The Emory University Men's Soccer team will enter the 2018 season as the No.-8 team in the country as the United Soccer Coaches released their national top-25 rankings last week.
The Eagles are coming off a historic 15-5-2 season under first-year Head Coach Cory Greiner, reaching the NCAA Elite Eight for just the second time in program history and first time since 1988. Emory will return three All-University Athletic Association players from last year's squad including All-UAA First Team selection Moustafa Khattab. The senior midfielder ranked second on the team with eight goals and 20 points. Joining Khattab as All-UAA returners are senior defenders Tyler Santee and Aidan Datené who both earned All-Conference Second Team nods in 2017.
The Eagles are set to face six teams that earned top-25 billing including four in the top-14: No. 3 Chicago (10/6), No. 4 Brandeis (10/14), No. 9 Rochester (11/3) and No. 14 Washington & Lee (9/1). Also on the docket are a pair of schools receiving votes: Rowan (9/8) and Oglethorpe (10/16).
Emory opens the 2018 season on August 31st against Hardin-Simmons University in the annual Sonny Carter Invitational. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM at the Woodruff PE Center.