The fifth-ranked Emory University women's soccer team ended its 2011 regular season with a 2-0 win over Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday, completing the first undefeated regular season in the history of the Emory Athletics program.
The Eagles will head into the NCAA Tournament next weekend with a 15-0-2 record, after finishing University Athletic Association (UAA) play with a 6-0-1 ledger. The six conference victories match a program-high for the team.
Emory also matched a program record with its 14th shutout of the season, a mark the team previously reached during the 1998 and 2000 seasons. The Eagles finished the regular season with a 0.23 team goals against average.
After a scoreless first half between the Eagles and the Tartans, senior Lidija Barauskas celebrated both 'Senior Day' and her 22nd birthday with the eventual game-winning goal in the 63rd minute. Inside the Carnegie Mellon box, Barauskas intercepted a clearance pass from the Tartans' defender, and returned a shot into the back of the net for the goal.
It was the fourth goal of the season for Barauskas, extending her career high, and her third-game winning goal, tying her with Lauren Gorodetsky for the team lead.
Emory freshman Charlotte Butker cemented the Eagles' victory with a bending shot from outside the 18 near the goal line that went into the net. The goal was the fifth of the season for Butker.
Junior goalkeeper Erica Stein made a season-high four saves during a scoreless first half for the Eagles. Junior Kaele Leonard played the second half in goal for Emory, earning the victory to improve to 5-0-1 on the season.
Carnegie fell to 9-7-0 on the season with the loss, including a 3-4-0 mark in UAA games.
Prior to the start of the game, Emory celebrated 'Senior Day,' honoring the four graduating members of the women's soccer program – Barauskas, Caroline Coates, Liz Harlan and Claire Rubel. The four players have helped Emory to three NCAA Tournament berths, two UAA Championships, and a 55-11-12 record over the last four seasons.
Assured of an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the UAA last weekend, Emory will now await the announcement of the field on Monday to find out the location and its opponents for the first two rounds. The tournament field will be announced via webstream on NCAA.com at 1:30 PM ET on Monday.