In a battle of two of NCAA Division III's top women's soccer teams, second-ranked Emory University battled back from a 2-0 deficit at half time, scoring a pair of second-half goals and holding on for a 2-2 tie with third-ranked Johns Hopkins University on Friday night.

Emory now stands at 2-0-1 on the season, extending their regular season winning streak to 27 games (24-0-3).  Hopkins' record moved to 2-1-1 with the tie.  The game was a part of the 2012 Meredith College National Invitational Classic, hosted by Meredith in Raleigh, NC.

Johns Hopkins applied early pressure on the Eagles' defense, and saw quick results, as Pamela Vranis scored at the 3:21 mark, on an assist by Hannah Kronick.  The Blue Jays struck again in the 35^th minute, with Issy Berkey scoring to give her team a 2-0 lead that they would carry into the half. 

However, the second half would be a different story for the Eagles, who began to control possession as the frame went on.  Emory broke through for its first score of the game at the 63:23 mark, when sophomore Karina Rodriguez's corner kick found sophomore Claudia Rowe inside the box, who was able to finish for her first-career goal.  It was the first assist of the year for Rodriguez.

Emory would continue to gain momentum, but would not even up the match until the 81^st minute, when junior co-captain Kelly Costopoulos headed in a cross from sophomore Charlotte Butker to even the match at 2-2.  It was both the first goal of the season for Costopoulos, and the first assist of the year for Butker.

Neither team would score over the final nine energetic minutes of regulation, despite opportunities for both squads, and the Eagles headed into overtime for the third time in as many games this season.  Emory would maintain its momentum in the first overtime period, with Butker taking the only shot for either team during the frame, forcing Hopkins goalkeeper Meredith Maguire to make a save, but neither team would score.

It would be more of the same in the second overtime period, with the Eagles taking the only three shots of the frame, but again were unable to score, as the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Emory finished the game with a 15-12 advantage in shots, including 10 shots on goal to the Blue Jays' seven, and a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.  After allowing nine shots to Hopkins in the first half, Emory gave up just three opportunities the rest of the way, and none in the final 48 minutes and 18 seconds of play.  Senior goalkeeper Kaele Leonard played the second half and both overtime periods in goal, making one save without allowing a goal to extend her scoreless minutes streak to 179:15 to start the year.

Emory will finish play at the Meredith College National Invitational Classic on Sunday, as the Eagles will take on host-school Meredith at 2:15 PM.

Emory Notes
Emory is now 7-2-6 against nationally-ranked teams over the last three seasons, and 26-31-15 against national-ranked teams since 1997… The Eagles have outshot their opponents 50-24 this season, including a 20-11 edge in shots on goal… Emory is 7-2-0 in games following a loss or tie over the last three seasons… Rodriguez is now tied with Emily Feldman for the team lead with three points this season (one goal and one assist)… Seven different Eagles have accounted for at least one point this season… It was just the third time in the last three seasons that Emory has allowed more than one goal in a game… The other two times were a 2-1 loss to Hardin-Simmons University in the 2010 NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals, and a 3-2 overtime win over New York University last season.