist for nine points this season, while goalkeepers Jonathan Jebson (2-2-0, 1.32 GAA, .800 save %) and David Wang (4-0-1, 0.51 GAA, .895 save %) have split time in goal.  The Bears are also ranked second in the Central Region.

The Bears are led by Joe Clarke, who is now in his 31^st season as a collegiate head coach, and his 17^th season with Washington University.  His career records stand at 398-160-65 overall, and 193-86-35 during his time with the Bears.  Clarke is assisted by Jeff Pomranka, Rick Rone, Paul Anderson, Cody Costakis and Javier Riscart.

Washington is one of only two UAA programs (along with Carnegie Mellon) that has a winning record in the all-time series against Emory, as the Eagles stand 7-13-7 all-time in games against the Bears, including a 4-5-4 mark in matches played at the Woodruff P.E. Center.  Last year in a defensive battle in St. Louis, the Eagles suffered a 1-0 loss to the Bears, with Kirkwood scoring the only goal of the game in the 88^th minute of play.  Emory outshot Wash U. 14-4 in last year's contest, with a 4-2 edge in shots on goal.

Emory Notes
The Eagles are 109-51-22 all-time in UAA games, good for a .659 winning percentage… In home conference games, the Eagles' are 68-13-10, good for a .802 winning percentage… Emory was undefeated in home UAA games last season, going 2-0-1, and has gone 4-1-1 in its last six home UAA games… The Eagles are 11^th among NCAA Division III teams with 25 assists, and 20^th with 2.5 assists per game… Emory also ranks 53^rd in total goals, 39^th in total points (73) and 49^th in points per game (7.3)… The team's .700 winning percentage is the 86^th-best mark in the Nation this season… The Eagles are 19-21-3 against opponents ranked in the top-25 nationally since 1996, including a 2-2-0 mark last season… Junior Jeffrey Cochran is ranked 73^rd among D-III players with four assists this season… Junior co-captain Dylan Price is 78^th among Division III players with 15 points and 81^st with six goals.