The Emory University Men's Soccer team earned its first University Athletic Association victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, taking down 8th-ranked Washington University, 2-1, in come-from-behind fashion. The Eagles improve to 7-3 overall and 1-1 in UAA play with the win while the Bears slip to 7-1-1 and 0-1-1 in conference action.
The win for Emory marked its first over a team ranked in the NSCAA Top 25 this season and the first win over a program ranked as high as No. 8 in the NSCAA Top 25 since November 3rd, 2012 when the Eagles defeated 6th-ranked Carnegie Mellon, 1-0.
After a first half featuring limited scoring opportunities, the two squads combined for three shots total, it was a different story in the final 45 minutes as the two teams posted three goals on the strength of 14 shots.
Washington broke the scoreless tie in the 55th minute as Ryan Sproule scored his fourth goal of the season. Sproule found the back of the net off the through ball into the box from Kevin Goon.
The Eagles answered back nine minutes later as junior Austin Mirabella netted his first goal of the season. Mirabella put it home off the feed from junior Jason McCartney, who collected his team-leading sixth assist of the season on the play.
The game remained deadlocked until the 87th minute when sophomore Moustafa Khattab beat Bears' goalkeeper Daniel Geanon on a breakaway to give Emory a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
The Eagles, winners of two straight and five of their last six, continue UAA action next weekend as they host Case Western Reserve at 7:30 pm on Friday night before taking on Carnegie Mellon at 1:30 pm on Sunday afternoon. Prior the start of the game on Friday, Emory will honor its two seniors, Scott Haley and Jason Andrejchak, with a pregame ceremony.